04062023 – Maundy Thursday

Hundreds and hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, the prophets wrote that the Messiah would be “a servant.”

Isaiah or his scribe, scribbled the words, “See, my servant, my Chosen One, in whom I delight.”

Isaiah, the prophet, became NOTORIOUS for his depiction of “a suffering servant.” The question was, WHO WAS the suffering servant? Was it ISAIAH? Was it the MESSIAH? Was it ISRAEL, as a NATION, or as a PEOPLE? Or, was the “suffering servant” SOMEONE ELSE? The debate rages on…

Jesus said, “the Son of man DID NOT COME to be SERVED, but to SERVE, and to GIVE his LIFE as a ransom for ALL.”

He also said, “A SERVANT is NOT GREATER than his master.”

Jesus modeled servanthood when he came to DWELL among us.

He became a servant when he was OBEDIENT to the will of God.

He took on the role of a servant, as he took off his robes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and WASHED HIS DISCIPLE’S FEET.

Taking on the role of a servant was NO EASIER then, then it is NOW.

It is always a very humbling experience.

It has been said that his SUPREME ACT of servanthood came when he DIED ON THE CROSS, giving his life as a ransom for ALL.

Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest, Professor, writer, and theologian wrote:

Our God is a SERVANT GOD.

“It is difficult for us TO COMPREHEND that we are LIBERATED, SET FREE by someone who became POWERLESS, that we are being STRENGTHENED by someone who became WEAK, that we find NEW HOPE in someone who DIVESTED HIMSELF of all distinctions, and that we find A LEADER in someone who became a SERVANT.”

God’s emphasis on SERVANTHOOD is the EXTREME OPPOSITE of the teaching and practice of most SECULAR leaders.

TODAY, we look at those who are in public office and concur they are not there for us, but rather for what THEY can get out of the office they hold.

Jesus served OTHERS.

He was not “in it” for himself. He was “in it” for us.

He demonstrated servanthood, showing mankind that REAL POWER resides in humble acts of service.

Most leaders DEMAND to be served.

But Jesus always demanded that those who follow him, follow A DIFFERENT PATHWAY.

We should NOT throw our weight around, or let POWER go to our heads.

Rather we should follow the model of leadership that Jesus (himself) displayed.

Like him, we are NOT HERE to be served but to SERVE OTHERS.

It is NOT about us, but rather about the GREATER GOOD.

To serve means being:

More INCLUSIVE and less EXCLUSIVE.

More HUMILITY (humbleness) and showing less PRETENSE.

Showing more COMPASSION, and having less INDIFFERENCE toward OTHERS.

So how are we doing?

More importantly, how are YOU DOING?

HOW GOOD ARE YOU at serving others?

I am convinced that most of the difficulties that individual congregations go through, can be traced back to a LACK of SERVANT MINDSET or ATTITUDE among the faithful.

COMPLAINTS that we never sing “the good hymns anymore” is all about me and about what I want. And how, I want to run the show, my way, as it were.

TURF WARS (over space) in the building or lack thereof, is all about ME and MY committee and OUR PRIORITY over others.

Even little things like PRIORITY on the CHURCH CALENDAR is all about me, and my committee, and our work…and getting us “OUT THERE TO BE SEEN before others.”

Fighting over budget appropriations and who gets “HOW MUCH” is the same kind of thing…

THESE ARE ALL SIGNS that we have put ourselves, and not OTHERS, at the center of the communities life.

It’s all about us!

Remember what Paul wrote about how ALL of OUR PARTS are connected “to each other?”

We need to go back to that and see and realize our INTERCONNECTEDNESS.  We are in it TOGETHER. We are here FOR EACH OTHER.

So when it comes to servanthood and the footwashing, one must wonder just WHAT WAS JESUS THINKING?

Peter spoke for many, when he said, “You will NEVER WASH MY FEET!”

After more than four decades of getting down on the ground and sliding (uncomfortably) on my knees between chairs, and then attempting to get back up, I can tell you that most people frequently apologize for their feet well in advance…

There is something about our feet that makes us feel uncomfortable and vulnerable.

A great many people would never expose their feet to anyone. But neither do they applaud those who do.

Our feet tend to be unsightly, at least in our own estimation.

People will speak of their knobs, calluses, bunions, corns, fungus, misshapen toes, ingrown toenails, hammer toes, warts, and bumps…and their dirty, smelly feet routinely.

They will apologize for NOT cutting or trimming their nails…or their failure to wash them before they came…

Sometimes they will speak about their surgeries…and their built-up scar tissue.

The whole affair is pretty disconcerting. As far as I can tell…there is only a handful of reasons for continuing the practice.

First, Jesus commanded it.

It is right up there with the commandment to Love one another.

Secondly, Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” (Which most people totally disregard!)

And thirdly, because it does set an example. Once a year. You see it reenacted. You understand that Jesus himself did this. He got down on his knees before his disciples.

It was yet another example of servanthood…of doing…what our world does NOT do.

It is a symbolic act of being a servant, taking on the role of a slave, a prisoner, or a woman.

For the moment, you are less than…

And everybody else is greater than…

It is an awkward moment of humility and servitude.

“See, my servant, my Chosen One, in whom I delight.”

And Jesus disrobed.

Amen.