Maundy Thursday
Text: John 13:1-15, 34-35
+INJ+
We live in extraordinary times, don't we? I mean, look at your feet, look at your shoes.
Sure, some of you are wearing well-loved shoes; you don’t care if they are coming unglued and worn down; they fit like a glove. They still protect your feet from the snow, salt, and dirt of the paths you journey on a daily basis.
When you get home, you’ll probably remove your shoes and socks, and your feet will be clean—maybe smelly, but clean.
Well, the feet of Jesus and His disciples were not clean. Their paths and terrain were rugged, with dust and the earth’s soil. In addition, they possessed no socks to add an extra layer of comfort or protection. As a result, their feet would be absolutely filthy and probably stink just as much.
Yet, in tonight's reading, Jesus does something odd: He assumes the position of a servant and begins to wash the tired feet of His disciples.
This is unexpected because this is not a task appropriate for a King.
Kings are to be served.
But contrary to the belief of many as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He is not an image of earthly kings and princes, is He? No, He is a Savior who shows us an example of self-sacrificing love.
Jesus said in tonight’s reading:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you... By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another."
The Maundy for Maundy Thursday is often translated from the Latin mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus’ words, “I give you a new commandment.”
So, Maundy Thursday is about Jesus giving us a new law to love one another as He has loved us.
How did Jesus reveal His love for us?
He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant, the form of you – a mere man.
Then, He didn’t just wash the feet of the disciples but washed away the world’s sin by humbly giving up His life and dying on the cross to grant you the forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.
This is an image of true sacrificial love.
But we struggle with humbling ourselves and expressing love to others, don’t we?
We have no desire or will to wash our neighbor’s feet any more than we desire to forgive one another.
That's a problem.
Because as Jesus says,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you... By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”
If you are Jesus’ disciple, then you must learn to forgive your neighbor. You must realize that true love is found in these sweet words, “I forgive you.”
This understanding is inherent in the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer as you pray, “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Stop and listen to these words on your lips, “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14–15)
No, we cannot earn God’s forgiveness; that is a gift won upon the cross. But if we refuse to forgive others, we reject the gift of forgiveness from Christ Himself.
The forgiveness He so enjoys giving to you in the bread and wine, His flesh and blood, here in the Sacrament of this Altar.
The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians, “[Bear] with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, [forgive] each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (3:13)
But we are like Peter, aren’t we? We approach Jesus, asking, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”
This means your forgiveness, like Christ’s, has no end, even among those whose sins have cut the deepest.
Look no further than the words of Christ as He speaks such comfort to the confessing criminal who hung beside Him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
There is no withholding of forgiveness, even among the worst of sinners.
For this reason, if you are Jesus’ disciple, you must learn to humble yourself, take the form of a servant, confess your sins, and forgive your neighbor’s trespasses.
You must realize that true love is found in these sweet words: “I forgive you.”
These are the words that remove the filth and stench of sin that clings not only to the feet you traverse this life with but also to your heart. These words make you disciples of Jesus Christ and demonstrate love for one another, as Jesus now reveals His love for you through His passion and from His cross. +INJ+
