I have just got back from a Maundy Thursday service combined with a meal. It was really well put together. There was some liturgy, some hymns, some readings and homemade soup.
We sang some of the hymns I put on the list last Sunday (Brother, Sister, let me serve you and My Song is Love Unknown). And the readings were typical for Maundy Thursday. The main one was from John’s gospel. It focused on Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, his friends. Traditionally the job of the servants in a household, foot washing was a sign of hospitality to guests, and also a sign of humility by the person offering to do the washing.
Jesus was the leader, the teacher. But he takes off his outer robe, ties a towel around his waist, and washes and dries the feet of his followers and students. Jesus does what a servant should do. Jesus, Son of God, come to save God’s people, kneels and washes feet like a servant.
I have had it drummed into me that, when we have power and influence (such as when we are in a position of leadership) we should never ask people to do things we are not willing to do ourselves. And here is Jesus telling his followers to love one another and to serve one another, and doing just that. The sort of leader who cares enough to personally and humbly offer hospitality in that way is the sort of leader I can follow. And that is the sort of characteristic I can emulate too. I will stack chairs, wash dishes, run a hoover round… Admittedly, I’ve never washed feet, but culture has changed and that’s not seen as a sign of hospitality any more. Or at least, not in any home I’ve visited!
But the thing about this story for me is that it doesn’t detract from Jesus’ status as teacher and rabbi. If anything, it adds an extra dimension. His love for the people around him included those who followed him for years, not just individuals on the streets. His heart for service allowed him to serve his friends without embarrassment. This is someone totally at peace with who he is, someone who doesn’t need status, someone who wants to love and honour people. So he kneels and washes their feet.
This is a leader who is as at peace with serving as he is with giving instruction. This is God. This is the leader who served.
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