Good morning, DearHeart.
Maundy Thursday.
Secluded in an upper room.
A last supper.
Even there, Christ washed their feet.
Even there,
locked in,
quarantined
… He found a way to serve.
Surely, they were thinking of the events of the past week…the images – Jesus riding on a lowly donkey. The crowd around Him. The palms waving as He passes by.
The people had expectations of Him which, now, would go unmet. They wanted Him to come and restore kingship, leadership to Israel.
His very actions were proof … this would not be. He had not come to be the military and political leader they were hoping to receive. No matter how big of a reception they were to give Him, He was not going to overthrow and take political action.
Their shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” were shouts for Him to save them.
They missed the point – He was not coming to save them from the oppression of their society. Instead of salvation from their political and social oppression, He had come to bring salvation for their souls.
The ones who stood praising and waving palms would soon be the very ones to yell, “Crucify Him!” when they faced disappointment in His mission.
Are we any different than the crowd that day?
We have a tendency to desire an ‘out’ to our present circumstances rather than see the treasure that may lie hidden in the dark times. We want the immediate relief or comfort over the eternal.
And yet Jesus still says to us today:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b, NIV
I think of our front line medical people, serving through troubled days. Putting their life at risk – a nurse somewhere, holding the hand of one whose family can’t be with them.
Jesus knew this world would bring each of us much turmoil and discomforts. But He gave us Himself – His Presence – to get us through these times. Even when surrounded by that which makes us fearful, anxious, and unsettled, we can be in peace and have peace. And, find a way to serve others.
On this, a Holy day, may our adoration of Jesus be firmly established in our hearts and minds.
And may we wave our palms in worship to Him, each and every day, as we, too, wash the feet of others.
Wake up.
Wash their feet.
Go.