04092020 – Maundy Thursday
Again, John’s gospel is so very different when compared to that of the SYNOPTICS.
In John, and its account, of the events at the LAST SUPPER, there is no mention of the PASSOVER MEAL, and no EUCHARISTIC verbiage whatsoever.
Instead, WHAT we have IS the story of THE FOOT WASHING.
It’s a DIRTY JOB, but someone has to do it! Demeaning is WHAT it is!
This is a little bit more of Jesus’ TEACHING ministry…he is still squeezing-in as much as he can…for as long as he can…
Knowing he was going to DIE…
SOONER rather than later…
KNOWING that the clock was TICKING and for him, it must have been ticking VERY LOUDLY…
He TEACHES.
Almost like “SHOW AND TELL!”
He teaches BY EXAMPLE.
Perhaps no passage of scripture illustrates better “what it is like” to have the HEART of a SERVANT than John 13.
This text shows us WHAT LOVE IS all about.
LOVE is shown IN action.
By WHAT WE DO.
Together in the “UPPER ROOM” a mere HOURS before his own crucifixion and death and Jesus is found TEACHING.
Doing a little “last minute CRAMMING.”
LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
Imagine the SCENE…if you will…
EVERYTHING was ready for their LAST MEAL together…
Everything except for…ONE LITTLE DETAIL.
…That seems to have been forgotten or somehow OVERLOOKED.
It was customary.
It was to be expected.
Accordingly, a SERVANT with a basin of water and towel in hand SHOULD HAVE APPEARED to wash the feet of the disciples who had just walked down those dusty-dirty-Palestinian-roadways.
But WHERE were THEY?
NO ONE was appearing!
WHY was this minute detail NOT taken care of?
WHO would perform this act of KINDNESS?
I imagine them WAITING and looking around!
Quizzically wondering WHO would appear?
WHO was going to do this FOR them?
If you would have waited for “one of the DISCIPLES” to drop down and do it, you would have been waiting ALL DAY.
There is NO WAY, that I am going to wash YOUR feet.
I am NOT your SLAVE.
I am NOT your SERVANT.
I DO NOT submit myself to YOU.
That is MENIAL work.
IT IS DEGRADING.
It is BENEATH me!
There is NO WAY, I am lowering MYSELF for YOU.
How condescending, how humiliating…
Where was the HOST?
This was crazy!
The whole conversation sounded exactly like “THAT DAY” on the road when they were arguing and bickering between themselves about WHICH ONE of them was GREATER.
NOW, they were at it again.
WHEN are they ever going to LEARN?
SO, out of the blue – a perfect picture and lesson of servanthood appears a real teaching moment.
Jesus HIMSELF rises to the task.
HE lays aside his outer garment.
HE places a towel around his waist.
HE grabs the water and the basin.
And HE begins washing THEIR feet.
One after the other…
After the other.
Their mouths AJAR.
Their expressions PRICELESS.
Jesus was confident.
He did what needed to be done.
His thinking and his action contrasts sharply with “the self-seeking insecurity of the disciples.”
His was an “amazing attitude” of condescension. It was his attitude. He lived as he believed.
So, returning once again to his place at the table he made this very pointed application:
Do you GET it? Do you UNDERSTAND?
It was an INESCAPEABLE lesson.
YOU MUST DO LIKEWISE!
Do not seek to ELEVATE yourselves “above others.”
Are YOU really BETTER than they? OR, do you just THINK that you are?
Ironically, and contrary to the thinking of the world, real blessings come in serving “others.”
SERVE, gladly, willingly and being happy, to do so!
You be a blessing FOR others!
Amen.