Maundy Thursday - March 28, 2013
Maundy Thursday
John 13:2 – 15
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
“No, you shall never wash my feet.”
I have noticed over the past week or so the frequency with which Peter and the disciples wanted to carry out their own plan for who Jesus was and what Jesus was to do. No doubt, they were sincere, wanting the best for Jesus (and for themselves!). But they continually act in ways that are counter to Jesus’ mission. They are misguided. Most of the time, their ill-timed fervor is in service of trying to prevent Jesus from taking the course of action he is taking.
They cut off servant’s ears.
They rebuke Jesus for speaking of death.
They resist when he wants to wash their feet.
They reprimand others who prepare Jesus for his death, even when that preparation is in extravagant, generous acts.
In short, they have one vision of what Jesus is trying to accomplish and for how he should enter into it. But their vision, while it may feel pious, holy, and well-intended, is not God’s vision for how Jesus’ life (and death) would unfold.
It is difficult to separate our desires for a situation from the larger work of God in that situation . . . what I have called “God’s project”. God’s project in the world may be accomplished or furthered by things that make no sense to me. Always, there is more going on in any given situation that I can see and know.
When I act, though, as if I have all the information necessary, I probably hinder more than help what God is actually trying to accomplish.
When I act from self-centered, self-reference motives, I hinder the larger work of redeeming and love and mercy-ing that is God’s intention in that situation.
By stubbornly insisting on one way – even a way that looks or seems holy – I may in fact be resisting God’s project and hindering what God is trying to do in the world.
John 13:2 – 15
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
“No, you shall never wash my feet.”
I have noticed over the past week or so the frequency with which Peter and the disciples wanted to carry out their own plan for who Jesus was and what Jesus was to do. No doubt, they were sincere, wanting the best for Jesus (and for themselves!). But they continually act in ways that are counter to Jesus’ mission. They are misguided. Most of the time, their ill-timed fervor is in service of trying to prevent Jesus from taking the course of action he is taking.
They cut off servant’s ears.
They rebuke Jesus for speaking of death.
They resist when he wants to wash their feet.
They reprimand others who prepare Jesus for his death, even when that preparation is in extravagant, generous acts.
In short, they have one vision of what Jesus is trying to accomplish and for how he should enter into it. But their vision, while it may feel pious, holy, and well-intended, is not God’s vision for how Jesus’ life (and death) would unfold.
It is difficult to separate our desires for a situation from the larger work of God in that situation . . . what I have called “God’s project”. God’s project in the world may be accomplished or furthered by things that make no sense to me. Always, there is more going on in any given situation that I can see and know.
When I act, though, as if I have all the information necessary, I probably hinder more than help what God is actually trying to accomplish.
When I act from self-centered, self-reference motives, I hinder the larger work of redeeming and love and mercy-ing that is God’s intention in that situation.
By stubbornly insisting on one way – even a way that looks or seems holy – I may in fact be resisting God’s project and hindering what God is trying to do in the world.
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