The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
Christ’s New Commandment, John 13.1-17, 31-35
In this text Jesus offers his own unique and profound act of humility and love, washing his disciples’ feet, thus demonstrating the essence of what it means to be a servant leader. Jesus instructs us to follow his example, emphasizing that true greatness lies in serving others. Following this act, Jesus introduces a new commandment: that we who claim to be his disciples love one another as he has loved them. This love, he explains, will be the distinguishing mark of their discipleship, revealing their connection to him to the world. On this Maundy Thursday, we embrace our Lord’s powerful lesson on humility, service, and the transformative power of sacrificial love, laying the foundation for a community of disciples defined by mutual care and devotion.
Invocation
O Holy and ever-blessed Lord, teach us, we beseech Thee to love one another, to exercise forbearance and forgiveness toward our enemies, to recompense no man evil for evil, but to be merciful even as Thou, our Father in heaven, art merciful; so that we may continually follow after Thee in all our doings, and be more and more conformed to Thine image and likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ New Church Book of Worship, A.D. 1876. (Fox, p. 105) Fox, Selina Fitzherbert. A Chain of Prayer Across the Ages: Forty Centuries of Prayer, 2000 B.C.-A.D. 1916. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1943.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Thursday: Pss. 75-78
Lectionary Readings for Today
Our readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary for this Feast Day.
Psalm: Psalm 116.1-2, 12-19
Old Testament (or Acts [during Eastertide]): Exodus 12.1-14
Gospel: John 13.1-17, 31-35
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 11.23-26
Click here for all of this week’s Scripture readings
Chronological Holy Week Readings for Today
Each year we read through the Holy Week Scriptures chronologically, tracking the events of Jesus’ final week leading up to death, burial and resurrection.
Thursday: Matt. 26.17-75; Mark 14.12-42; Luke 22.7-65; John 13.1-18.27
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Thursday: Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107, 137 and Proverbs 17
Christ’s new commandment.
In washing his disciples feet, Jesus challenged them to follow his example, and charging them to love one another as he loved them, so proving their true identities as his disciples, John 13.1-17, 31-35.
Reflection
On this Maundy Thursday, this passage calls all disciples of Jesus us to embrace a life of humble service, mirroring the example of our Lord when he washed his disciples’ feet and served them. Jesus’ remarkable act of humility and grace calls us to actively love other disciples of his, not just in word, but in deed and conduct, reflecting the sacrificial love that he demonstrated through his life and especially his passion. Giving proof of this kind of love is the hallmark of true faith, a visible testimony to our connection with Christ and one another. Ultimately, we must be like Christ, prioritizing the needs of other disciples, and through that, showing the world the transformative power of Christ.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what practical ways can you in your life situation demonstrate Jesus’ sacrificial love, particularly in your relationships with those who are difficult to love? How can your relationships with other disciples of Jesus serve as a powerful witness to your faith?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
O God, who hast given us the commandment that we love one another even as thou dost love us; we beseech thee for thy Church throughout the world. Look in mercy on the divisions among thy people, and in thy perfect wisdom teach us to heal them. Take away all blindness of heart, all foolish pride and vainglory, all prejudice, obduracy, and pettiness, and whatsoever else may hinder us from unity in work and prayer for the extension of thy kingdom on earth. Draw us nearer to thee, and firmly unite us in the bonds of a common faith and devotion; that we may all with one voice proclaim thy truth and thy salvation; and that thy Church, being one in thee, may speak a convincing word to a world divided and in awful peril, and so be for the healing of the nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ Ernest Fremont Tittle (Tittle, p. 80) Tittle, Ernest Fremont. A Book of Pastoral Prayers. New York, NY: Abington-Cokesbury Press, 1946.
Scripture Memory for this season
John 15.1-5 (ESV):
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
“The implicit assumption behind any goal is this: “Once I reach my goal, then I’ll be happy.” The problem with a goals-first mentality is that you’re continually putting happiness off until the next milestone. I’ve slipped into this trap so many times I’ve lost count. For years, happiness was always something for my future self to enjoy. I promised myself that once I gained twenty pounds of muscle or after my business was featured in the New York Times, then I could finally relax. Furthermore, goals create an “either-or” conflict: either you achieve your goal and are successful or you fail and you are a disappointment. You mentally box yourself into a narrow version of happiness.
This is misguided. It is unlikely that your actual path through life will match the exact journey you had in mind when you set out. It makes no sense to restrict your satisfaction to one scenario when there are many paths to success. A systems-first mentality provides the antidote. When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision.
~ Clear, James, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. Random House Business, London SW1V 2SA, 2018. Location 376.
Seedling Focus for the Season: The Vine and the Branches
Description: Pruning is a necessary part of growth, both in plans and in our spiritual lives. God’s discipline may seem painful, but it produces greater fruitfulness, John 15.1-5.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
But If It Dies: Die to bear fruit, John 12.20-36.
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