Maundy Thursday: John 13.1-17 (NLT) – foot washing

Reading: John 13.1-17 NLT

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Pope Francis (then-Cardinal Bergoglio) washing the feet of a young AIDS patient, Holy Thursday, 2001
Pope Francis (then-Cardinal Bergoglio) washing the feet of a young AIDS patient, Holy Thursday, 2001

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”

Prayer/Hymn: “Lord Make Me a Servant” – Kelly Willard

Morning Reading: Luke 15:1-10 NLT – lost and found

Reading: Luke 15:1-10 NLT

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

image

So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

“In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – give me your passion and welcoming spirit for lost souls… near and far away. And use this Easter season to bring them home. To you be all honor and glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Softly and Tenderly” – Will L. Thompson (1880)

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me? Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, passing from you and from me; shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, coming for you and for me. Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me. Come home, come home; you who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

Please Pray for Syrian Christians – World Watch List #11

Persecuted Church in Syria – World Watch List #11 (Open Doors UK)

Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.
Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.

Leader: President Bashar al-Assad
Population: 21.1 million (1.7 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
World Watch List Rank: 11
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Before the civil war, although meetings were monitored, Christians were respected in society, but this is rapidly changing. Muslim-background believers face opposition from family and friends, and also now from foreign extremist fighters and mercenaries.

Previously, Christians were persecuted for supporting the government, or not taking sides. Now a clear religious motive has been added by the influx of these foreign radicals. Many Christians have been abducted, physically harmed and killed, churches damaged or destroyed, and tens of thousands of Christians have fled.

Please Pray:

  • For Christians who’ve had to flee their homes
  • For the emergency relief and trauma counselling that Open Doors is able to offer
  • Give thanks that, despite the challenges, the Syrian church is reaching out to others.

Persecution dynamics

Syrian-ChristiansViolence and protests against the government have lasted for almost two years, and the situation in Syria can best be described as extremely chaotic. The recognised church of Syria is not a hidden or secret church. It is respected in society, although every Christian meeting is monitored by the secret police. As long as Christians did not disturb communal harmony or pose a threat to the government, they were tolerated and had freedom of worship. However, this is rapidly changing.

damascus_syria_refugees_0907
The Silent Exodus of Syria’s Christians

During the second part of 2012, there was a clear increase in the number of foreign jihadists entering the country. We have received reports of many Christians being abducted, physically harmed and killed. Many churches have been damaged or destroyed. The central government is losing its grip on the situation and tens of thousands of Christians have fled the country.

Though it is hard to predict how events will unfold, a change of government is expected to lead to a situation of anarchy and struggle for power. If extremist Muslims obtain more power, they might seek revenge from the overall Christian silence and peaceful stand in the country. Should that happen, Christians will either be isolated or driven from the country en masse – a situation comparable to the one in Iraq.

Morning Reading: Luke 14:25-35 NLT – all in

Reading: Luke 14:25-35 NLT

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

poker all in“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

“Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I go all in for you. Amen.

Spiritual Songs: “Jesus All for Jesus” – Robin Mark (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 14.16-24 (NLT) – guest invitations

Reading: Luke 14.16-24 NLT

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”

"The poor invited to the feast"jesusmafa (1973) Cameroon
“The poor invited to the feast”
Jesus MAFA (1973) Cameroon

Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – excuses, excuses, excuses… and you are having none of it. Help me to live each day with the end in mind – a banqueting table in the Kingdom of God. May I keep my eye on the prize… and be ready to drop everything when the invitation comes. To you be all honor and glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “The Kingdom of God” – Paul Baloche