maundy thursday - 4.9.2020 - zion lutheran church & school · 4/9/2020 · cariot, son of...

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Denver—1

Maundy Thursday April 9, 2020

“On Maundy (originally from the Latin word for

“command”) Thursday, we recall the command that

the Lord gave his disciples–to love one another. We also think about how he

commanded his disciples to eat his body under the bread and drink his blood with the wine. We heed his invitation to remember what he accomplished through his life and death and

receive the forgiveness of our sins through the Sacrament of the Altar.

Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of a ser-vice that extends over three days, focusing on

the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.

OUR

FOCUS

ZION

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

I N V O C A T I O N

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. P R A Y E R O F T H E D A Y

M: Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, in the sacrament of Holy Communion you give us your true body and blood as a remembrance of your suffering and death on the cross. Grant us so firmly to be-lieve your words and promise that we may always partake of the sacrament to our eternal good; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. H Y M N

Chief of Sinners Though I Be (Christian Worship 385, stanzas 1-3)

1 Chief of sinners though I be 2 Oh, the height of Jesus’ love, Jesus shed his blood for me, Higher than the heav’ns above, Died that I might live on high, Deeper than the depths of sea, Lives that I might never die. Lasting as eternity, As a branch is to the vine, Love that found me– wondrous thought! I am his and he is mine. Found me when I sought him not.

3 Only Jesus can impart Comfort to a wounded heart: Peace that flows from sin forgiv’n, Joy that lifts the soul to heav’n, Faith and hope to walk with God In the way that Enoch trod.


F I R S T L E S S O N

Exodus 12:1-14

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire– head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn– both men and animals– and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD– a lasting ordinance.” (NIV84)

P S A L M O F T H E D A Y

Psalm 115 (Christian Worship Supplement)

The vocalist will sing the verses of the psalm. The congregation is invited to join in on the refrains and the “Glory Be to the Father.”


S E C O N D L E S S O N

1 Corinthians 11:23-28 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remem-brance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in re-membrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an un-worthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (NIV84)

H O L Y G O S P E L

St. John 13:1-15, 34

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Is-cariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will under-stand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-705801.


10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you under-stand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one an-other’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one anoth-er.” (NIV84)

H Y M N

When You Woke That Thursday Morning (Christian Worship Supplement 717)


M E D I T A T I O N

St. John 13:1-15, 34 (printed on pages 3 and 4 of the service folder)

W H A T C H R I S T C O M M A N D E D ,

C H R I S T C O M P L E T E D

Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-705801.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If you knew it was your last night on earth – what would you do? If you knew that it was the

last 0me that you’d get to enjoy a meal with your family or your closest friends – what would

you do? If you knew that the next day was going to be the most difficult – and final – day of

your life – what would you do? In the Gospel for tonight, we see Jesus in this very situa0on –

he knew it was his last night on earth, he knew it was his last meal with his friends, he knew

that the next day was going to be the most difficult – and final – day of his life. And what did

Jesus do? Well, here’s one thing he did. He gave a command: Love one another. As I have

loved you, so you must love one another. But Jesus never just gives commands. He also fulfills

them. And so, on this night, what Christ commanded, he also completed.

That command from Christ didn’t just come out of thin air. No, Jesus first demonstrated his

own love for others. We see that in our first five verses: (1-5) It was just before the Passover

Feast. Jesus knew that the "me had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his

love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot,

son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power,

and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took

off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. A.er that, he poured water

into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was

wrapped around him.


If you knew this was your last night on earth – would you think to do what Jesus did here? I

don’t know if I would. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Maybe that sounds like an un-

pleasant task. It sounds unpleasant because, well, it was. As unpleasant as it may be for us to

imagine washing someone else’s feet – it was certainly worse for the people in Jesus’ day. In

their 0me period, the main way to travel was by walking, either barefooted or in sandals. In

their region, the roads they took were oAen warm and dusty. And with their par0cular calling

– going from place to place and sharing the good news of Jesus – they were walking A LOT.

Needless to say, to wash the feet of 12 well-traveled men in 1st

century Judea – it was an act of

love.

At the same 0me, this act of love was certainly not the sort of thing that a well-respected

teacher and master would do for his followers. And that’s exactly what caused Peter to speak

out as we pick up our lesson at verse six: (6-11) [Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him,

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am do-

ing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus

answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter re-

plied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who

has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean,

though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why

he said not everyone was clean.

Peter did not want to even think about his Lord doing the dirty work of stooping low to wash

his feet. And that makes sense because of who Peter was and how he viewed things. Just over

a month ago, we saw at the Mount of Transfigura0on a small glimpse of the kind of Lord that

Peter preferred: the kind who comes in glory, shining bright with famous prophets standing on

his right and on his leA. And as much as Peter loved that moment: his Lord covered in all that

brightness and glory at the mountain – just as much, Peter disliked this moment: his Lord cov-

ered in all this dirt and humility at his disciple’s feet. This was not the kind of Lord Peter pre-

ferred. And that’s because the sort of love that Jesus showed here – this sort of love was com-

pletely foreign to Peter and the rest of the disciples.

