Maundy Thursday: Beautifully simple

I heard someone say, “I pay attention to what I do, to discover what I believe.” 

This reminds me of Jesus with his disciples on that night before he going to be tortured and executed. He doesn’t provide much teaching that night; at least not lecture style. It’s what he does with them that teaches them more than anything else. In the end he does say, “I have given you an example that you should go and do likewise.” Just to make it clear, he says, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Notice what Jesus did not say: “if you know these things, you are blessed.” 

Jesus never separates behavior from believing. In fact, he seems to say that by your behavior you reveal what you believe. That can be a scary thought, but there it is. Follow me; Jesus says to you, and by doing it you will learn what that means. Who is it that proves to be a neighbor? Go and do, Jesus says. Every single day becomes an adventure in learning to follow Jesus by paying attention to what you do. It is not that believing is unimportant: of course it is; at a pivotal moment Jesus asks Peter, Who do you say that I am? But most of the time you discover what you believe by what you do. I can say I love my wife but how I treat her is the only thing that makes love different from a sappy saying. And, yes that’s true for my friends, neighbors and those obnoxious people who have the gall to bother my happy life.

On that night, Jesus takes a towel and lowers himself lower than anyone can ever go. Veiled in the flesh of humility, God’s Son demonstrates what we can’t learn otherwise. It is not that dirt encrusted feet are washed – something that a host would never do in that culture or any other. A bowl might be put out for someone to wash his own feet. But Jesus by his actions teaches us the depths that God has descended to make us whole. The mantle of Jesus’ authority is a towel – what is used for cleaning tables, washing floors, menial tasks. I think about the various ways I’ve tried to establish authority: ego, intelligence, wit, degrees and so on. They all seem laughable in light of Jesus’ mantle of authority. 

Peter resists. Jesus insists. 

It all comes down (again) to surrender. Peter can’t control Jesus’ love; and I can’t control the universe however hard I have tried and failed. Honestly, I keep trying which is why I need the reminder of Jesus’ way. He is saying: you must learn to receive what is given to you. Your resistance is only false pride and another example of your attempts to stay in control. This is about receiving what Jesus desires to give you. Receiving this grace is beginning of your transformation.

Having received, Jesus now summons us into service. 

I think the order makes the difference. It is only be receiving what God has done for you, that you can rise and do for others what has been done for you. We become a hospitable community by first receiving what only Jesus can do. Jesus cleanses you and me from our pride, vanity and self-importance. Jesus seems to be saying it’s only when you are cleansed thoroughly, can you rise in the manner of Jesus with only a towel as the mantle of your authority. And that cleansing is never quite done; you keep coming back.

What is most astonishing to me is the tender moment between Judas and Jesus. Maybe because I believe Judas lives in me, constantly pushing aside Peter. 

Knowing full well what is going on, Jesus bends low to wash Judas’ feet too. Wow. Think about that. At this moment, Judas is his frenemy and Jesus knows it and he loves him anyway. 

Then Jesus says to the rest of us, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Sometimes Jesus can be beautifully simple. 

Let us love one another. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. 

_____

John 13:1-17: 31-34
How do you know?
Maundy Thursday - St. John’s Episcopal Church 
Roy W. Howard