On this Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, instituted the Lord’s Supper, and was betrayed by Judas, I am looking forward to attending worship. Holy Week is ramping up, and today we commemorate how Jesus gave us a special meal. By the power of God’s Word and promise, we receive the very body and blood Jesus used to pay for our sins with the bread and the wine, which He said was to help us REMEMBER what He did. More than that, in this Sacrament, He assures us that our sins are forgiven.

As we remember, I encourage you to consider something else Jesus did on this day. Read through John 13. It begins with Jesus and His disciples gathering for the Passover meal, and Jesus washes the feet of His disciples.

 John 13:12–17 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus drove home that He came as a servant, and those who follow Him are to follow His example. He drives that point home again later in the chapter.

John 13:34–35 “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.”

This is first and foremost an admonition of how the followers of Jesus are to treat each other. Love one another. Serve each other. But Jesus did not intend for His disciples to keep it to themselves. His life was a testimony of that. He was rightly accused of hanging out with sinners and outcasts. He directed His efforts to all people who needed saving, including those outside the chosen nation of Israel. He stated plainly that He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Ask yourself how you can serve others in your community to follow the example of Jesus. Doing so will give you the chance to share the good news of what Jesus did for all people so that they could have forgiveness and life, too.