Maundy Thursday is about the Last Supper. The account of it includes some very discomforting words. Jesus says to his disciples: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” We know that’s Judas. Then again, “You will all become deserters.” And then to Peter, “this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” It is all about his followers abandoning him. It is hard facing things alone.

On Good Friday we hear even more disturbing words as Jesus prays from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” In my lifetime I’ve heard a number of sermons that try to explain away these words, but I think that’s a mistake. I believe Jesus dies as one who feels abandoned by God. He does that because he is fully human and now as he is about to experience death, he experience that all too human quality of abandonment. Where is God in all this?

It is important to me that Christ knew everything I experience as a human being. How would his teachings impact me if I could always answer him, “but you don’t know how it is”? He know’s exactly how it is. And so when at the Last Supper he commanded his followers to love one another, he knew how hard that was, how hard it is to love even those who turn against you.

Love, one another. But Lord, you don’t know how it is. Yes, my child I do. Love one another.

Read John 13:34 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne