April 1, 2021
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MAUNDY THURSDAY REFLECTION
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:3-5 Dear Lake B Family and Friends, We have traveled a long way since Ash Wednesday six weeks ago. I don’t know how you are feeling after this focused time of being together in small groups, in our conversations on Sunday mornings, in the ups and downs of wondering what schools will be doing, in the waiting-waiting-waiting-your-turn to get vaccinated, and the now-made-visible continued racialized violence against Asian Americans. Phew – yes. All of that has happened since we began this journey on February 19. And this doesn’t take into account all that has happened in your own personal lives and families. Today we are invited into the drama of what we now know is the Last Supper. It will not be like any other time the disciples have broken bread with Jesus. Something different is happening here. We know the drama of this night includes the betrayal of Jesus by one of his beloved disciples. Jesus gets up from supper and takes the posture of a servant, a slave, beginning to wash his disciples’ feet. They didn’t know what was going on. Imagine the awkwardness of having your teacher take this position. But Jesus continues to wash – and teach. He is setting the stage for our life together and the order of things in the kin-dom of God. One of the most striking parts of this narrative for me is that Jesus served even the one he knew was going to betray him. The following excerpt from a Street Psalms devotional is a beautiful reminder of what was going on at that table: “Jesus calls us friend today, knowing we will betray him tomorrow. If there is an order to salvation, this is it. Friendship and forgiveness precede confession and repentance. Until we see ourselves as loved by God, we will never know the true nature of our sin. Our sin is known after it has been thoroughly soaked in grace.” In light of the above statement about friendship, I invite you to consider the following questions for your own reflection on this Maundy Thursday: What do you do with a God who extends friendship and fellowship in such lavish ways? Would you knowingly serve someone who will take advantage of your hospitality and grace? What does this mean to you? What does it free you to do or not do? Grace and Peace, Pastor Lina |