Today is called Maundy Thursday by Christians throughout the world. As some of you may already know, “Maundy” is an English form of mandatum, the Latin word for commandment. The scripture theme for this day comes from Jesus celebrating a Passover meal with his disciples on the night that Jesus was betrayed. Here Jesus told them, “I give you a new commandment; that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34, see also John 15:12-17).
Maundy Thursday is a time for remembering what God’s love looked like in Bible times, what that new love looks like now in our lives, and anticipating what God’s ultimate love will look like when we celebrate resurrection.
In today’s scripture lesson, God’s love was remembered on a particular day by a family …