Good morning…
The Thursday before Easter is called Maundy Thursday. Christ’s final “mandate” is commemorated today, with “maundy” being a shortened form of the Latin word “mandatum,” which means “command.” What command or mandate is so important to Jesus that it is given its own special day in the church year? At Thursday’s Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus says: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34, NIV). To deepen the lesson, Jesus teaches not only with words but with a tangible, hands-on demonstration.
Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing (John 13:3-5, NLT).
After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said: Do you understand what I have done? You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you (13:12-15).
Then Jesus says a perplexing thing. I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them (13:16). Who of us thinks servants are greater than their master? Who of us thinks messengers are greater than the one who sent them? None of us. None of us would say, “Servants and messengers are greater,” but our deeds say, “I want to stay comfortably in control.” Too often, we act as if we know better than God, struggling to surrender to the higher ways our LORD. At the final feast, Jesus shows us how.
Just like our Lord, we know we have come from God and will go back to God. We also know that in union with the Father we are given complete power. As God’s humble servant-messengers, we pour from ourselves the living water of the Holy Spirit, touching, soothing, energizing one another. Sharing God’s loving care, we softly wipe, dry, nurture. You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them (13:17).
The first disciples were taught to tenderly “wash feet.” Now it is our turn. This Maundy Thursday, might we surrender to God, loving each other as Jesus loves us? Daily. Fingers-to-feet. In a life-giving way. “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another” (13:35, CEV).
…Sue…
