Holy God, source of all love,
on the night of his betrayal,
Jesus gave us a new commandment,
to love one another as he loves us.
Write this commandment in our hearts,
and give us the will to serve others
as he was the servant of all,
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
I love infomercials. They are so addicting to watch. I enjoy the naivete of the host or hostess as they “learn” about the product along with the viewers. You know, the one with all the oversimplified questions, “ This vacuum doesn’t really pick up a bowling ball does it? These knives won’t cut through metal, right? That machine cooks chicken that fast? Are you kidding? That machine won’t really get that dirty rug clean, now will it? How many times will it take before that floor shines like new? If I use this everyday, I’ll have a body like his or hers? I love the sappy false skepticism and the fake surprise when everything goes just as the demonstrator said it would. I also like to go to home shows and see demonstrators with new products. Secretly, however, I would love to see a demonstration go south, get all fouled up, and the product break or turn the carpet puke green or make his hair fall out or her skin turn bright orange. My wife hosted a pampered chef cooking show a month or so ago. I wish I could’ve been there, but it was clearly not for me. I was not invited. As much as watching a demonstration can be interesting, I prefer a more hands-on approach to products. Of course that’s the idea of the informercial, to place a product in the hands of an amateur and see how easily they begin to use it effectively. Products are always safe, easy to use, and effective.
Jesus is not selling anything to his disciples, but he is inviting them to embrace a way of life that is new and improved. He is inviting them to accept a truth that is very difficult; Only his death will rescue them from the sin of the world. He must suffer and die at their expense in order that they might realize the intensity of God’s love. He relinquishes, what to them, was a promising political and religious future as Messiah and King, to be crucified. On Maundy Thursday, we recall how Jesus demonstrated his way of life, his way of love. He invites his disciples who are reclining with him for the meal, to receive a gift of hospitality from their master. Rather than typical self-service or rather than expecting a slave to perform the task of cleaning their dirty, scabby feet, Jesus kneels down with a basin and towel and washes them all one by one. He does so without prior commentary or ceremony. It is no ritual. This is not a repeatable act commanded by Jesus to be done in remembrance of him in every time and place. He will break bread and offer the cup for that. The ancient Passover meal is forever changed by Jesus into a remembrance of His body and blood, his dying and rising. And so we share the meal every week as a sign of Jesus’ life-giving presence. But tonight, we see a demonstration of Jesus’ love for his disciples. A love manifest in the washing of their feet. Maybe today, Jesus would wash our cars. We could sing, “Shine Jesus Shine, while he polishes our hoods. Actually, what Jesus does is he washes away the tired, dirty, achiness of a lifetime on the road. And he prepares them to walk on. He readies them to walk in his footsteps, to invite others to follow theirs, and to keep on going.
Jesus offers all of us that same love; cleansing us of our sin so that we can start anew. And that love and forgiveness is meant to be demonstrated for us as we exercise compassion for each other in the church. In the ways you encourage each other, hold each others’ hands, weep with one another, pray for one another, and just show up. Jesus’ demonstration is not possible if the disciples are not willing participants. Because Jesus’ love is physical! Bodies are required! The same is true now. Jesus’ love is demonstrated to us in and through the church’s mission. We cannot demonstrate love for each other, if we are not present with and for each other. When someone is absent from our life of discipleship, call them, invite them, encourage them. Speak the truth to them. How can we love you if you won’t let us? How can you love us, if you’re not with us? When Peter refuses to accept Jesus’ humility and love as a demonstration to be embodied in his own life, Jesus rebukes Peter. Sit down, take off your sandals, and stick your stinking feet in the basin Peter. If you don’t, you don’t get me, my mission, my way of life, and you won’t get my gifts either. Love is the mutual expression of humble self-giving service. Who was Jesus to you this week? Who served you? Who are you going to serve? In obedience to His command, you are invited to demonstrate His kind of love to someone. Because followers of Jesus, who love him, who have been washed by him, are also obedient to Him. Love that is authentic is like this: it cares for the hurts, struggles, aches, and pains of the other. Love washes off the dirt and provides respite from the road. Love is gentle and gracious. And it applies equal value and worth to everybody, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done or where they’ve walked. The one’s who need washed are the one’s who are the most dirty. Love is not love unless it is demonstrated in an intentional act of mercy. Disciples of Jesus don’t talk about love, they embody it in real ways. In their way of life as neighbors, strangers, coworkers, students, parents, husbands, wives, friends, enemies.. May you love Jesus. May you see Jesus’ love for you. May you believe it. And may you love someone with a real, intentional, caring, physical Jesus kind of love.
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