It is hard to believe that this actually is Holy Week. I can't say these 40 days have gone by quickly – because they haven't! But it also seemed like we would never get here.

And here we are.

In two days it will be Maundy Thursday, the day we remember when Jesus met with His disciples one last time.

I really wonder what that evening was like. What was the mood? Was it somber? Or was there the joy of deep fellowship, the power of love filling the room.

What was the lighting? The flickering light of oil lamps? Faces flickering in and out of shadow?

Was it quiet?

Or was their warm laughter?

Jesus knew what was coming. But did the disciples? Did they sense Jesus' apprehension, or did Jesus hide it from them?

I suspect as Jesus looked into their faces, one by one, he felt an overwhelming love for them. What mixed emotions He must have had! Knowing the kind of death that awaited Him – but knowing he was dying to save them.

What powerful love.

And as I was just thinking of all of that, I realized that these last few days of the passion story are the fullest, deepest, visible, physical expression of God's Love. Jesus embodied that Love.

It was expressed in His deep fellowship with his friends – friends who had become brothers to Him.

It was expressed when he bent down to wash their feet.

And of course, most powerfully when He gave His life to rescue ours. Shedding real blood, nailed to a very real, rough wooden cross.

The ultimate expression of Love.

God's love made real in our world.