Maundy Thursday - A Table - A Towel and A Test

A Table, A Towel, and A Test
Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-62, John 13:1-35

Dear Beloved BFB.

As we walk through Holy Week together, we come to one of the most sacred moments in the journey — Maundy Thursday. This night isn’t just about what Jesus did — it’s about what He gave us. He gave us a table to gather around, a towel to serve with, and a test to reveal the depth of our love and loyalty. And if we’ll slow down and lean in for a few moments, there’s something here for each of us.

1. A Table of Covenant
We remember that Jesus sat down with His closest friends — even the ones who would fail Him — and offered Himself fully. As He broke the bread and lifted the cup, He wasn’t just following tradition. He was showing them (and us) that a new covenant was being written in His blood.
"This is my body... this is my blood... poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26–28)
It strikes me that Jesus gave this gift knowing full well what the next hours would bring — betrayal, denial, abandonment. And still, He offered it freely. Every time we gather around the Lord’s Table, we are reminded: We belong because of His love, not our performance.

2. A Towel of Service
Before Jesus ever broke bread, He picked up a towel. John tells us that Jesus knelt down and washed His disciples’ feet — an act so shocking that Peter couldn’t even make sense of it at first.
"If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." (John 13:14)
It was messy. It was uncomfortable. It was holy. It reminds me that true greatness in the Kingdom doesn’t come from titles or recognition. It comes from choosing to serve when it would be easier to sit. It comes from getting low enough to lift others up. Jesus didn’t just serve in convenience — He served in love. And He invites us to do the same.

Question:
Where is God calling you to pick up the towel and serve?

3. A Test of Love and Loyalty
There’s one more piece of the night that we sometimes skip past too quickly — the test. Even at this most sacred table, betrayal and abandonment were seated nearby. Judas would betray him. Peter would deny him. The others would all run away. Yet Jesus loved them to the end.
He washed Judas’ feet.
He gave Peter a seat.
He prayed over them all.
“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him." (John 13:31)
It reminds me that our failures don’t cancel His faithfulness. Even when we stumble, His love is steady. His mercy is still available. His grace is still enough.

So here’s the question:
Will you let His love find you — even in the places you’re tempted to hide?

Maundy Thursday gives us a chance to remember who Jesus really is:
The One who invites us to His table.
The One who kneels with a towel.
The One who loves us through the tests.

Let’s not rush past it. Let’s linger at the table. Let’s let Him wash the places we don’t like to show. Let’s say yes again to the kind of love that changes everything. May you feel the depth of His love and the power of His grace in a fresh, personal way.

In His Service
FLC
p.s. I love you and there ain't nothing you can do about it.