[Depiction by Matthias Scheits (c. 1630-1700) of Jesus being recognized by His disciples after the Resurrection in the Breaking of Bread]
On Maundy Thursday, all the ordained folk in our area got together at St. Hilda’s with Bishop Don for the yearly remembrance of the Last Supper and renewal of our ordination vows. As soon as the opening song began, I sensed the Lord had something to say to me and, as I waited, I received very clearly “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together.” (Psalm 133) I sensed that this is what the Holy Spirit wanted me to write about this week.
These words go right along with our Lord’s words and actions at the Last Supper. Jesus washed their feet saying in effect this is how I want you to treat each other: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15 ESV)
Later in the evening Jesus said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV) (By the way, the very name for this day, Maundy Thursday, comes from the Latin word ‘mandatum’ which means commandment and refers to this new commandment Jesus gave his followers: “just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.”)
Now let’s turn to our Remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Lord. There is so much that Jesus accomplished in his death on the cross on our behalf. But the key to “all the benefits of His passion” is as follows: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:9-11 ESV)
This blessed reconciliation with God is the vertical and crucial dimension of Jesus’ atoning death. But our redemption does not end there. We are reconciled to God in order that may also be reconciled to one another and to have a depth of unity and fellowship that is not possible apart from faith in Christ. This is the horizontal dimension of the cross. The apostle John puts it this way: “… if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7 ESV) And we are warned: “If anyone says, ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother [in Christ] whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother [in Christ].” (1 John 4:20-21 ESV)
Coming into the light of who Jesus truly is and believing in Him leads to both cleansing from sin and true fellowship with other believers. Our hearts long for true intimacy with others yet our fallen natures get in the way of true fellowship. We are caught in a dilemma. We need relationships with others but are prone to both hurting and being hurt. Only through our new natures in Christ and by the inward working of the Holy Spirit can we begin to overcome this human dilemma. Like any part of our sanctification this is not easy. It is an ongoing work of God’s Holy Spirit with whom we must chose to cooperate. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26 ESV)
The blessing that God promises in this is wonderful! Hear the words of Psalm 133:
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
In heaven we will walk in the fullness and joy of this reconciled fellowship with God and with one another eternally! But eternal blessings are to begin from the moment we put our faith in Jesus. “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version, ©2011)
In this Resurrection season of the Father’s love, let us look for opportunities to manifest this great benefit of Jesus’ death on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead. This benefit of our unity in Christ has been bought with the precious blood of the incarnate Son of God. Let us not take it lightly nor squander His blessings. This true and costly fellowship with one another is meant to bless us and to make us a blessing and a sign to a lost world.
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