Clay in the Hands

Today is Maundy Thursday – a big day in the last week of Jesus’ life here on Earth.  Thursday was the day when Jesus gave one of his last lessons on sacrifice and service.  The setting was a small but adequate room.  The furnishings were most likely very basic – a table or two – but everything Jesus needed to help his disciples experience service in a powerful way.

His lesson came in an unexpected way – Jesus had a knack for taking everyday life and turning it on it’s ear to teach a lesson.  The custom, upon entering a home, was to take off one’s sandals.  Most of the roads of the day were not paved and so feet got dirty in simply walking down the street.  So, as a matter of courtesy and simple hygiene, it  was customary to wash one’s feet before proceeding into the house.  It was also an act of hospitality for the host to provide a servant to do the washing.  By this time in history, the washing of feet had become the work of servants.

That night, Jesus did the unthinkable.  He went disciple to disciple and washed their feet.  You may recall that Peter had a problem with this.  He refused to let Jesus wash his feet until Jesus told him he must wash his feet or Peter would have no part in Jesus’ life – at that point, Peter offered for Jesus to wash his entire body.  The point I am making here is that, based on Peter’s reaction, this act that Jesus was doing was culturally beneath him and the disciples knew it.

Here was the King of all kings, the chosen Messiah – the very Son of God – washing their feet.  How could that be?

Jesus showed the disciples by action what he had been saying for three years – if one is to impact the lives of others for the Kingdom of God, then he or she must become the servant of all.  One leads by serving.

Jesus’ sacrifice and service did not stop there that night and that will be the subject for tomorrow.  But think about this today – who is God calling you to serve in the next 30 minutes – not 3 weeks from now, but right now?