Love, Shaped by a Towel

Love, Shaped by a Towel

Maundy Thursday – John 13:3–17

Tonight is different.

Yes, this is the night that we remember the betrayal of Jesus, but it is also a night of service and love.

On this night, bread is broken and a cup is shared.  But there is more to it than just Jesus’ final celebration of the Passover meal.

“Maundy” is a word that has been translated from Latin, to Old French, then to Old English, and finally to Modern English.  Mandatum in the Latin, Manda in the Old French, and Maunde in the Old English.

Maundy Thursday is named for Jesus’ mandatum—His command found in John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

But, before He speaks that command, He shows it, he lives out the love he speaks of.

Jesus does not begin with words.  He begins with action.

He begins with a towel, down on his knees.

But, before Jesus kneels, John tells us something extraordinary:

John reminds us that Jesus knows what this moment is about.

Our passage tells us that “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.”

In other words, Jesus knows:

•           His authority

•           His identity

•           His destiny

•           And that the hour has come

This moment is not accidental.

This is not a chance encounter.

This act is not symbolic.

It is deliberate.

Knowing the cross is just hours away, Jesus doesn’t choose self-preservation; instead, Jesus chooses self-giving.

True love is not ignorant of suffering.

True love walks toward it.

Knowing all this, the next thing we see is Jesus rising from the table…

Removing His outer garment… And wrapping himself in a servants towel.

Jesus takes on the posture of a servant.  The clothing of the lowest household slave.

And then—one by one—He kneels before His disciples.

He washes the feet of:

•           Those who will fall asleep instead of pray,

•           Those who will run away in fear,

•           And even Judas, who will betray Him. 

Think about that. Those who were closest to him in his earthly ministry… they would fail… and Jesus knew it. 

In spite of their failure, he loved them. 

In the face of their betrayal, he washed their feet. 

Why?  Because Jesus could see beyond their momentary failure.  He could see their heart and he loved them.  And, he serves them in the most intimate and humiliating of ways.

Foot washing is intimate, Jesus was touching the dirtiest part of their body.

It is uncomfortable, to kneel before another is physically and emotionally uncomfortable.

It is humbling—for the giver and the receiver.

On this night, we learn something central to the gospel: God’s love is not distant.

It kneels.  God’s love touches us… it humbles us.

But, then there’s Peter.  Maybe I’m like Peter… Maybe you are like Peter… Often, we see Peter as the one who speaks for us…

He blurts out what many of us feel:

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Then more forcefully:

“You shall never wash my feet.”

Why does Peter resist?

Because we would rather serve than be served. We would rather do something for God than receive mercy from God.  We are a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” society… we think we have to earn everything.  But there is nothing we can do to earn grace.  There is nothing we can do to earn mercy.

We can only receive it…

And so, Jesus answers:

“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Maundy Thursday reminds us:

We come to the table not because we are clean— but because He makes us clean.

We gather as the Body of Christ and we serve as Jesus served.

We serve one another… because Jesus served us.

After He finishes, Jesus asks:

“Do you understand what I have done for you?”

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

This is the mandatum. This is the command.  We love one another...

We do not simply reenact a ritual of communion or footwashing.  The Command, the mandate is that we adopt a way of life.

Christian love is not about power over others. It is about humble service for others.

On this night, Jesus defines discipleship.  It is:

•           Not dominance, but devotion

•           Not position, but posture

•           Not control, but costly love

Jesus ends with a promise:

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

The blessing is not only in remembering or doing.

The blessing is in becoming.

Tonight, we remember that before Jesus went to the cross, He went to His knees.

And He invites us to follow—not just to the table.

Jesus invites us into a life shaped by a towel.

By tomorrow, His hands will be pierced.  His body will be broken.

But tonight, those same hands wash feet… that same body stoops before those who will betray him and deny him and run away in his darkest hour.

Maundy Thursday teaches us:

Love stoops.

Love serves.

Love gives itself away.

May we receive His washing. May we obey His command. And may our lives proclaim the gospel— with towels in our hands and love in our hearts.

In just a moment, you will have the opportunity to come forward and wash one another’s feet.  Now, I know some of you are not able to have your feet washed for one reason or another… if that is the case, that is OK, you can offer your hands.

You are invited to come in pairs, or families… one will sit and receive as the other pours some of the water over the feet of the other, taking a towel and drying and cleaning the feet.  We don’t dump the entire pitcher in the basin all at once… the basin is only to catch what runs off the feet, leaving water in the pitcher for the next one to use, then the towel is used to wipe and dry the feet.

The towel is yours to keep.  It is a reminder that a life of love is sometimes shaped by a life of service.  It reminds us that sometimes, our life is shaped by the towel.

We will sing together as you come.