Written by professors, graduates, and others in
the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary community, these reflections, prayers, and spiritual practices will take you along the journey with Jesus through the cross toward resurrection.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
• Psalm 147:12–20
• John 13:1–17, 31b–35
I‘m always glad to see Peter show up in one of the gospel stories. He’s so earnest. He tries so hard. He always gets it right—almost. He’s like the little kid who makes a cake all by himself and then drops it on the floor. He’s so human.
We understand his reaction to Jesus’ stripping to the waist and washing the disciples’ feet. It must have been embarrassing. Here was the Messiah of God doing the job that only the most menial servants usually did. So Peter drew back. “Not me, Lord. Don’t humiliate yourself over me.”
“You don’t know what I’m doing,” Jesus said. “Someday you will. But you have to let me do this.” Then Peter flipped. “Okay, wash everything!” he said. But Jesus shook his head. “Only the feet.” Any other washing Peter might need was going to take place at a different time in a different way. Then Jesus addressed them all. “This is what it means to be my disciple. You must serve, as I have served.”
In John’s account of the Last Supper, Jesus does not break the bread and pour the wine saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Instead, there is the foot washing– but there is also the command: “ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” Foot washing has never been understood as a sacrament, but it is similar to Holy Communion in that we follow our Lord, we obey our Lord, by imitating our Lord: “I am among you as one who serves” (Lk. 22: 27).
The greatest service Jesus performed, the redemption won by his time on the cross, is far beyond us. But our service does not have to be great. Many small services add up to great service. The daily care for a child. Nursing an invalid. Rescuing an animal. Bringing food to a grieving friend. None of these services are great in the sense that they will change the world. But they are still service. They can relieve pain, provide guidance, soothe souls. Small services can and do manifest great love.
To refuse to serve is not simply disobedience. It is blasphemy. Such refusal implies that we consider ourselves greater than the Master. The unfortunate truth is that we often do refuse to serve—not out of delusions of godhood, April 2 Maundy Thursday but for reasons that are petty: We are rushed. We are tired. It’s someone else’s responsibility. And so on. But just as small services can result in great love, small refusals can result in a great denial.
So let us be content to simply follow, serving when and how we can, and thus obey our Lord.
Lord Jesus, give me eyes to see another’s need, hands to help meet that need, and a heart that will serve out of an overflow of love. Let me receive Jesus’ service with a grateful heart, and by serving others extend Jesus’ love everywhere I go. In his name and Service, Amen.
– The Reverend Dr. David W. Johnson
Associate Professor of Church History and Christian Spirituality
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