Our Servant Christ – Maundy Thursday Sermon
March 19th, 2008 Posted in Sermons+ In Nomine Jesu +
Maundy Thursday
The Rev. Evan P. Gaertner
March 20, 2008
Matthew 26:17-30
“Our Servant Jesus”
Tonight the sermon is going to take place before the rest of the service in order to allow the Word of God to shape our view of the events that took place surrounding the night in which our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas.
Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare to eat the Passover. They went into Jerusalem and found the man Jesus had sent them to. They prepared the Upper Room for the Passover meal. When evening came Jesus was at the table with the twelve. He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
I remember when I was in seventh grade my Sunday School class did a drama in the worship service. And all of us seventh grade boys had a lot of practice saying, “I didn’t do it.”
Judas had already been persuaded by the devil to betray Jesus and sold him out for thirty pieces of silver.
Jesus did not stop Judas. The gospel of John tells us how Jesus could allow this to happen, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.”
While they were eating the meal Jesus distributed the bread and said, “Take eat. This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same also he took the cup, saying, “Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
This same night he took off his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet.
Peter refused and so Jesus replied, “Peter you do not understand now what I am doing, but later this will make sense to you.”
Peter insisted. “No. Never.” So Jesus said to Peter, “You will have no part of me, unless I wash your feet.”
“Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and head as well.”
After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. They went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
Three times Jesus prayed for strength to drink the cup that was being placed before him.
While Jesus was talking to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas, one of the twelve arrived with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
In the events of this evening we find Jesus our Lord and Savior serving us. If you want to understand who Jesus is and what he has come for a lot of answers can be found in his actions on this Holy Thursday.
The service of Corporate Confession and Absolution…
Tonight people have the opportunity in our service to come forward and individually receive the words of forgiveness from the pastor. These words have a performative power. When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane the disciples fell asleep. Even while they slept Jesus went to his father in prayer and said, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
The forgiveness that is offered in this Divine Service is only possible for you because your Lord and Savior Jesus drank the cup of suffering. After his resurrection Jesus told his disciples “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”
The forgiveness a pastor offers, is offered by the power of the good news of Jesus Christ. The pastor serves the gospel. Jesus Christ served you by drinking the cup of suffering. He drank the suffering of your sins.
The washing of feet…
“We Do Feet” is the slogan of Crossways publishing. It is the idea that no matter who we are, we get down on our knees and help a person in need. Jesus, our Lord, washed his disciples’ feet. Jesus did the work of the servant. Some people may thin of Jesus as this abstract idea of good stuff and not consider the physical reality of this man. The title for this night in the liturgy comes from Jesus’ words about washing feet. Maundy Thursday. Mandate is a Latin word which means Command. Jesus said, “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.” (John 13:34)
The washing of feet is a physical demonstration of the truth of who our God. He is the Lord God whose steadfast love endures forever. It is by this love of Jesus that we love the other, no matter how unlovable and dirty he may be.
The Lord’s Supper…
The heart of the good news of Jesus Christ is found in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.” The servant of the Supper is our Lord. He has provided the food and drink for you. He has provided the location for you. He has provided the meaning for you. The cost of this feast has been purchased, not with gold or silver, but with the very precious blood of your savior Jesus Christ.
The Stripping of the Altar…
The altar will be stripped of all adornment this evening. The altar represents Christ. It is from this altar that he offers to us his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. It is through the gifts of this altar that we are one body in faith. We will be reminded tonight that our savior was stripped of his clothing and exposed naked to the insults and mockery.
We are gathered tonight by the work of Jesus Christ who is our servant at the altar. He alone is the one that can wash us clean of our sins and present us righteous to his Father.
Be bound by his grace tonight.
Soli Deo Gloria
