Maundy Thursday — Godʻs Eternal and Living Word

April 9, 2020

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

Now Jesus’s disciples were quite an amazing group of leaders who were blessed to have witnessed many miraculous healings of people by Jesus from all kinds of ailments. They were even privileged to have observed the powerful miracle that was the restoration of Lazarus from the grave. On Palm Sunday the disciples witnessed Christ’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey, a symbol of humility and being hailed as King of kings by throngs of people who gathered in the streets. However, on this Thursday evening the disciples were about to observe another important teaching whereby Jesus turns their world upside down.

First, he prepares a room for his closest followers and friends to gather for one last meal together. While they are eating, Jesus stands up and sanctifies them with a personal demonstration of what servant leadership really looks like. Jesus, the King of kings, and Lord of lords removes his robe and with a bowl of water and a cloth he begins to wash and dry each person’s feet. Then after he finishes this deep act of aloha Jesus utters this command, “Love others as I have loved you.” The word Maundy is Latin for “Command”, and it is on this evening that Jesus commands and establishes the kind of servant leadership that would support most of these disciples in their ministries of healing, teaching, and preaching. Some sat with tears of humility rolling down their faces as they watched their Mighty Jesus perform the duty of a slave. One struggled with his pride and another had no intention of being saved by grace and betrayed Jesus later that evening. What makes Jesus the Greatest teacher ever? Why is our Redeemer King referred to as the Master Teacher?

E lilo ana ka lani a me ka honua; akā, ʻaʻole loa e lilo kaʻu mau ʻōlelo.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
- Mataio/Matthew 24:35

Simply put, Christ’s teachings are God-breathed and true and will stand the test of time.

Over 1800 years will have passed until our very own Princess Pauahi would read God’s word and chose to follow Jesus’ demonstration of leading with love. As an aliʻi, alakaʻi lawelawe was already in her DNA, but Jesus’ teaching provided our aliʻi with a firm foundation of Ke aloha mau loa and this proved that his humble posture of guidance would win over our people. So, Pauahi trusted Christ’s teachings and utilized the Jesus principles and lessons to save her people, our lāhui. Maundy Thursday directs us to love others the way Christ loved us, and when we begin to serve each other with Christ’s unconditional love we will discover that Jesus is the way to eternal life. Ke ola mau loa!

See and hear a message from Nā Kahu o Kamehameha to carry throughout the Easter weekend below.

Kahu Kaunaloa begins the Easter service message with a devotional about Maundy Thursday.