What Did You Do Last Night?
"The hour has come."
Dear Church Family,
We sat on the back porch, light winds blowing, and watched an NBA playoff play-in game. Creede enjoys sitting out as much as we do. I told Patty that adding the back porch quite a few years ago may have been one of the best thi’ve done. Winding down after busy days is made more pleasant by being outdoors, at least for us.
When the question is asked, “What did you do last night?” it may be met with little reservation. Or, it could be received as prying. “Who wants to know?” What business is it of yours?” Our reaction may hint that some might not like what we did, think we could have made better use of our time, or always think the worst.
Today is Maundy Thursday. If Lent is the Christian Season that directs our attention to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the end, and Jesus is lifted on the Cross. Yes, this is Holy Week. However, it isn’t until we reach the part of the story where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, signals the coming fulfillment of the Passover, and calls for the disciples to love one another. Put another way, the night has come.
We look forward to celebrating Easter Sunday together. I hope you have already invited someone to gather with us. In preparation for our time together, please read Luke 20:1-24:12. By the time we reach Luke 24, which points to THE event instituted by the early Church as the day to gather for worship, there is a way to amplify the event by examining what Jesus did the previous nights.
Preachers never want to spoil their Sunday Easter message. Yet, meditating on what Jesus did the night before He was raised from the dead gives great weight to the declaration heard by the women,
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.
Perhaps a reminder of what is portrayed in this piece of artwork from the 1400s will be helpful.
I hope you will gather with us this evening at 7 p.m. for our Maundy Thursday service. If not, someone may ask, “What did you do last night?” ;)
Glad I’m Your Pastor,
Todd