This is Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples in Jerusalem, the day before he died on the cross. I wrote this post three years ago and I believe it's still got a lot going for it.
On Thursday of the week he was to die, Jesus
did something no one expected. During a meal with his disciples, he got up from the table and began to wash their grimy feet. The road dust, bits of donkey manure, and other kinds of grit on their feet yielded to his gentle hands and the clean water. The towel around his waist dried their toes, and left their feet refreshed.
But only their feet. Their minds were just as much a mess as ever. Simon Peter argued with Jesus, not yet recognizing the symbolism, objecting to his rabbi taking on that serving position. The others, looking on in amazement, may have had some of the same ideas but it didn't express them. All of them were in turmoil, and misunderstood the moment until much later. Judas Iscariot also experienced his Master's touch. Because of his inner conflicts with Jesus, he may have appreciated the active service least of all.
You and I, though: do we understand how to serve as Jesus did? Sometimes, I'm sure we do; often, we are busy with their own tasks and don't even think about it. Today, the anniversary of that night in Jerusalem, would be a good time to practice surving. Can you go out of your way to serve someone humbly, unexpectedly, today? Whom would you serve? You might not have to look far: sometimes our own spouses and feel the most neglected of our true focused attention. Or it might be a friend, or even a stranger on the street asking for money.
And then, do we know how to accept for service from someone else? Protesting, not letting ourselves be served, speaks of pride and control issues, which I have just like you. Can you and I be humble enough to be served? Or do you insist on staying in control, making everything turn out the way we want?
Yes there are lots of lessons for one night, one act, in Jerusalem. Maybe we are to stop and pray through them with our Savior, the foot washer. And follow in his footsteps.
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