Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. The word "Maundy" means "commandment". During the Passover meal Jesus said to His disciples," A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

During this time when Jesus was thinking about all that He must endure for His bride, the church. He was also so filled with love for His disciples that He had walked with for three years on earth. How close they must have been to one another. But He was also thinking about the future church. He left His disciples and us, with a new commandment, that we love each other.
They needed to love each other because He had set the example by loving them. They would certainly need each other in the coming days. Jesus said that He would send the Comforter, but He knew that they would also need each other. It was time to set aside the petty bickering of who would be the greatest in the Kingdom, and just love each other.

We also need to love each other as the body of Christ. This is not a suggestion, but a commandment. During this time of the year when we focus on how much Jesus loved us because of what He did for us on the cross, let us not forget to love each other. To show our love for each other in the things we say and the things we do. My friends, as Christians, we have been given so much! The Lord freely gave us His life, and His love. We should also freely pour our lives into the work and ministry of loving others. Let us strive to do this on this "Loving Thursday", and the whole year long.