“Maundy Thursday Meditation”

Matthew 26: 26-46

Pastor Deb Troester, STHPC, April 2, 2026

All of us have let someone down at some time. Maybe we forgot a big day – a birthday or an anniversary. Maybe we did something that disappointed a person who loves us. Maybe we weren’t there for someone when they really needed us. Maybe we did something worse – a real betrayal. It’s a terrible thing to be betrayed by a friend. Perhaps even more terrible is to realize what you have done. After Judas betrayed Jesus that night, we read that “he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver [he had been given for betraying Christ to the chief priests and the elders…Then he went away and hanged himself.”

Peter also betrayed Christ by denying that he even knew him. As Jesus had warned him, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” At that time “Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Despite his good intentions, fear got the better of Peter,

fear of being arrested as Jesus’ follower, fear of even being identified with him. As a result, before the night was out, he swore publicly that he didn’t even know Jesus.

What was recorded in the Gospels was written for our benefit, that we might learn from it. What can we learn from such tragic events? Most importantly, we can understand that Jesus forgives. Remember on the cross when Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? Jesus not only forgave the soldiers who had so cruelly mocked him, nailed him to a cross, and gambled for his clothes; he also forgave the jeering crowd who demanded that he be crucified. He forgave Pilate, Herod, the chief priests, and all the authorities who conspired to put him on the cross. He even forgave Judas, who betrayed him.

After his Resurrection, Mark tells us that the angel who spoke to the women at the empty tomb told them, “He has risen! He is not here…But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

“Tell his disciples and Peter.” Jesus gave a special message to Peter – I want to see you. I forgive you. You are still my friend.

I wish we could all learn to extend this grace to one another. So much heartbreak and sorrow could be eliminated. A long time ago I was in a fender-bender and managed to dent our car. I waited nervously for Joe to come home from work. I knew he would be upset when I told him what had happened. After I confessed – and it really was my fault – Joe just said something like, “It’s OK. We’ll get it fixed,” and gave me a hug and kiss. Not another word. I remember that feeling of relief to this day – grace, not condemnation. We all need it. Let’s practice offering that to one another. Forgiveness is truly Christlike, and Christ came to show us what God is like – a loving, forgiving heavenly parent.

A friend of mine recently posted this story on Facebook: “Today I was at the store and heard a loud crash and something shattering. Being nosy, I walked towards the sound and saw some people whispering and looking back to the end of the next aisle.

When I walked down that aisle, I saw that an older lady had hit a shelf and many things had fallen to the ground and broken. She was kneeling on the floor embarrassed, frantically trying to clean up. I felt so bad for her. Everyone was just standing there staring at her. So I went and knelt beside her and told her not to worry and started helping her pick up the broken pieces. After a minute or so, the store manager came and knelt beside us and said, “Leave it, we will clean this up.” The lady, totally embarrassed said, “I need to pay for all this.” The manager smiled, helped her to her feet and said, “No ma’am, we have insurance for this, you do not have to pay anything!”

The story went on to say, “Wherever you are, close your eyes, (have people close their eyes) and imagine God doing the same for you! Imagine the broken pieces of your mistakes or the pieces of your broken heart from all the blows life has thrown at you all over the floor and you’re there trying to collect all of the pieces and fix them yourself. Now imagine God comes and kneels right down beside you, smiles and says to you, “Leave it all there, I will clean this up for you.”

With God, we have insurance – it’s called grace, and it’s free – the rate will never go up, because Christ paid it, once and for all on the cross. God will put all the broken pieces of our lives back together, and all we have to do is ask – ask for forgiveness, help, and healing. This is why Jesus came – to show us God’s loving and forgiving heart.

We’ve all let Jesus down in one way or another. Maybe we have even betrayed him. On the cross Jesus opened up his arms to us, to forgive us and cleanse us of sin. Let’s let go of the guilt and pain of whatever we have done that we’re not proud of, whatever we have done that has caused others hurt, whatever we have done that has harmed ourselves. We are God’s beloved children. God wants to forgive us and heal us. Amen.

Sermon @Deborah Troester, 2026