I’ve just been really glad to be in the audience for a zoom play put on live by the members of High Street Methodist Church in Harpenden. The play centred round the plotting of the Sanhedrin to get rid of Jesus. Why? Because he was a threat and a blasphemer. So we know in the end people power and fear caused him to led him out to die.
The threat to all consuming power is when an alternative way comes along. That all consuming power tries to destroy the alternative way by ridicule or false rumours or at worst, violent force.
But on Maundy Thursday we remember that alternative way is the one we commemorate, not the agenda of Caiaphas and the Jewish authorities, not the hand washing freeing of responsibility of Pilate, not a crowd whipped up to destroy the innocent nor even disciples who aren’t up to the mark. On Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus giving us and showing us a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
Today on our Holy Week journey we pause to glimpse the heart of the divine. Normally I’d be in a church remembering the institution of Holy Communion at the last supper, or I’d be sharing in a Tenebrae service (I recorded one of those yesterday) or I’d be doing a watch into the night or I’d be watching the stripping of an altar - always deeply moving. But tonight I’m thinking about feet: dirty, dusty, smelly feet, tired from a journey, crud in between toes, not very beautiful or pleasant at all.
The alternative way is this: Jesus takes a bowl and a towel, stoops down and washes the feet of his friends. No wonder Peter is shocked and can’t accept it.
“In the middle of the meal -
not when they came in the door
not before the meal -
but in the middle of the meal
Jesus fell on his knees
and washed their feet,
not even looking up
to see which foot goes with which face!
He washed them all, one by one.
He washes the feet of all of us,
believers and unbelievers,
old and young,
saints and sinners,
women and men,
rulers and ruled,
rich and poor,
filled and hungry,
dressed and naked.
Can it be possible that Jesus washed
The feet not because they were dirty
but just because …
”I want to wash your feet
because I want to wash your feet.
For no other reason except
that I love you.”
My question on Maundy Thursday is this. Have we even in our churches forgotten the alternative way? In our quest for success or to be noticed and especially when we’ve deliberately excluded people because they threaten our peace, have we neglected to serve in the name of the one who came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many?
The excellent dramatic presentation tonight reminded me of how easy it is to be caught up in the desire for a quiet life. We don’t want to be challenged. We just want to go to church! Maybe for us the Maundy Thursday part of the story is to remind us that acts of service and kindness without questioning whose feet are in front of us — or how smelly they are - is the heart of our purpose and call. What do you think?
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