“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.
TO PONDER
Many churches refer to today as Maundy Thursday. Have you ever stopped to ask what Maundy means? It’s not a word I use in my vocabulary, except at this time of year, and even then, another denomination calls it ‘Holy Thursday’.
The day is named appropriately. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for ‘command,’ and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. ‘
In our verse today, we see a glimpse of that love, and that is to wash each other’s feet. Really?
But wait, there’s more. Washing can be a reminder of baptism, and in baptism, Jesus gives forgiveness of sins. Washing of the feet then, apart from being seen as serving, was a reminder of one’s baptism, and therefore a form of repentance. In our reading today, the example from Jesus is to forgive others. He knew what this week held. He knew what was going to occur soon. Yet, continues to instruct his disciples – that’s you and me - on living as children of God. How are you going with that living?
PRAYER
Lord, sometimes it’s hard to serve like you want us to, and to live a grace-filled life. So thank you that you allow us to keep trying. Walk alongside us as we strive for that unconditional love you’ve shown us. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
TO PONDER
These verses are from a passage beginning at Matthew 20:20, to which Human bible translators, attempting to assist the readers, have added the title; ‘A mother’s request’. Not unusual, but not necessary. And sometimes the heading given to scripture gets in the way. It was never meant to be there in the first place, and now and again it can be the wrong emphasis anyway (e.g. The Prodigal Son).
When I was in the classroom, mums of the student’s I taught would occasionally request things specifically for their child such as; ‘don’t let them sit next to so-and so, they are a bad influence’, or ‘please make sure they sit near an open window’, or ‘can you make sure they sit close to the front so they are not distracted by others’. We would listen to the request and answer the best way we can. And that’s ok because parents want the best for their children.
Jesus answers the question with a question, and then a reminder that his Father, has the final say, and we are to serve. That’s all. Follow Jesus example of listening to his Father, and in response, serve. Can you do that this week?
PRAYER
Servant of all, help us listen to you, even if we don’t always like what you say. Thank you for the example you give and help us be bold this week in our serving of others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.
TO PONDER
It was the famous boxer Muhammed Ali, who made the claim, that he was the greatest. And when he was alive, he would confidently tell you that he was the greatest – you’d only have to ask him!
Well, sorry Mr Ali. There is someone greater. Chances are you’ve just knocked him out…which doesn’t make sense. Because in our society, the underdog is never the greatest. The loser is never great. We find it hard to remember those who didn’t win. But thank God for Jesus. Because Jesus’ way is against all the odds. His way doesn’t make sense. Jesus brings love from below. He’s the enemy of apathy. His love is never done.
This week, as we wind our way to the cross, and more importantly the other side of the cross, we are reassured that those who feel lousy, that those who don’t feel welcome, that those who feel defeated, and in fact the greatest.
PRAYER
Humble king, thank you for showing us the way. Thank you for being welcoming and respectful to all. In this Holy week, help us to walk a mile in your shoes, and show a relational heart to all. Amen
Today's devotion by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
TO PONDER
Isaiah gives us a few names of Jesus. The reading gives us the gift of a baby who becomes a saviour, and then a gift of some terrific names we can refer to Jesus by.
And there’s a bunch more – fifty or so, including King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Great I am, The Way, The Truth, The Life, The Door, The Bread of Life, The Saviour of the World, The Babe of Bethlehem, The Bright and Morning Star, Mighty God, The Well of Living free water, the Great Physician, The Lily Pure and White, The Rose of Sharon Fair, Shepherd…and that’s just a start.
That’s nice. So what? What do you call him, and more importantly, what do you call him to others? How do you refer to Jesus to those who only know him as a swear word? Why not find a title that you’re comfortable with and use it this Holy week leading up to Easter. The public holidays we get are put aside for this religious festival, so we have an excuse a tell people the Easter story. Will you give it go this year?
PRAYER
Father, thank you for knowing our names. Forgive us when we don’t use your name in the right context. Help us to be bold in using your name in our conversations this week. In Jesus name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
TO PONDER
What does blessed mean? How are we blest? Our verse tells us that those who come in the name of the Lord, will be blessed. The dictionary on Google uses the Oxford definition of blessed which is ‘made holy’, or ‘consecrated’. That’s us, isn’t it? That’s something, that you and me, children of God, followers of Jesus, baptised into his kingdom, can claim, can’t we? Aren’t we made Holy each time we share the Lord’s Supper?
Today’s daily verse is speaking about Jesus, as he’s trudging into the city on a donkey. If he came on a horse, it would have been as a majestic triumphant victor. But this King came on a donkey, and he was, and is, holy, and wants us to strive for that holiness too. Disciples of Jesus won’t achieve holiness…not in this life anyway, but we can give it a good crack with our words and actions.
