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.
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 24, 2016
“The Truth of Our Dirty Feet”
“Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”
• John 13:1-11
As we reflect on the sacred scenes of the Last Supper, our memories most easily hover on the actions of familiar application for our modern context. We imagine the bread, its sweet and crusty texture in the hands of disciples. We visualize the cup, embraced as life-giving blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. We imagine the hungering embrace of these rituals by the disciples in much the same way that we hunger for their presence in our lives today. However, sometimes when we rush to the table we overlook the basin; we’re in danger of missing deeply meaningful reflections from that same upper room.
Before the disciples had drunk the cup that washed their souls, they had entered the room as unwashed, greasy, filthy travelers. It was common for a washing to take place, usually done by a lowly servant. However, it wasn’t a servant but a Savior that took the towel and knelt before the dirty disciples to begin washing their feet. When the disciples realized that the One they honored and adored was crouched in humiliated posture to rinse the grime from their feet, they recoiled in embarrassment. Peter declared, “You shall never wash my feet!” The same disciples who were only moments earlier vying for title of Greatest were now receiving the treatment of masters and dignitaries. Why recoil now?
It’s the practice in my community to observe the ancient rite of foot washing before we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. As a pastor, I often hear people occasionally express reasons for why they don't want anybody to touch or see their feet on that particular day. There can be a real fear and even shame in letting others become familiar with intimate parts of our self. Our idealized exteriors can be betrayed by the truth of our dirty feet.
The disciples realized in that moment that a relationship with God involves being known for who we actually are. But they would also learn the joy that comes after we grant access to our truest selves and then experience the cleansing redemption Jesus gives in return. There’s no greater freedom than to be fully known and fully loved.
Dearest Jesus, today we pray for the courage to be fully known, we pray for the courage to enter unreserved fellowship with you. We pray today that we would embrace the intimacy you desire. We ask forgiveness for the times we kept you at arm’s length, for all the times we reserved the right to keep our secrets. We accept the cleansing you offer. We therefore pray that you’d wash not only our feet but our hands, our head, and our hearts. Amen.
– The Reverend Albert Handal
Pastor for Young Adults
Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church
Burleson, Texas
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