Maundy Thursday

Jesus washes the disciples feet.

John 13, selected verses

     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. 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."

     "Little children, I am with you only a little longer.  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

     We call this day Maundy Thursday.  Maundy comes from the Latin word, mandatum, referring to the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples the last night he spent with them before his crucifixion. 

     Jesus knew this was his last night with these special friends, that one of them would betray him, another would deny that he knew him, and most would run and hide.  Jesus had spent most of three years with these twelve men, and must surely have wondered if they were ever going to “get it.”  He didn’t spend these last hours telling them to take notes of last-minute instructions and reminders of things to be sure they did once he was gone. 

     Jesus taught that night by modeling love and humility.  In the first verses of this passage, we are told two important things: that Jesus knew that his earthly ministry was coming to an end, and that he loved his people.  Before the meal, Jesus knelt down and washed the feet of each of his disciples.  Not just a few of them – all of them, even Judas who would betray him, and Peter who would deny knowing him three times before the next morning.  What wondrous love is this!

     Once Jesus finished washing the feet of all the disciples, he clearly explained what he had done and what their faithful response to this act should be .  You should wash one another’s feet... Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways.  Everyone will know you as my followers if you demonstrate your love to others (The Voice Bible).

     The call for the disciples that night was to fully accept Jesus’ gesture of love and to be shaped by that love. Using Jesus as our example, our call is to love one another with no limits, no boundaries, no restrictions.  Jesus does not ask us to follow him by giving up our lives, but by giving away our lives.  To love as Jesus loves is to live a life fully shaped by a love whose expression brings us in closer relationship with Jesus, with God, and with one another.  

Loving God,

You sent your only Son, Jesus, to show us your great love for us.  
Help us to love others as you love us, 
     to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ,

so that all those who see the way we live will know that we follow Jesus.

Amen.