Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

March 20th, 2008

 

"Mandatum"

Jesus said, "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:33-35 NIV).

Why do we call today "Maundy Thursday”?  There have been many theories offered. Some believe it is a name arising from early Catholic tradition. Others have held it is a medieval appellation for this Thursday before Easter and the special rite of Holy Communion that many share with one another. Some who refer to the New Testament word say it is a Greek word applied to the gathering in the upper room. Actually it's none of these. We call this Thursday "Maundy" because of the moment and event in our reading today.

Jesus was in the room with his disciples, washing their feet, launching into what we call his farewell discourses as he prepares what only he knows to be a violent and bloody ending.  He says to them, "A New commandment I give you, that you love one another." There’s the key: “a new commandment,” a mandatum, a mandate, thus we have the abbreviation, "Maundy", signifying the evening when our Lord urges a new mandate, a mandatum novum - "that you love one another."

Thankfully Jesus doesn't leave us with some cold, demanding imperative. This command to love one another is not the order of a General Patton type. It's not a decree from some authoritarian source, demanding in effect: "OK now, roll up your sleeves, brace your wills, beef up your resolution - go to now and love one another." No! No sharp, directives to duty. No brisk injunctions to moral obligation. Because the commandment comes with a qualifier - "Love one another as I have loved you.

The amazing love that Jesus exemplified in the cross event is our mandate. At the Cross we see the very core, the essential substance, the radiant model for the love we hold for and offer one another.  Love throws its very life onto the scales, to save, to heal, to forgive, to release, to free, to bind, to reconcile to recreate. "Just as we have been loved like that, so are we released and can love one another. Can you love others like that? Use today as a day to dedicate yourself to loving as Jesus loved!