Loving God, you call us away from our selfish desires, teaching us the way of loving service.  As we gather together this evening, grant us an awareness of the depth of your love for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Many of you have probably heard the story about the two boys fighting over who gets the first pancake.  There was pushing and shoving – as often happens with little boys – as they continued to argue over who was going to get that first pancake.  Their mother, hoping to teach them a lesson, told them to calm down so that she could ask them a question.  She asked them, “If Jesus were here with us this morning, what do you think he would say?”  Neither boy had an answer.  Their mother continued, “I’ll tell you what he would say.  He would say, ‘Please let my brother have the first pancake.  I can wait.’”  Five-year-old Kevin exclaimed, “Great idea, Mom!”  Then he turned to his three-year-old brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!” (cf. James W. Moore).

          While this seems like pretty typical behaviour for kids, it is not that far off from the behaviour of some of Jesus’ disciples.  One of the things that the series The Chosen does a good job of portraying is the competition between some of the disciples – especially Peter, James and John.  They lock horns over who is in charge.  They argue over who is Jesus’ favourite.  They object when Jesus insists on taking a turn pushing the cart.  None of this is a big stretch from the gospel stories in which they argue over who is the greatest, or when James and John ask for special seats next to Jesus in his heavenly kingdom.  In spite of how much time they have spent with Jesus, they haven’t let go of some of their more worldly tendencies.  And so, Jesus – on the last night that he has with his disciples – is all about self-giving love.

          The washing of feet, which was quite common among those who traveled dusty roads wearing sandals, was a task that was normally done by a servant.  At other times, people would wash their own feet.  However, as Jesus and his disciples gathered in the upper room, it doesn’t seem as though any of them had looked after this basic need.

          Jesus responds, not simply by saying, “I am among you as one who serves” (Lk. 22:27), but by getting up, pouring water in a basin, and one by one, washing their feet.  He is teaching by example, but Peter (and probably the other disciples as well) is totally embarrassed to be served in this way by his Lord and Teacher.  More than likely, Peter would have had no problem washing Jesus’ feet, but it would have been a different story with the other disciples.  Hence, Jesus’ instruction that “you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (Jn. 13:14).

          However, Jesus doesn’t stop there.  This is my body, given for you.  This is my blood, shed for you.  “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13).  And then, “love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).

          In case you missed it somewhere along the way, these words are not only for those first disciples, but for all those who put their faith in Jesus.  Tonight, Jesus continues to come to us with self-giving love – in the washing of feet, and in the bread and the wine.  May each of us continue to learn the way of loving service, even as we give thanks for the one who gave his life for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Maundy Thursday                            John 13:1-17, 31b-35

March 28, 2024                                1 Corinthians 11:23-26

St. Francis Anglican

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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