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A Holy Roar

A Reflection for Maundy Thursday, April 17 By Kim Delp

Selected Passage: John 13:1-17, 31b-35, New Revised Standard Version


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 John 13:1-17, 31b-35

The service of Christ: foot washing and meal

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already decided[a] that Judas, son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, slaves are not greater than their master, nor are messengers[d] greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.


The New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[a] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”


Reflect

I didn’t grow up in a church culture that celebrated some of the high church traditions.  We, of course, celebrated Easter, but it wasn’t until we started attending a church where creeds and prayers were recited, the Doxology was sung, communion was once a month, and we had services for days like Maundy Thursday that I realized different moments in every church are captured, and holy space is created.  Maundy Thursday specifically became a tradition for our pastor and family and friends to celebrate this most sacred of days. It was experienced in a living room, breaking bread together and discussing life around the fireplace.  It was bigger than the living room where we were; we experienced this day like the disciples did, communicating and experiencing life together.  


This day reflects the whole week we are engaged in.  “Holy Week.”  We enter this day knowing as Jesus did what was coming.  Knowing what had been, what was currently happening and what was to come.  Yet, we still enter.  We enter this holiest of spaces with reverence, this holy moment of humility that Jesus shows his disciples and in turn, us. He presents the truest and purest form of humility.  This holiest of moments was written down, but the political circumstances sometimes overshadow the weight of the words and the actions captured, those around the table, what was coming, and even distracted by Peter wanting a bath!


The “mandate” or command, which is where Maundy Thursday comes from (Latin of Mandatum or command), brings to light the new commandment that Jesus gives us.  The whole moment screams, even roars humility. Jesus exemplifies the entire display of humility by washing His disciples' feet, telling them to do the same to others, and then telling them to love.  To love like He loved them. 

“Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.


I wonder if there was a flashback moment for all of them where they thought of how he loved them?  I wonder if, at that moment, it clicked for them as they remembered what He had just done by washing their feet.  I wonder if moments they had all witnessed, calling the children to come to Him, Lazarus raised from the dead, Jesus calming the storm flashed in their brains to understand the significant “new command” He was giving them?  Do we remember the significance of this command in our own lives?  This command isn’t optional.  This command isn’t something we can choose when it fits our ideal or when it is wrapped up nicely.  The command is to love as He did.  To love those who question, love those who hate, love those who don’t deserve it, and love those who sin against us.  That is the command, the holy roar of humility.  


There is no better moment where love is more necessary and where it is more difficult than today. Friends, the command is simple yet hard, but we have an example in Jesus of how to do it.  


He knew His divinity in where He came from, the coming of death, the victory over it, and the return to the calm and stability of His Father. Yet, He still chose to kneel before dusty, messy people to show them the most excellent way to love: humility. May we all, out of reverence for what Jesus did for us, continue to kneel in humility before all those around us to bear witness to the action of the cross coming on Good Friday.


Respond

I encourage you to set aside a few minutes to take this command further.  This passage is radical, and we all know that at this point in history, a radical response of love is most needed and probably most challenging.  I ask you to take some time, get quiet, put your phone away, and sit in the presence of Jesus.  Put aside your ideas of what radical love looks like and truly ask Jesus what that looks like from Him.  Seek Him in how He would have you respond in true humility to show love to those around you.  Know that if you are truly seeking and asking, He will answer, but be prepared that radical is not weak, and it will likely come at a cost to you. Still, the radical love of Jesus is worth every earthly cost, knowing that we are acting in obedience to the love He commands.


Rest

Eternal God, in the sharing of a meal, your son established a new covenant for all people, and in the washing of feet, he showed us the dignity of service. Grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, these signs of our life in faith may speak again to our hearts, feed our spirits, and refresh our bodies. Amen. 

(Reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. A complete edition of the prayers is available through Augsburg Fortress.)


About the Author

Kim Delp
Kim Delp

Kim Delp has been serving as a missionary in Ecuador for the last 14 years with The Evangelical Covenant Church.  She is a wife to Joel, an ordained Covenant Pastor, and mom to Simeon (15), Esther (10) and Ephraim (9).  She co-founded the Santiago Partnership with her husband to partner in Ecuador through medical clinics to serve the medically underserved, a Home for At-Risk Children, and more.  https://www.santiagopartnership.org/  She is also a Nurse Practitioner.  She loves authentic connections, especially over coffee or a homemade meal, music, and reading.

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