May the mumbling commence!
Welcome to Maundy Thursday 2012! “What is Maundy Thursday,” you ask? It is when the church gathers to remember the last Passover meal that Jesus had with his disciples. It includes a love feast – a simple meal shared with our Christian brothers and sisters. It includes some Scripture readings. It includes communion. It includes washing one another’s feet. Washing one another’s feet?!? Really?!?
Yes. We read from John chapter thirteen each year. We read to explain to those young in the faith why washing one another’s feet is so important. These explanations echo the questions and explanations that were asked at the Jewish festival of Passover. Read the passage below:
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (Verses 1-17)
Jesus took on the role of the lowest of servants when he washed his disciples’ feet. It is similar to how you and I would feel about cleaning some nasty public restrooms – especially the toilets. Jesus was lifting up a new way of leadership and the use of power. Leadership and power are both better used when they are done from a stance of humility and humble service.
Why do some Christians continue to wash one another’s feet? Jesus called for his disciples to do as he had done for them. Jesus promised a blessing to those who did. To wash one another’s feet we must set aside any sense of privilege that we have. We must set aside any qualms that we have about being served by others. Both are important. Jesus told Simon Peter, “Unless I wash your feet you will have no part with me.”
Washing one another’s feet also means that we must leave behind any grudges that we might hold against one another. Did you realize that Jesus washed the feet of Judas Iscariot – the one who would betray him? Jesus knew that Judas would betray him – that is why he said “though not every one of you [is clean].”
Jesus humbly served the man who would betray him. And Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. That is powerful leadership. That is godly leadership.
In comparison, our grievances with one another seem quite small, trivial, and insignificant. Jesus loved Judas without regard to any return of love in kind. Jesus showed the full extent of his love for his disciples – including Judas.
May we show the same level of humble service, acceptance of service, and love for each other this Maundy Thursday. The world will know we are Christians by our love. What better way to show and explain our love?
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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