One of the last places I would have thought to look for Christian inspiration today is a governor's press conference on COVID-19. But here in Louisiana on this Thursday afternoon Governor John Bel Edwards took the opportunity to mention Holy Week. He pointed out that, just as the hours after the crucifixion of Jesus were a time of waiting for a wondrous resurrection, these days of social isolation are time spent in anticipation of better days.
Of course, the disciples did not really know what they were waiting for, or what awaited them. The disciples did not fully understand the incredible times in which they lived any more than you and I understand our own unprecedented times. They just did not perceive what universe-unsettling events would happen in such a short time. Peter and John did not recognize the death blow by which Jesus defeated the grave even as they raced to investigate an empty tomb. In denying their Master the followers of Jesus had denied themselves any vestige of hope. You and I can wonder at their lack of understanding only because we have the advantage of knowing the rest of the disciples' story, in context with the truth of the Bible--just as future generations will have a different perspective of the season of pandemic in which we now live.
But, meanwhile, we wait. What do we do while we wait out what feels like endless quarantine? We have guidance for this Thursday in the account of another Thursday. Knowing fully what lay ahead, Jesus ushered in the landslide of events climaxing in his resurrection with a Passover meal on what Christians generally call "Maundy Thursday," the day we commemorate today, April 9, 2020. Maundy is just a shortening of the Latin mandatum, which translates as "a command." The command that gives the day its name is the startling one Jesus issued that night, as recorded in John 13:
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Does it strike you that of all the wisdom Jesus could share in the brief time left with these His closest few, He directed them to love one another? He knew the crazy range of emotions and experiences that were in store for those followers. What does His emphasis tell us about how we should approach this waiting period of our own as we find our modern selves wading through uncertainty? Could this mandate, this command, be critical to our world surviving not only a disease of the lungs, but disease of the soul as well? How crucial is the genuine, limitless, unconditional care the watching world sees us give each other? And I daresay Jesus does not mean give sparingly--His words say "just as I have loved you," and 1 John 3:1 makes clear how God loves us. His love is lavished upon us!
So shall we lavishly love one another instead of thinking of ourselves? Shall we reach beyond our own fears and failings and actively search out ways to support each other today like never before? Shall we press and purpose and persevere? Shall we deny our own agendas and crucify our pride and follow Jesus?
John 13 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled,[d] ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side,[e] 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus[f] of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
A New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
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