The New Commandment

Maundy Thursday is one of my favorite holy days, so full of meaning and power. Good lessons for stewardship of life.

Knowing his time was running out, Jesus spent time with the ones he loved the most. He shared a meal with them and modeled servanthood by doing the most lowly job on the “to do” list of a household servant: Washing someone else’s feet.

The foot washing remains a powerful act because of the one who took the water and scrubbed the dirt from between the toes of his disciples. It was none other than the Word made Flesh, God Incarnate. Jesus the Messiah.

It is God -- creator of the universe, author of time, omnipotent and omniscient. – who takes care of the feet of the disciples. And who attends to all of us.

In washing the disciples’ feet, God reveals the nature of the divine in the last place anyone would look – in washing feet. Or rather, the second-to-last place. The very last place you would look for revelation of the divine nature is the cross itself.  But that comes later.

On Maundy Thursday Jesus washes the feet of the disciples to express the divine attitude towards us, but also to model how the disciples should act towards others.

His hands still wet from the foot-washing, Jesus then turns to his disciples. “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” (John 13:34-35).

Love. Christians could do more about this. By love, Jesus isn’t talking about a warm, fuzzy glow of the heart. Or even simply some rational decision to “get along” with others, even if we don’t agree with them.

No, Jesus modeled the love he meant. It’s love expressed in service. Expressed humbly. Expressed with joy.  Jesus doesn’t suggest it. He commands it. Have you served somebody today?

-Rob Blezard, editor and webmaster
Reprint rights gladly given to any congregation for local nonprofit use. Just include this notice: “Copyright 2008, Rev. Robert Blezard, www. Stewardshipoflife.org. Used by permission.” For other uses, please inquire.

 

New This Week: 

Three Easter Messages:

 ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
“The death of Jesus shows no partiality.  It was for all nations and all people -- for them, for you, for me.  Your life is now with Christ.  In baptism you have died.  Hidden with Christ, no longer entombed in grief, your life carries the promise of glory.” Click here for the Easter Message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

 Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
“We are beginning to be aware of the ways in which our lack of concern for the rest of creation results in death and destruction for our neighbors. We cannot love our neighbors unless we care for the creation that supports all our earthly lives. We are not respecting the dignity of our fellow creatures if our sewage or garbage fouls their living space.” Click here for the Easter Message from the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church U.S.A.

Salvation Army General Shaw Clifton
“Who among us does not need healing? Which of us is perfectly whole? Where is the one with no need of a Saviour? The first step toward healing is to recognise our need. Yet how often our pride gets in the way and we struggle on wounded, our vitality quietly seeping away and our effectiveness for the Kingdom compromised.” Click here for the Easter Message from the general of the Salvation Army.

 

Discipleship: The Challenge of Staying Focused
Holy Week is a busy time for pastors and laypeople alike. Is it too busy? “It’s Holy Week, I thought to myself. What about walking with Jesus during this time? What about prayer and preparation? Doesn’t that matter?” Click here for this latest essay by SOLI columnist Sharron Reissinger Lucas. Click here to read her archived columns.