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We’ve just read Paul’s account of the Last Supper. We’ve also read John’s account of the Washing of Feet, which is purely unique to him in the Gospels. Did you know that the time of the Washing of Feet is actually set within the time frame of the Last Supper? So really both these events are meant to be viewed together.
That makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The Last Supper is Jesus’ Passover (if not pre-Passover) meal with His Disciples. The Passover, of course, commemorates the angel of death “passing over” the Israelites during the last plague on the Egyptians in Moses’ time. What marked the Israelites apart from the the Egyptians was they took the blood of a lamb that they got together to eat and spread in on their doorways. The Israelites were saved by a sacrificial lamb. Jesus, also, plays that role of sacrificial lamb for us.
In the context of this Supper, we get the Washing of Feet. In Jesus’ day, people’s feet were even dirty than they are, if we admit it, now. A good host put a bowl out for his or her guests to wash their feet. Jesus goes the next step and plays the humble servant, washing the feet of His Disciples, arguably His servants. Jesus lowers Himself to serve those around Him. Jesus lowered Himself too by becoming human and dying for us so that we could be lifted up as children of God with Him.
All this leads to what the name “Maundy” really means: Commandment. That commandment is what Jesus says in our Gospel this evening: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” The love Jesus shows us, whether in the Eucharist or the Washing of Feet, is self-sacrificial. That is the love He is calling us to show to others as well.
We live in a life and a world where we never know what will happen next. We don’t know what sort of things that will be fall us or the world. It is important not so much to be ready for the unexpected, but to be willing to give something of ourselves to others when the unexpected happens.
That means emptying ourselves, as Jesus did to become human. That means lowering ourselves to the form of a servant, just as the Son of God did for His followers. It means sometimes living into the uncomfortable reality of our situation in order to show love and support to others.
Maundy Thursday is the day of the Last Supper and the day of the Washing of Feet. Both these are a sign of Jesus’ love for us and His commandment that we too love one another as He loved us. Is that something you are willing to do?