“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – Jesus
These words spoken by Jesus and recorded in John 13:34 became the bases for naming this Thursday as “Maundy Thursday.” Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command,” and refers to this commandment from Jesus to “Love one another as I have loved you.” These words are spoken by Jesus following a meal he was sharing with his disciples the night before he laid down his life for his friends. During the meal Jesus offered a profound act of service to his disciples.
And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him (John 13).
This act of washing the feet of his disciples was so startling for them because it was the task expected to be performed by the slave of a household not by the leader and Lord of their lives! It was so startling in fact that Peter resisted, “Lord…you will never wash my feet.” Jesus challenged Peter’s resistance, and although Peter did not fully understand he did consent and opened himself to receive this act of service from his Lord. “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you (John 13).
Profound acts of service, in order to do their work in our lives, need to be both given and received. Jesus had graciously, in the weeks and days prior to this evening, received a washing and anointing of his feet both with tears and perfume (Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8). In the John 12 story Jesus interprets Mary’s anointing of his feet as a preparation for his burial. Now Jesus, in a humble act of service, washes his disciples’ feet. His act of service becomes a profound sign pointing to the greatest act of service he is about to perform by taking up the cross and dying upon it.
Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Jesus in Matthew 20)
The Covid restrictions of the past year have kept us from the practice of gathering around buckets or bowls to wash each other’s feet or hands. But the restrictions of Covid, while preventing us from this ritual, cannot prevent us from the act to which the ritual points; the act of serving each other in love. It can restrict the way we do that service but it cannot prevent the attitude of service that leads us to serve and love each other as Jesus loved us!
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – Jesus
As we reflect on the act of service and love that took Jesus to the cross may we receive that gift of love and be empowered to love and serve one another as Jesus loved and served us!
Pastor Ray