The foreign nature of that love is well illustrated by a very small detail from this account: the

foot-washing happened in the middle of the meal: “Jesus got up from the meal … and began

to wash his disciples’ feet.” The normal thing was for the foot-washing to happen before the

meal, not right in the middle of it. Why hadn’t this already happened? In Luke’s account of this

meal, he notes that the disciples had been arguing about who among them was the greatest –

and we know that this wasn’t the first 0me that they’d done that. So, in the moments before

the meal, when it came 0me for someone to humble themselves and wash everybody’s feet,

nobody moved. Nobody jumped to show that sort of love – un0l, of course, Jesus himself did.

I think that we’re a lot more like Peter and the disciples here than we care to admit. None of

the disciples were about to show love for their Lord and for others by doing the dirty and hum-

bling work of washing feet. They were oAen willing to profess love for one another and to pro-

fess love for Jesus, but when it came 0me to step outside of their comfort zone and show love

in this uncomfortable way – they were not willing. Their love fell short. It fell short because

this sort of love – the kind of humble, self-sacrificing, out-of-your-comfort-zone love – was

completely foreign to their sinful nature. And the truth is – it’s completely foreign to our sinful

nature, too.

In our lives, we’re put in plenty of situa0ons just like the one that the disciples were in: a situa-

0on where we can show love for our God or for our neighbor, but only if we’re willing to step

outside our comfort zone. Only if we’re willing to humble ourselves a bit. Only if we’re willing


to sacrifice. And too oAen, we aren’t willing. And maybe even worse than that, oAen, when we

do show love, even those loving moments are stained with the selfish mo0ves of my sinful na-

tures. I take on an extra task at work, but I really just hope that someone will no0ce and give

me praise. I do an extra chore around the house, but I really just hope it means someone else

will do the chore that I didn’t want to do. When we look at our own lives – and at our own sin-

stained mo0va0on – and when we hear Jesus’ command – As I have loved you, so you must

love one another – we quickly realize we’re just like the disciples. We don’t measure up. Our

love falls short. And because our love falls short of how he commanded us to love, we don’t

deserve to have any part in our Lord Jesus.

But there is comfort in this fact: what Christ commanded, Christ also completed. Jesus never

just gives commands. He also fulfills them. And this command is no different. In fact, this com-

mand pointed the disciples – and us – to its fulfillment. It points to just exactly how Jesus loved

us.

That night in the upper room, Jesus made it clear: he had come to cleanse the dirty – even

those who thought they didn’t need it. He had come to love all people – even those whose

love fell short. And yet, that night in the upper room was only a preview. Jesus told Peter, Un-

less I wash you, you have no part with me. What does that mean? Well, I’ll tell you what it

doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that unless Jesus physically washes your feet you have no part

in him. So, what is Jesus talking about? Jesus was poin0ng Peter ahead to another cleansing –

a cleansing which would take place the next day. The next day, just like he did here, Jesus

would once again have his outer garments removed – but this 0me, it would be at the hands

of Roman soldiers, as they stripped Jesus of his clothing so he could be whipped and beaten

and spit on. The next day, just like he did here, something was poured out to wash people

clean – but this 0me, it wasn’t water, it was Jesus own innocent blood that did the cleansing.

And the next day, just like he did here, Jesus sacrificed for those he loved – but this 0me, it

wasn’t simply serving at their feet in their place, no, this 0me it was dying at the cross in their

place – and in our place, too. Jesus love did not fall short. What Christ commanded that night;

he also completed – and he completed it to the fullest extent that next day: Good Friday.

And what Jesus did that next day, it changes us. The love that Jesus showed changes us. It

changes us from one who is covered in the dirt of sin, to one who has been washed clean by

the humble sacrifice of Jesus. But that love changes more than that. It also changes how we

love. When situa0ons come, those situa0ons where we can show love for God and neighbor –

when those situa0ons come, we can now love in a new way – like Jesus’s new command says:

we can love as he loved – humble and self-sacrificing. Maybe it’s a small task – a sacrifice of

effort as we pick up the slack for someone else. Maybe it’s a phone call – a sacrifice of 0me as

we reach out to someone who we haven’t heard from in a while. Maybe it’s something even

more unique – a sacrifice that makes you step outside your comfort zone, your regular job,

your regular social circle, your regular ANYTHING. That’s the new kind of love that Jesus has

made us able to give.