PRAYER
Triumphant Jesus, as we enter this most Holy of weeks, remind us of what you went through for us…what you experienced…so we can ultimately spend eternity with you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Continue to bless us in all we do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
TO PONDER
I find Bible verses like this one intimidating. One the one hand, there is something about doing the kinds of things Jesus did - like healing the sick, casting out demons, turning water into wine, and walking on water that appeals to me. I get a sense that being a follower of Jesus should have something of that level of excitement and anticipation about it, just waiting to see what cool and unexpected thing God wants to do next.
But at the same time there is fear and apprehension. What if the works God has set out for me to do draw unwanted attention? What if I think I have heard from God about this but maybe I haven't? What happens if I got it wrong? What if, like Jesus, the things God want's me to say or do will lead some people to dislike me? These and many other questions are what whizz through my mind when I contemplate the idea of doing the kinds of things Jesus did.
The I remember that Jesus wasn't just about miraculous signs and wonders. Jesus loved people, Jesus cared for and showed compassion for others. Jesus forgave sins and ate with and talked with people. Those things I can do. I can do those ordinary every day things and God can use them to make the miraculous happen.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you send me your Holy Spirit to guide and empower me in this life. Help me to remember that 'doing the things you did' is not just about performing miracles, but is about being obedient to the Father and letting Him cause my efforts to have miraculous outcomes. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
TO PONDER
We have been thinking and talking about expectant obedience this week. So far we've talked a lot about obedience but not so much about expectation or expectancy. It was probably Plato who first articulated clearly the idea of cause and effect, and the concept has taken root deep within the shared human psyche, largely because in this world, it accurately reflects our experience. Nothing happens without a cause and to a large extent, the same cause tends to produce similar effects.
We can tend to transfer this kind of thinking to God, assuming that if we do things that please Him, He will be more likely to answer our prayers or to want to bless us in some way.
But that is not how it works with God. Remember, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). We forget that the cause is God's love for us, not our obedience or righteousness. When we forget that we can become so focussed on trying to 'earn' God's favour that we stop electing him to do anything because we know that we have failed to live up to His exacting standards.
What a blessing that we can wake up each day, regardless of the events of the day before and expect God to show up in our lives throughout the day. In this light, our obedience is not about earning God's favour but rather a response to it that positions us to see and experience God's favour most clearly.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Help me to remember that you are the cause of God's grace and mercy towards me and not anything that I have done. May the effect of your love and mercy in my life be one that draws others into that same love and mercy. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
TO PONDER
I have been struck lately by the verse in John 20:21 in which Jesus says, "as the Father has sent me, now I am sending you." It does funny things to you when you then read a text like this one from Romans.
If in the obedience of Jesus, who was sent to do the will of the Father, many will be made righteous, what happens when we, who are sent just as Jesus was, are obedient to God? Wouldn't it stand to reason that our obedience to God might also lead many to righteousness?
Now clearly we are talking about a different scale here - Jesus obedience which led him to the cross - opened up the way for us to be made righteous in God's sight. And I am not suggesting that our obedience does anything quite like what Jesus' obedience did. However, If God's mission in sending Jesus was to seek and save the lost, and now we are sent by Jesus on that same mission, wouldn't it stand to reason that our obedience might be one of the tools He uses to draw others to himself?
It's something worth thinking about!
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that your righteousness can now also be mine because of your obedience to the Father and through your death and resurrection. Please help me to live my life in obedience to the Father's will so that I also may help others to see an encounter your love and mercy for themselves. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
TO PONDER
Being a parent is a wonderful experience. Sure, everything doesn't always go the way you want, but it has certain given me more insight into my own relationship with God as my Heavenly Father and me as one of His children.
Recently I had one of my children come and give me a great big hug, seemingly out of nowhere, and say, "I love you dad". Needless to say, my heart melted. However, the beautiful moment lasted only seconds before the outrageous request for more screen time smacked me in the face and brought me out of my affection induced euphoria.
I often wonder how often I play the same game with God. I know there are times when I will busy myself with a bunch of things I think God wants me to be doing, but fail to do the one thing he is actually asking me to do. I'm sure God enjoys being told that we love him, but I suspect, that like my experience with my own children, sometimes the love that is expressed with words doesn't always match the love that is expressed by trusting obedience.
Jesus summed up all the laws of Moses in the following way, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself." Part of loving God is obediently responding to his command to love. So let's get busy sharing the Love of God in our communities.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, no one has shown greater love than you did when you lay down your life for all our sakes. Please help me to always respond to your love and grace by faithfully and obediently loving others the way you have loved me. Amen
Today's devotion by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle