04/02/2026
Maudy Thursday Message from Matthew 26:17-30 & John 13:1-17 by Rev. Greg West, Conference Superintendent, Virginia Conference
Who would you invite to your last meal? Would you invite someone that you knew was going to betray you?
If you were a boss with many workers, would you choose the dirtiest, most humbling task for yourself?
When people mistreat us, we want to return the favor. Our usual response is to dish it right back at them. Jesus’ way is to offer grace to those who ‘throw us under the bus.’ Yes, to actually love our enemies.
Jesus offers the bread and the wine to Judas. He knows, and yet grace is still extended.
If when we are mistreated or betrayed, we would yield to the Spirit of Christ, Jesus would empower us to offer grace. This is the perfect time to offer it. Yes, it is when those who are against us are most vulnerable to the love of Jesus penetrating their hard hearts . . . when they know they do not deserve it!
Are status and greatness determined by ‘power to control people’ or ‘power to bless people’? The temptation to use our status and power to benefit ourselves vs. bless others is likely a daily occurrence for us. Since Jesus is Lord, we rejoice in being servants. If we’ve let Christ have His way in us, we’ll gladly choose the ladder of downward mobility for the glory of God!
Jesus takes the towel and washes the feet of the disciples. He “showed them the full extent of his love.” (John 13:1c)
“Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the love and power of Christ to love and serve everyone we encounter today.”
