The New Commandment

MAUNDY THURSDAY

1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Mark 14:17-21; John 13:31-35

On this day, we imagine the gathering in the Upper Room. Jesus and his twelve companions gathered to celebrate Passover, but Jesus rewrote the rite of this sacred meal, placing himself at the center. He did so to give the “new commandment”—the directive to practice love as he has done throughout his earthly ministry. Barely will the dishes be cleared than the disciples find that they cannot keep this commandment. The fall to the weaknesses that they always had. They trip over the foibles that always trip them. They are still very much who and what they have always been. Yet, the new commandment stands. Jesus did not rescind their places within the circle. He shared the bread and the cup with every one of them, knowing full well what would come of them. In fact, it seems even more insistent that they partake precisely because of what will happen to them—they need this meal in every aspect of its unfolding. That will be the key to the outcome of obedience to the new commandment.

LOVE AS I LOVE

The first issue is gaining a deep understanding into what Jesus’ “new commandment” really means. What does it mean to love as Christ loved? Maundy Thursday itself becomes a living parable explaining love defined by Christ. It is first an uninhibited self-offering—Christ gives himself to whomever he encounters without reservation.The words of institution that guide the celebration of the meal make it clear—body and blood—life—is given. Jesus met people in full openness, regardless of who or what they were, accepting them, and then meeting them with whatever he could offer to transform them—note any of the healings. This self-offering will be sacrificial, even ultimately so. Again, “body and blood” indicate that Jesus offers the totality of his being for the sake of love. The cross will be the final expression—Christ will die so all can live. Third, Christ abides—he will not forsake anyone even though they will forsake him. He does not curse the disciples, he loves them. As they fail to stay awake, as they deny him, as they betray him, and as they all flee; Christ loves them. There is no thought that someone forfeited their right to be loved, even if such a response seems justified—love abides. So, if we are to be obedient to the love of Christ, then our love will be self-emptying, sacrificial, and present.

OH, THE HUMANITY

Well, we immediately begin to see the issue with all of this—who can do it? The Twelve certainly made a mess of it even as the words still hung in the air. They cannot fully offer themselves; the sacrifice is completely beyond their capability to complete or contemplate, and they cannot abide as fear drives them all away and drives them into the embodiment of their denial and betrayal. 

Something always gets in the way, if we are honest. It may be as existentially basic as self-preservation—that is ingrained into us—we preserve ourselves against danger, risk, and harm—Jesus embraces all of them. It can be our inability to use the panoramic lens Christ uses as he sees humanity—no categories, no distinctions, no divisions—all children of God—we depend on our categories for making our way through the world—it gives us order, peace of mind, and manageability—nothing Christ seemed to value. And it may be that most confounding of sins—self-centeredness—we slide into seeing the world and everyone it only as it affects us. Christ reversed that tendency every time he met another person. 

GRACE

And the question remains cemented in place—who can do this?

The story of the Disciples gives us all we need—yes, they failed—completely, utterly, totally—that night and the following day—but Sunday is coming!

In Christ, no failure is final. Return to the understanding that as Christ loves us, he abides—he stays with us for as long as it takes for us to get it, to be with him, and then embody him within the world. Christ has all the time in the world because time, for him, is meaningless—that is the glory of eternity. Christ sticks with the Disciples, even in death, certainly as the Risen Lord, ensuring they will see him for who he is and what he is. 

This may be getting ahead of the story—but to understand the new commandment, we have to go ahead and use what we all know—we know the outcome. Knowing the outcome gives us the tools for facing our fears, dealing with our issues, and transcending ourselves. 

And that is a working definition of grace. Use it. Trust it. Live it. Love can be done.