When it came 0me for Jesus’ last night on earth – what did Jesus do? Jesus gave a command,

but not only that. Jesus loved. He loved his disciples, he loved his own, he loved us – and he

showed us the fullest extent of that love when he went to the cross and washed us clean. And

now, as forgiven children of God, we hear that command: Love one another. As I have loved

you, so you must love one another. We can hear that command in peace – because what

Christ commanded, Christ completed. Amen.


N I C E N E C R E E D

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen. O F F E R I N G

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all !mes, having all

that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

-2 Corinthians 9:6-8

I N S T R U C T I O N F O R T H E E N D O F L E N T

M: In this Lenten season we have heard again how our Lord walked the path of suffering which led him to the cross for our salvation. We have also heard our Lord’s call to intensify our struggle against sin, death, and the devil– all that keeps us from loving God and one another. This is the struggle to which we were com-mitted at Baptism; God’s forgiveness and the power of his Spirit to amend our lives continue with us be-cause of his love for us in Jesus our Savior.

Within the family of the Church, God never wearies of giving peace and new life. In the word of absolu-tion, we receive forgiveness as from God himself. This absolution we should not doubt but firmly believe, for it comes to us in the name and by the command of our Lord.

We who receive God’s love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other, as Jesus became our servant.


In Holy Communion the members of Christ’s body participate most intimately in his love. Remembering our Lord’s Last Supper with his disciples, we regularly eat the bread and drink the cup of this meal. Alt-hough we cannot participate in this meal together tonight, we can once again be assured of the forgiveness that we have received through the gift of Christ’s body and blood, given and shed for us, and we can long for the day we will gather to receive it together again.

H Y M N

Chief of Sinners Though I Be (Christian Worship 385, stanzas 4 and 5)

4 Chief of sinners though I be 5 Strengthen me, O gracious Lord, Christ is all in all to me. By your Spirit and your word. All my wants to him are known; When my wayward heart would stray, All my sorrows are his own. Keep me in the narrow way; Safe with him in earthly strife, Grace in time of need supply I await the heav’nly life. While I live and when I die.

C O N F E S S I O N A N D A B S O L U T I O N

M: God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful,

and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions.

I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment

both now and in eternity.

Silence for meditation.

M: Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for us.

C: Cleanse me from my sins. Release me from my guilt. Grant me your Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life.

M: The almighty God has been merciful to us and has sent his Son to die for all.

For his sake, God forgives our sins and calls us from darkness to his marvelous light.

Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. T H E L O R D ’ S P R A Y E R

C: Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;


and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

T H E S A C R A M E N T O F H O L Y C O M M U N I O N

Dr. Martin Luther’s explanation of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, as the head of the family should teach it in the simplest way

to those in his household.

THE INSTITUTION OF HOLY COMMUION

M: First: What is the Sacrament of Holy Communion?

C: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ for us Christians to eat and to drink.

M: Where is this written?

C: The holy evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the apostle Paul tell us: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” H Y M N R E S P O N S E

Lamb of God, Pure and Holy (Christian Worship 268, stanza 1)

1 Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross did suffer, Ever patient and lowly, Yourself to scorn did offer. All sins you carried for us, Else had despair reigned o’er us: Have mercy on us, O Jesus!

THE BLESSINGS OF HOLY COMMUION

M: Second: What blessing do we receive through this eating and drinking?

C: That is shown us by these words: “Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Through these words we receive the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in this sacrament. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

H Y M N R E S P O N S E


2 Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross did suffer, Ever patient and lowly, Yourself to scorn did offer. All sins you carried for us, Else had despair reigned o’er us: Have mercy on us, O Jesus!


THE POWER OF HOLY COMMUION

M: Third: How can eating and drinking do such great things?

C: It is certainly not the eating and drinking that does such things, but the words “Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words are the main thing in this sacrament, along with the eat-ing and drinking. And whoever believes these words has what they plainly say, the forgiveness of sins.

H Y M N R E S P O N S E


3 Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross did suffer, Ever patient and lowly, Yourself to scorn did offer. All sins you carried for us, Else had despair reigned o’er us: Your peace be with us, O Jesus!

THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUION

M: Fourth: Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?

C: Fasting and other outward preparations may serve a good purpose, but he is properly prepared who be-lieves these words: “Given” and “poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is not prepared, because the words “for you” require nothing but hearts that believe.

S O N G O F S I M E O N

Nunc Dimittis


Soli Deo

Gloria

Please take a moment to sit in silence as we conclude today’s worship, contemplating the

depth of our Savior’s dying love for us.

P S A L M 8 8 As Psalm 88 is read, the altar, which symbolizes Christ, is stripped in token of

Jesus’ abandonment by his disciples in Gethsemane on the night he was betrayed.

O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.

May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.

For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am like a man without strength.

I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.

You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?

Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.

Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.

You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend. (NIV84)

maundy thursday - 4.9.2020 - zion lutheran church & school · 4/9/2020 · cariot, son of...

Documents