Today is “Holy Thursday” also known as “Maunday Thursday.” It commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified. He washed His disciples feet. He prepared the meal and served them.

“While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” Matthew 26:21-25 

Can you visualize this night? Tonight I encourage you as you sit down for your supper to simply pause and reflect on Jesus’s Last Supper. It was the last night his disciples would fellowship with him. I can imagine their heavy hearts as they watched Him break the bread and instruct them to remember that it represented His body broken for them and the wine was the blood poured out for them. As he is passing the cup he looks into the eyes of his betrayer and tells him to go quickly. It brings tears to my eyes, the ULTIMATE betrayal.

Some of us have been betrayed like Jesus and have experienced this kind of hurt, some of us are walking through it right now. I am so sorry. I truly am. I want you to know that Jesus knows what you are going through. He knows every ache and pain that you are feeling. Let Him bring you comfort and His peace as you recall His promise that He has already overcome the world! (John 16:33)

Some of us are Judas. We are the betrayers. May we feel the depths of the pain that we cause to His children and to Him as we reflect on this night. May we repent and seek His forgiveness quickly and ask for forgiveness to the one we have offended. It’s a BIG DEAL!

As we wrestle with the heaviness that this evening carries and Good Friday, we can awake soon on Sunday to the BEST NEWS…the stone was rolled away and the tomb was and IS empty. Hallelujah!  Jesus Christ is RISEN!  He is RISEN!  He is RISEN INDEED!!!

May you all have a very blessed Easter! I hope it is filled with so much JOY and PEACE with your family and friends. We have so much to CELEBRATE!  

Father, we PRAISE you and thank you for the story of Easter! We PRAISE you for your son who went to the cross to bear the sins of the world. As we lift up our voices on Sunday around the world, I pray it brings so much GLORY to you and you rejoice with us. Father, you know what it felt like to be betrayed. Will you please wrap your arms of love and comfort around those that have been betrayed. May they wrest their weary heads on you. May they lift up their eyes to you and see that you are a mighty and beautiful God that brings about good to those that love you. May they see your rich goodness. You are Holy and worthy of all of our PRAISE! We LOVE you TOO!!!  AMEN