Pastor Kaden's Sermon Notes for Maundy Thursday: Jesus' Legacy
April 9th, 2020

The dictionary provides two definitions for the word "legacy". I'd like to begin with the second definition which tells us that a legacy is, "an applicant to a particular college or university who is regarded preferentially because a parent or other relative who attended the same institution". I must say I didn't know that before. However, it's the first definition for legacy that got me thinking about something. The first definition defines legacy as, "an amount of money or property left to someone in a will". Now that, I knew.

And yet, to me, the definition is too narrow. To me, there’s much more an individual leaves behind to others than just money or property; things like character qualities such as honesty, integrity, and kindness, for example. At funeral or memorial services, family members will eulogize their loved one describing such qualities, stating these are things the deceased has left behind as part of her/his "legacy". What kind of legacy will you leave behind for your children and grandchildren?

As we enter the Upper Room on this Maundy Thursday night with Jesus and the disciples, we're reminded of a portion of Jesus' legacy to us; some of the important things He left behind for us to remember about Him and to put into practice in our own lives. Let's take a look at just a few.

Enter the Upper Room by reading: Luke 22: 1-13.

So many things occurred during this solemn time. For Jesus and the disciples, the celebration of this Passover was unlike any they had ever celebrated before. First of all, Jesus would wash the disciple's feet. The account is found in the gospel of John chapter 13: 1-17. God the Son stoops down to wash our dirty feet. That's astonishing! It should, "take our breath away". He gave us an example of humility that he wants us to practice with one another, vss. 12-17. He's left us, a legacy of humility.

He also left us the legacy of forgiveness, mercy, and grace. As we know, Judas, one of his own disciples', betrayed Jesus into the hands of the religious leaders. And, Simon Peter, who boasted of his unfailing allegiance to Jesus denies Jesus three times before the sun rose the next morning. And, all of the other disciples would "forsake him and flee" when he was arrested. Jesus was betrayed and denied by his own, those who were closest to him. And yet, even though he was aware of their failures, Jesus had come to, "seek and save the lost". Here, and throughout his life, Jesus modeled a life of forgiveness, mercy, and grace to unworthy sinners like you and me. John 13: 18-38

He also left us a legacy of love. Luke 22: 14-20. During the celebration of Passover, after Judas had left the room, Jesus institutes "The Lord's Supper", a celebration of his love and sacrifice for us. Whenever we gather at the Table in community, we are reminded of his death and of the communion we share with him. We also celebrate the hope that is ours in Christ, knowing the meal is but a foretaste of the eternal feast we shall one day enjoy together in the kingdom of heaven.

And, there's more, at the Table, he issues a "new commandment" for us to practice. "A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men shall know you are my disciples, if you love one another". (John 13: 34). Throughout his life, the Lord Jesus demonstrated what real love is, and how it operates in relationship with others. He commands us to love one another in the same fashion as He has loved us. His legacy of love.

The dictionary defines legacy as "an amount of money or property left to someone in a will". Applying that definition to us, we're all rich because of the incredible legacy Jesus has left to us.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor George Kaden