Passover festival is the most joyful celebration of the Jews. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Gospels recorded four Passover Festivals in his life, the first one was when he was a twelve year old accompanied by his mother, Mary and his foster father, Joseph. I was thinking that in his last Passover, Jesus must have felt sad thinking that he will now leave this world in order to return to the Father. He will now undergo his passion and he will be separated from his disciples whom he treats as friends and he love them dearly.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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 13:2-5)
Jesus felt the need to show his love as to console himself and as well as his disciples regarding his coming hour of departure. He will show his love even for his friend now thinking of betraying him, to the one who will deny him and to those who will desert him. He took of his outer clothes--- perhaps an allusion to what Paul will say about him later: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6-7)
In those times, where roads were rough and dusty and sandals is the common footwear, there is a need for the host to have the feet of his guests washed. He will ask his servants to do the task but it is reserved for a non-Jewish servant. It is one of the lowest tasks in their civilization. Yet, Jesus was the one who acts as a servant who washes the feet of his servants. Imagine the scandal to Peter when he says “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:6-8)
It is necessary for Jesus to humble himself out of love for Peter and all men to receive the inheritance---- our salvation. All men sinned and there is a need for someone to atone for their sins. But, since no man can atone for them, the Father gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) Only the God-Man can atone for the whole sins of humanity.
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:9-17)
Today is Maundy Thursday. It comes from the Latin word "mandatum" meaning "to command". The name comes from the Gospel for today which speaks of Jesus commanding his disciples to imitate his love for them. Jesus teaches that love and humility go together. There is no true love when a boyfriend says "I love you" to his girlfriend without him setting aside his ego and his thinking that he will always be in command. There is no true love when leaders do not set aside their prestige and status in order to listen and empathize to the needs of the common people. There is no true love when parents do not set aside their authority and their line of thinking in order to show their love for their children.
But, Jesus knows that washing of the feet is not the ultimate expression of his love. The day after, he humbly allowed himself to suffer and to die on the cross establishing a new and everlasting covenant with his friends.
Gabriel Marcel, a French Christian philosopher says: To love is to say to the beloved--- You shall not die. In his great love for us, Jesus will not let us die to the point that he chose to die instead.
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