Called To
Serve
Can you imagine kneeling in front of the person sitting
next to you and washing their feet?
That’s probably not the first thing on your to-do list before sharing
communion, is it? The role of washing
someone’s feet in ancient times was reserved for slaves in the household. It was a dirty job, something that was below
dignity, it was to be done by servants.
Using an example of assisted living complexes and nursing
homes, the hallways are filled with servants (some being more compassionate
than others). There are people following
a calling to get dirty for others. Thank
God for their humility and compassion to help bathe, feed, clothe, and
transport those who are unable to do it for themselves.
Jesus came to us as a servant, saving us because we could
not do it ourselves. The disciples James
and John wanted to know if they could sit at Jesus right and left side in
heaven. That would be the ultimate
achievement, wouldn’t it? Jesus’
response, “whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man
came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many.” Matt 20:26-28.
Jesus’ message sounded as backwards to the disciples back
then as it does today. Our measurement
of a successful life is based on what we’ve accomplished, and we take pride in
our achievements. “Look, I have lived a
good life. I am worthy of credit for
what I have done. I’ve punched my ticket
to heaven.” The central theme is ME and
what I’ve done. But what does it mean
when Jesus refers to the kingdom of God at the end of a parable, “So the last
will be first, and the first will be last.” Matt 20:16.
Jesus lives against the grain of the world. In an upside down kingdom where society
suggests that we should accomplish as much as possible for ourselves, Jesus instead
calls us to serve him by serving others.
He submitted himself to God by filling the servant’s role in washing
feet for his disciples. Love after all,
is not about ourselves.
We
read in 1 John, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who
love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the
desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the
world. And the world and its desire are
passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.”
Jesus
is the Good Shepherd that leaves the 99 to go find the one that is lost. You and I are both the 99 and the one. We constantly stray and need Jesus to guide
us. We do not come to him; he comes to
us. It is not our responsibility to find
him, he is already present and involved in our lives whether we recognize it or
not. It’s up to us to stop rejecting his
love and forgiveness.
He
washed their feet and said that it was an example that we should follow. Maybe in today’s world we aren’t washing each
other’s feet, but how are we serving others?
Where are we serving as Jesus’ servant of love and mercy which doesn’t
seek personal recognition? Did you
notice that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, including Judas who left just a
short time later to betray the Son of God?
Knowing that Judas would betray him, Jesus STILL served the rebellious
disciple.
Maundy
Thursday is a reminder that the entire mission of Jesus (and therefore God) is
to love, forgive, proclaim Christ as Lord, and faithfully serve. Jesus didn’t wait for us to come to Him. He came to us and calls the church to go out
to others as well. We are called to
serve everyone in His name; not to those who look like they deserve it, but
especially to those who don’t. As we
share in the body and blood of Christ, remember that communion isn’t just with
the people in these pews, but we are joining with every Christian on earth in the
salvation, blessings, and promises of Jesus.
Amen.