Holy Thursday: showing the depth of his love

Jesus had always loved those who were his; now he wanted to show the depth of his love.

So begins the Last Supper, that meal like no other, by which Jesus prefigured what was to transpire the following day. In the end, and at the end, it was about the love he would offer; it was always about the love. We see this in three parts on that evening before he died: in serving, in giving and in doing.

Firstly, in serving. Before they ate, Jesus removed his outer clothing, got down on his hands and knees, and went one by one around the room, washing his disciples’ feet, including Peter, the denier, and Judas, the betrayer. He said, as we heard, that he did this to give them an example to follow. The way of God, the Almighty, the way of Jesus, the Lord and Master, is a way of humbly serving those around us, among whom we belong.

God had long ago said to his people, ‘You are mine; I am yours.’ In ancient days, God showed this by passing over the homes of his people to save them. Jesus showed this same loving service by passing among his disciples, to bind them to himself: You are mine; I am yours.

Then, in giving. When they came to eat, Jesus took the bread and wine for the meal, blessed them, and gave them to his disciples as his own body and blood. As St Paul said, having received this from the Lord himself, this gift ‘is for you.’ Jesus gave himself, in a way in which the disciples could eat and drink, so that they would come to see that the giving of himself on the cross was for them.

To eat and drink of Jesus was to receive his death as our life, ongoingly. Jesus died once, and for all, as we believe and pray, but it was a gift to be given whenever we gather to proclaim his death. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross comes to us, is given for us, in a meal. Body broken, blood poured out, ‘for you’.

Finally, in doing. Both in the washing of their feet, and in the giving of his Body and Blood to them, Jesus asked his disciples, his fickle friends, to do the same. ‘Copy what I have done to you … Do this in memory of me.’ What Jesus did, we are to do: humbly serve, and give of ourselves. These acts of healing love done by Jesus are now to be done by us. We are not restricted in the ways in which we might do this. But the purpose in our doing remains: to heal, to love.

Serving. Giving. Doing. These three ways of love found their pinnacle in Christ’s crucifixion. He served God’s people to the end. He gave his life completely. He did his Father’s will for our sake. At the Last Supper, these three ways of love he presented to us, in forms that we could copy, in remembrance of him. As we partake in this, the Lord’s Supper, tonight, honoured guests of him who has invited us to his table, remember why he wants us here, and learn to do the same.

Jesus had always loved those who were his; now he wanted to show the depth of his love.