Maundy Thursday Thoughts

A story of irony and power . . .

As Jesus gathered his disciples together to share a meal the night before the festival of Passover, he took off his outer robe, tied a towel around himself, poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. (John 13.2b-5) Faithfulness makes itself known this night, not in taking a place at the table but, in humbly bowing before another in service, taking on the most lowly of tasks in the washing of feet.

Today's Christian community is often more focused on the fuzzy 'good feeling' we get from saying, "Maundy Thursday is about Jesus giving the disciples a new commandment, 'Love one another'.", but the truth of the matter is this: Before Jesus speaks a word about 'love', he preaches a sermon on servanthood. The Christian community whose credo does not include the towel of servanthood, but focuses on the Last Supper and a New Commandment, has missed the heart of what happens that fateful night and, consequently, started about three feet too high. Jesus washed feet first then said, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also out to wash one another's feet." (John 13:12b-14)

Uniquely from the context of One who has washed the feet of others, then, does that same One feed others with Body and Blood and give a new Commandment. From that same context, then, what does it mean for the One who washes feet to be silent before the authorities? What does it mean for the One who washes feet to take on the lashes and brutality of betrayal? What does it mean for the One who washes feet to carry a cross to Golgotha? What does it mean for the One who washes feet to be hung by nails upon that cross? What does it mean for the One who washes feet to give up his Spirit and die?

Such a new Commandment has a context - and a price, for not all the world wants to wash the feet of others. Not all the world desires to be embraced by the Relational God. Not all the world prefers the towel of Servanthood . . . and waits eagerly to crucify anyone who does.The good news of the Gospel is this: The Kingdom of heaven has come near.

Do you embrace it as Jesus proclaims it? Or sterilize it to fit your comfort level? The answer is in the distance between where one kneels down to serve and where another sits, waiting to be served.

A blessed Maundy Thursday to all.