Holy Week: Maunday Thursday

Read: John 13:1-20

There are things in life we because we want to, there are things we do because we have to, and there are things we do because we love. If you have ever changed a baby's diaper, cleaned up a child's puke, cared for an aging parent, or cleaned up after your dog, you know what humble service is all about. Love is an action not a feeling, and there is no action which greater defines love than actions of humble service.

As Jesus gathered with his disciples in the first Holy Week, he gathered to share Godly wisdom, examples for living, and love. The footwashing ritual that Jesus performs on the disciples is a powerful example of humble service demonstrating love. Jesus wanted the disciples to remember his act of love, but to set an example for them to follow as well.

³⁴And 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. ⁶ John 13:3-5

Imagine how the simple act of footwashing could have been seen as a genuine act of love and service. In their journeys with Jesus, the disciples did a tremendous amount of walking. They walked everywhere they went and never stopped for very long. They traveled on dirty and dusty roads, wearing no more than simple sandals on their feet. As you might imagine, the disciples feet were perpetually filthy. When entering a home, or gathering for a formal occassion, the owner of the house might provide a place to wash your own feet, or if wealthy provide a servant to wash the feet of guests. For Jesus to wash his disciples feet was an act of humbling himself in order to provide service. Jesus' example demonstrates his love, but also sets an example for the disciples to follow.

Like the disciples, if we want to follow the path of Jesus, it must be a path of humility, love, and service. The disciples were not to acquire power and lord it over people, but to use their positions of authority and power to serve and love others.

¹⁵¹⁶So 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. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:15-17

The ritual of footwashing is of course about more than feet, it is about living our life as followers of Christ. Being a Christian means loving God and loving one another. Following the example of Jesus, we can best love one another by humbling ourselves and offering generous acts of servant love. Love is an action, an action which requires, at times, for us to get dirty so others might get clean.

Questions:
-What does it mean to you that Jesus humbled himself in an act of servant love?
-In what ways do your actions demonstrate love and humility?
-In what ways do your actions demonstrate lack of time, attention, and love?
-What can you do to show yor love more?

Prayer: Lord, help me become humble, help me serve and love others as you have loved me. Lord, let me be generous with my time, energy, and talents and meet the basic needs of those I love, in Jesus' name, AMEN.