Maundy Thursday: Service: Christ Exemplified

3/28/2024

by Soren Beeson and Tyler Holcombe

Scripture

John 13:3-17; 34-35

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not 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, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Isaiah 49:3-6

And he said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my right is with the LORD,
and my recompense with my God.”

And now the LORD says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him—
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength—
he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Devotion

In Isaiah 49:3-6, Isaiah prophesied the coming of a servant, who would come to bring Israel back to God the Father. Jesus was that servant, but He would not come to them until later.

During Jesus’ time, the feet of a person were filthy, as walking on dusty paths was the most common form of travel, and sores, dirt, and mud would have covered them. In this passage (John 13:3-17, 34-35), after Jesus eats His supper, He gets up to wash the disciple’s grimy feet. When it came time to wash Peter’s feet, he did not want to be cleaned by Jesus’ hand. But Jesus, rich in compassion, explained why the washing must be done to everyone. He showed this symbol of washing their dirt away as a sign of Himself humbling himself to the lowest state through service. As Jesus bends down to wash Judas’ feet, we see the epitome of loving others, enemies, with sacrificial service. With the cleansing came a new commandment: love one another as Christ loves.

Jesus’ love for His disciples (for us), is one of sacrifice, heartache, and service. While He was preparing to die, to be betrayed and abandoned by His closest friends, to be abandoned by His own Father, He knelt to wash their feet.

This mystery is profound. Everyone at the meal or reading this story would give Jesus the most right out of anyone to be “selfish” and spend one last restful evening alone, but He served.

Often, the stress of the checklist, the overwhelming emotional weight of the loss of a loved one, or the anxiety of social status causes us to crumble, to make excuses. We say, “I just need to escape. That’s all I need in life right now, one big vacation” or, “Let me just sleep in this morning, they don't really need me to serve at church, and I can’t do this anymore. I have too much going on.” In our little worlds, we see escape as true rest for the soul; we see escape as what we need. But through Christ’s service, He shows us a lifestyle so counter-cultural it ought to give us a healthy dose of spiritual whiplash.

This is Jesus’ commandment to His disciples: “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). Love as Jesus has loved. How is Jesus loving as He speaks these words? By service. This is how they will know we are Christians: through our Christ-likeness.

When life weighs down, serve. Do not be tempted to serve and complain about even more busyness, but rather serve out of the outflow of your love and compassion for others. Love others. Be a light by humbling yourself to the state of a servant before those who are your peers, or even your employees, children, and students. This humility exemplifies Christ, who, though having all the power and authority to make Himself greater, washed His disciple's feet.

Be encouraged this Easter season, that Jesus Christ was made man to experience our pain and suffering, that He may hold power over it, and shine light on the path that we may walk in His teachings: to love each other as He has loved us.

Artwork

"The Washing of the Feet" by Ghislaine Howard

In a beautiful, modern depiction of this Holy scene, Howard shows it through cooler colors than most, which draws the eye to the dark skin tones of both Jesus and likely Peter. The focus lies on the hands of Jesus, the feet of Peter, both of their faces, and Jesus’ lowered back, almost bowing to Peter. The beauty of this depiction gives peace amidst the busyness of life, and I truly love the calming use of blues to cause the viewer to reflect. As Jesus lowers himself, Peter seems to almost desire to object to what is happening, but the lack of stress on Peter’s face shows the realization and peace that Peter is experiencing. This is truly beautiful. We were drawn to the simplicity and poignance of this piece and hope it resonates with you this Easter season.

Poetry

"Washing the Disciples’ Feet" by Susan Noyes Anderson

To bathe soiled feet was but a servant’s lot,
eschewed by men whose station lent them grace.
These did not stoop to take a lowly place,
nor pause to wonder if, one day, they ought.
Perhaps their privilege came to them unsought,
casting a veil of pride on every face,
miscasting tender service as disgrace
and glory as a prize that can be bought.
No matter. Man sees darkly, through a glass.
‘Tis only One whose light our vision clears.
In Him, each blinding question that we ask
leads to a truth that vanquishes our fears.
Christ bathed His servants’ feet: a humble task,
then raised us all, washed clean in blood and tears.

The poem, Washing the Disciples’ Feet, by Susan Noyes Anderson, reminds us of the servitude of Jesus. The Lord of All washing our filthiest, lowliest parts. Moving Himself to a lower position, to be a servant. Jesus makes us think about taking a “lower place,” the servant’s place. It is easy to feel privileged and entitled in today’s world, but perhaps we should not be looking for glory for ourselves, but for God. If we are servants like Jesus, maybe our eyes will be opened, not blinded by tinted glass and by our perspective. Christ will wipe the dirt from our eyes.

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Maundy Thursday: Service: Christ Exemplified

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