Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31) Why has the Christian Church for centuries and centuries remembered Christmas and Easter? Because these events are primary events of the life of Jesus Christ. By keeping these Christians abide in the Word, they remember, they keep the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus always before them.

This particular day is also fantastically sacred. The Word of God goes to great lengths to record what happened on the first Holy Thursday. It commemorates Christ’s instruction on love, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and the prediction and then actual betrayal by one of His disciples.

Don’t let the fancy language distract you. “Maundy” is from the Latin “mandatum,” meaning “commandment.” Jesus gave His Church two very special commandments on this night:

1. Love one another.

2. Do this in remembrance of Me (referring to the Lord’s Supper).

It is amazing to step back and consider of all the things He might have said before His betrayal, arrest, torture and crucifixion, that He would give these two things to His Church.

These we will highlight tonight in our Holy Thursday evening service.

The service starts at 7 pm at my residence: 21986 Mae Circle, Lake Forest. From the 405, take Bake and head east for one mile, turn right on Jeronimo, then take the second right which is Heidi, Heidi veers right (becomes Kathy) and take first immediate right into Mae Circle. We are at the end of the cul-de-sac on the right. This is a full service with Holy Communion, we’re making extra bulletins so invite a friend. Great music, the Word and Prayer, and my message will focus on how we know God’s love in connection to the key theme on Holy Thursday. What is it? Come find out and worship.

In Christ,

Dr. Espinosa