John 13:13-17

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

This is one of the most powerful and moving moments in the story of Jesus. Using himself as an example, he dramatically acted out the role that all who intend to follow Christ must take upon themselves. It has far reaching implications for how we treat each other and what the Lord expects from us in terms of leadership and service. It is a beautiful moment where leadership and humility become entwined, as a visual act of service is rendered to men by the Lord and Creator of all. The question must be asked, if the Lord was willing to take this upon himself in this simple and humble act should not we follow his example and humbly offer ourselves in service to those who are in need of the assistance we can give them?

We are all aware and often mediate on the huge acts of service that Christ performed. The largest being his death on the Cross to atone for the sins of man. We also remember his acts of healing and the wonderful life sustaining lessons he taught us, but in this one act of humbly by washing the feet of his disciples he showed us that the smaller, less visible acts of service, humility and kindness are equally as important as the larger, more honor invoking and noticeable aspects of service. To stand there at the pulpit and teach a crowd of a thousand people the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is awe inspiring and a worthy endeavor but just as worthy is the volunteer who cleans the chapel after the congregation as left. The teacher of the sermon can feel the glory and admiration of the assembly but the man sweeping the floor has the honor of serving God for nothing more than the pleasure of being a servant to the Almighty.

Some members of the Body have gifts of healing, or prophecy or even the ability to make music and write words of honor to the Lord. These are worthy and important gifts but sometimes God gives gifts that are not so much of ability as they are of desire. Some have it in them to visit and comfort the sick and elderly. Some have the desire to do the lesser tasks for those who are infirm or otherwise not capable of performing these jobs. Mowing the lawn, doing the laundry and even changing a light bulb are small things that get noticed by no one other than the person to whom the service was rendered. But just because the world didn’t stand up and cheer when the job was completely has no relevance to the importance of the task. God noticed and His approval is all that really matters.

So on Maundy Thursday, as we prepare to glorify and give honor to Christ our Lord for his sacrifice on the Cross, let us think about the humble act of service that he performed in washing the feet of his disciples. It is no coincidence that on the night before his death he performed this small, lowly act of service. He gave us a compare/contrast set of events and asked us to take a good look at the two and determine what difference, if any, could we find at the heart of the two. The motivations behind each act were the same. Both were done in love and humility for those who were in need of these services. Both were done with no though of the shame involved and only the cleansing processes and outcomes mattered. One left the disciples with clean feet and the other left mankind with a clean soul.

This should be our guide for the remainder of our time here on Earth. We should willingly do all those little things that might seem to be below our dignity for others who are in need. If the Creator of the universe can get on his knees and wash the feet of those who live to serve him then what is stopping us from stripping ourselves of pride and ego and becoming humble servants to the weak and poor of the world.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’