Dear Ones,
Hope you are able to celebrate this Maundy Thursday in some special way. We have Bible Study here this afternoon and then a communion service at church tonight. It has been snowing all day but not much is sticking so we are glad for that. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I have thought about Jesus last night before His crucifixion and what that must have been like. We discussed it in our Thursday Bible Study a few weeks ago also and saw how Jesus was preparing himself and told his disciples, in Luke 22:15, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” He knew what was ahead and was ready to give Himself for them and for us.
What an example Jesus gave of emptying Himself and taking a servant role by washing his disciples’ feet. Just think, before Jesus did this his disciples had been arguing about which of them would be regarded as the greatest. If I was a teacher and my students were fighting over something so contrary to what I taught them, I would have been discouraged. After all Jesus taught his disciples about taking the lowest place, being humble and must have wondered if his disciples would ever learn everything He tried to teach them.
But perhaps this example of washing their feet would stay with them forever. That was the job of a servant, and not the King of Kings. It was especially amazing to me that Jesus washed the feet of Judas even though He knew Judas was the one who would turn him in and betray him. Jesus didn’t fight back but bowed and knelt and washed his feet, as all the other disciples. He loved all.  Could I do that? I have to say, I’m not sure I would have, or at least I would have had a big struggle. But Jesus said in John 13:17 (God’s Word), “If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.”
Jesus then followed by serving them the bread and the wine. How about us as we anticipate sharing in the Lord’s supper. What is our attitude? Are we humble and willing to admit our sins and then thankful for what Jesus did; or do we take the bread and the wine without much thought? The bread is His body broken for us and the wine is his blood shed for us. One time I got to help Al with communion and I was left with such an awesome awareness of what He sacrificed for us, for me. I will never forget it. Let us be mindful of all Jesus has done for us.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you follow Jesus’ example.
Blessings on this Maundy Thursday and prayers and love, Judy