The Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- March 20, 2008

March 20, 2008 (Maundy Thursday)

John 13:1-15

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table,^* took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

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? 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 ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

It was a Maundy Thursday several years ago. I was at a service and the pastors decided to remember this night by doing what Jesus did- wash the feet of the congregation.

It was an interesting response.

Few came forward to take off their shoes and allow someone to wash their feet.  I've been and particiapated in other Maundy Thursday services where footwashing took place and the same thing- few wanted to take off their shoes and socks to allow someone to wash their feet. It's funny, it's as if revealing our bare feet is too vulnerable an act to be doing in church.

On that evening so long ago, Jesus bent down and started to wash his disciples' feet.  Peter was incensed.  I wonder if it was because of the same reason- Peter didn't want to be that vulnerable around Jesus.  Neither could he allow Jesus, his Lord, to be in such a humble position.

Jesus would have none of it.  Jesus tells the disciples that even though he is Teacher and Lord, he got down on his knees and served his friends and he calls on the disciples to serve each other.

As it was then, so it should be now- Jesus calls us to live a life of service to each other.  But Jesus also calls us to be vulnerable with each other-not trying to hide from our brothers and sisters.  Judas hid his decision to betray Christ, and appeared normal.  Christ was calling Judas and the others to not "play church" but to live lives of honesty.

Servant God, help us to see that to be a Christ-follower means serving others.  Forgive us for not being honest with ourselves and each other.  Help us to uncover our feet and live out in the open. Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)  with standing in the United Church of Christ.