Today is Maundy Thursday, which, according to John 13:1, showed “the full extent” of Jesus’ love. The time when the Savior of the world bent down to wash the dirty feet of the disciples. The ceremony of extending a special meal to imperfect humans.
A couple years ago Mark and I had the privilege of hanging with our grandkids for five days while Kelli and Carl took a much-needed vacation in Sedona. It was the longest stretch we had had with both the grandkids. I use the term “privilege” on purpose, but it was some of the hardest, more focused work we’ve had to do in quite a while. We were transported from the tranquil mornings in the quiet sanctuary of our own home to putting our hands to the plow 24/7, with little opportunity to control life, at least in the little ways we felt we could and the way we were used to. The days were filled with endless laundry, short nights of erratic sleep, constant picking up of toys and books, and daily baths to wash Mac and cheese faces and hands. Yet it was wonderful! It was a privilege, as it reminded me that real life is messy, that I’m not in control, and it beckoned me to the One who is. Breath prayers of “Help!” are valid prayers!
Jesus stays in the mess with us. The transformed life is meant for others, not some tidy thing that happens after I have my devotions in the morning. Resurrected, transformed life comes in those moments when we give up and give in to the life that Jesus invites us to step into; a life of surrender in every moment: “I can’t; God can. I think I’ll let Him.” (Words I first heard from author John Ortberg). When I honestly come to Him and say, “Lord, if it’s up to me, I’m afraid it won’t go well.” ( words first spoken by theologian and activist Brian McLaren). “I don’t understand what or why this is happening, but I know it has been filtered through Your hands and You will redeem it in some way someday.” (but I may not understand it in this lifetime.)
Tim Keller wrote a little book entitled The Freedom of Self-forgetfulness. He made clear that self-forgetfulness does not mean “thinking less of yourself”, but rather, “thinking of yourself less.” C.S. Lewis called it “gospel-humility.” Jesus washed the disciples’ feet to teach that the full extent of love is self-forgetfulness. What the teachers of the law called demeaning work, work reserved for a servant, Jesus called “loving to the end.”
There were four lessons I took away from the experience we had with our grandkids that I think relate to the significance of Maundy Thursday:
Remembrance. While caring for our grandkids, we couldn’t help but recall memories of caring for our own four kids. It was wild! We were married just one year when Kelli arrived. Then three brothers, one right after another. Gone were the days of looking into each other’s eyes as newlyweds. Now we were shouldering a burden while looking ahead together. There is an importance in looking back and remembering how God helped us through a previous experience. Jesus left us the towel to help us remember.
Remembrance builds endurance and increases faith.
Sacrifice. Many years ago I left a career to be home with our kids while Mark worked two jobs and long hours to make ends meet. We had financial obligations and didn’t do extravagant vacations, but we always had what we needed. As of old, in this new experience of our grandkids, we got by on limited sleep and boxes of Kraft shells and cheese. Jesus was preparing the disciples for what the future held for Him. Jesus left us the Eucharist as a symbol of His sacrifice, something I still can’t wrap my mind around fully.
Sacrifice expands our comfort zones and teaches trust and humility.
Perseverance. During that five-day stretch with our grandkids, we had to keep going, keep giving. The transformed life is not lived in a bubble or without hardship. When grief lingers over past pain, I remember that God helped us through a whole lot of hard stuff before and hasn’t changed His willingness to continue to be present in the new stuff. The lessons of transformation continue in this season of new health challenges and remind me that God isn’t finished with me yet. He’s not finished with you. He is unfolding a new thing, a new way of being curious; a way of changing our minds about Him even when we don’t understand His ways. Jesus left us the dirty towel and water to teach us about perseverance.
Perseverance builds our spiritual muscle memory.
Gratitude. I was grateful to spend that time with our grandkids and continue to be grateful that they live close by. I am grateful for this Lenten season which has pushed me to confront idols of relevance, spectacularity, and power. I’ve been challenged to change perspectives, find ways to extend forgiveness and grace, and seek new creative outlets. I’m asking Jesus more for a “willingness to be made willing” (Ruth Haley Barton’s words); to rest and slow down in order to appreciate His love and grace all the more. We also lament what has been lost and what we still grieve. I’m grateful that God continues to show up in the hard stuff. Jesus left us with His response of thanks as He broke the bread and poured the cup.
Gratitude keeps us grounded, secure in His love, and more self-forgetful.
Romans 5:1-5 reminds us that peace and hope are accessible gifts of God as we give up and give in to His love: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Self-forgetfulness means letting go of the old desires that no longer satisfy and receiving the new abundant life of God. It involves opening up our clenched fists. It involves, as Walter Brueggemann points out so beautifully in his book, A Way Other Than Our Own, “traveling with towel and basin”, as we will be “safe in vulnerability, treasured in obedience, and free from anxiety.”
Jesus washed the feet of those who did not deserve this kind of hospitality. He extended the bread and the cup to those who betrayed and denied. He still does that for us today. Love never fails.
Remember the past, sacrifice for the sake of others, persevere through present difficulties, and be grateful for Jesus’ presence in the journey. And hear the whisper of our Savior as He stoops to wash your feet and extend the bread and cup, “You are my beloved, my child, my sheep. I will never leave your side. Keep going.”
AMEN
