Today, churches across much of the world observe the Thursday before Easter with “Maundy Thursday” services. It’s an old tradition with origins in Jesus’ last week on earth, particularly the night of the Last Supper, and a powerful memory of the firs Holy Week.

Funny thing is, in that Last Supper, Jesus was ushering in something new, not saying goodbye to something old.

He told his disciples He was starting something new and giving them a new mandate (which has been translated “maundy”).

The new mandate? Jesus took the Seder feast of old, the most sacred ritual in the Jewish year, and turned it upside down.

The old Passover feast looked back, remembering the deliverance God did in Egypt.

The new Passover that Jesus started called His people to look forward to the coming deliverance when all that is wrong is made right.

The vision of the first Lord’s Supper was a bright, optimistic, forward-looking vision of a Last an Permanent Festival at the end of time, not a faint memory or tradition.

Even though He was only moments away from being arrested and beginning His darkest day, Jesus looked forward. Beyond the pain of the immediate to the promise of a better tomorrow.

Do you believe that your best days are yet to come? Do you live looking forward, or backward? Jesus always set His eyes forward.

And that made all the difference.