Good Friday - part I

A traitor, a friend you think is close but will betray you, and you know it. What would you do? The first thing anyone would do is to protect themselves, it’s in our nature. But that is not what Jesus did.

The last supper. Something that most Christians know and understand to be the Passover meal where Jesus ate with his disciples. But it says that all twelve where there, meaning Judas of Iscariot was there as well. And Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. Yet Jesus still served the Last Supper and the first communion.

Jesus invited someone He loved to be His disciple while knowing what would happen. As seen in Matt 26: 47-50 Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Yet Jesus was not surprised. Evan after being arrested He would not stray from the path He knew would lead to the cross. Giving Himself for us so that we may have life.

As easy as it is to put Judas in the role of a villain, how are we any different? We are all sinful and would not have the hope of a new life without the sacrifice of Jesus. We would be tempted and fall into sin just like Judas.

But we don’t choose that. We who have chosen a new life in Christ have the hope of God. Good Friday is a day where Jesus died but the promise of rising from the dead is still to come.

• Sarah Aguilara

Maunday Thursday

The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Expectation

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God? Our Lord has everything under control, no matter what our circumstances, He is Sovereign. It is no coincidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (i.e. House of Bread) and that He “is the bread of life” and that as He institutes the Lord’s Supper after He breaks the bread He says: "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Bread represents sustenance even as Jesus taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread” but it Jesus who sustains us in all things.

It is also no coincidence that “according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus knew what lay before Him as he met with the disciples in the upper room and so as He blesses the cup He says: "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." By His blood we are forgiven and we have new life in Him.

So as we approach the Lord’s Table we are to both remember what Jesus has done for us and to abide in the fact that He is greater than any circumstance, be it health issues or loss of income or the odd pandemic. As we celebrate Maundy Thursday let’s reflect on the meaning. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment." That commandment is to Love one another and as we do that we reflect the very love of God. Maundy is also the name of the Christian rite of foot washing which reflects God’s command that we serve one another in humility. Love and Service, these are at the epicenter of a Christian’s walk with God.

So as we look forward to Resurrection Sunday, we do it expectantly, knowing that God’s promises are already accomplished and we can rest assured that: “as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Maranatha

• Ken Hunt