A Message Delivered by The Rev. John D. Painter at Centenary United Methodist Church Metuchen, New Jersey April 13, 2006

In his book, Sunday Dinner: The Lord’s Supper and the Christian Life, United Methodist Bishop William Willimon offers a powerful testimony: “I’m glad Judas was at the table with him that dark Thursday night, and Peter and all the rest. For if they had not been there then, I don’t know how I could dare, my unfaithfulness being what it is, to come to the Lord’s table on Sunday morning.” Or Thursday evening. Especially this Holy Thursday evening, when we are again reminded of our own unworthiness and unfaithfulness.

I believe we have all been fascinated by the stories of the recent translation of The Gospel of Judas. I have read it, and can tell you it is difficult to understand and clearly Gnostic in its origins. It was written much later than the four Gospels with which we are familiar in the NT…perhaps somewhere around A.D. 150.

Continue reading Reflections on Maundy-Holy Thursday