Lord Jesus, as a kid, it was such an odd word to me—Maundy, as in “Maundy Thursday.” But now it’s one of the most revolutionary, precious, humbling, and focusing of words. Because it summarizes the measure and “mandate” of your love for us. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” Jn.13:34. We earn nothing by loving each other. We’ve been given everything because you love us.
Having shared eternal glory with the Father, you now showed measureless grace to your disciples—“the full extent of your love” (Jn.13:1 NIV 84). The humility you showed in washing their feet (Jn.13:2-17) was a preview of the glory of you washing their hearts. Stripped naked, publicly shamed, and nailed to the cross—what wondrous love is this, indeed.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13)—that’s what you did for us, Jesus. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”—that’s who you are, the One who took their sin, our sin, my sin.
How then shall we respond? We don’t have to guess, and we can’t hear it too often: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must”—(not might or may), “you must love one another” (Jn.13:34). The most important expression of our “getting” the Gospel is for us to love others as you have loved us. Have mercy on us, Jesus. Forgive us for not believing you love us as much as you actually do. Forgive us for making the most important expression of our discipleship optionable, debatable, negligible. Free us and change us. So Very Amen, we pray with awe and fresh humility.