Black Church

Rebecca’s Well: Maundy Thursday Before the Cross© Pt. I

Preface

I. Hosanna’s Out! Crucify In!
Garments spread in the way! Gone!
Palm branches strew in the way! Gone!
The ride into Jerusalem! Ended!
The Temple purified! The Fig tree cursed!
The Olivet Discourse, Parables, Taught!
The Last Passover eaten! The Lord’s Supper Instituted.

II. Upper Room, Last Supper, Feet-washing Maunday Thursday.
Troubling, Agonizing, Gethsemane Maunday Thursday.
Plotting, Betraying, Seizing Maunday Thursday.
Denying, Condemning, Arraignment Thursday.
Six Trials, 18 Hours, Judgment Halls, Thursday.

III. The Year of the Redeemed is now come.
The 70 weeks Determined are now accomplished. (Dan. 9:24)
Transgression Must be Met.
Reconciliation Must Be Made.
Jesus the Messiah King Must Be Cut off. (Dan. 9:26)
Salvation’s Plan is Finished. Tetelestai.
The “New Mandatum” Must Be Ushered In.
(John 13:34)(John 15:12-13)

Jesus’ New Mandatum

The term “Maundy” is derived from the Latin “mandatum” meaning mandate. Mandate is defined as commandment. This is where we get the term Maundy Thursday or New Commandment Thursday. On Maundy Thursday Before The Cross, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment or mandatum that fulfilled the Ten Commandments given to Moses by Jehovah God. Jesus said:
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
(John 13:34)

And again Jesus said:
“This is my commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you.”
(John 15:12-14)

Jesus strikes a hard bargain. He challenges us to friendship by obeying His commandment to love as He loves us. This type of love is sacrificial love. He pushes us beyond all types of love known to mortal man: maternal, paternal and fraternal love; eros, platonic, familial and agape love.

To love others as Jesus has loved us is walking through the valley of the shadow of death love. It’s going to the cross love. Jesus’ love is divine sacrificial, unconditional love. Jesus is God. Jesus, Father God and the Holy Spirit are one God. “Hear O Israel The Lord Our God is one Lord.”(Deut. 6:4)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16)

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1st Jn 4:19) There exists a tremendous difference between The Ten Commandments of Moses and The New Commandment or Mandate of Jesus Christ. Moses Law demands love (“Thou Shalt love …”). Jesus’ Commandment is love, creates love and exudes love.

Loving others as Jesus Loves us is to drink of Jesus’ “cup.” The “cup” is interpreted by Jesus as the symbol of His sacrificial love – death on the cross when His Holy Soul was made a sin-offering for our sinful souls and bodies. Jesus asks His disciples this question: “Are ye able to drink of the “cup” that I shall drink of…?” Jesus answers His own question. “Ye shall indeed drink of my “cup …”
(Matt.. 20: 22-23)

To Be Continued….

The Reverend Dr. Rebecca R. Rivka, LPC, is former School Psychologist, Portsmouth and Norfolk Public Schools; (ret.) Professor of Psychology, Norfolk State University; (ret.) Licensed Professional Counselor, Commonwealth of Virginia; Local Elder, The Historic Saint John’s AME Church, Norfolk, VA. The Reverend John D. Burton, Senior Pastor. Saint John AMEC is the Mother Church of African Methodism in Virginia.