Arulvakku

09.04.2020 — Scandalous Love

Maundy Thursday – 9th April 2020 – John 13,1-15

Scandalous Love

John’s account of the Last Supper begins with Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. This action is simple, yet its significance is revolutionary. In the synoptic gospels the Last Supper is a Passover meal, while in John this meal takes place on the preceding day. John describes in such a way that Jesus will be crucified at the same time when the lambs are sacrificed in the Temple in preparation for the Passover meal.

In washing disciples’ feet, we notice that Jesus performs this action personally. In the ancient world, when guests arrived at someone’s home the host would provide them water to wash the feet. Or the host would employ the slaves to wash the feet of the guests. But no free person would wash the feet of another free person. If anyone does it, then the person assumes the position of a slave in front of the guest. Sometimes someone may volunteer to do this in order to show one’s devotion to another.

Here Jesus assumes the role of a slave to show the depth of his love for his disciples (13,1b).  He acts out of strength, not out of his weakness. He knows that all things are into his hands and therefore uses his hands to wash the feet of the disciples, i.e., expresses his self-giving love (13,3-5). In the midst of objections, Judas possessed with Satan and impetuous Peter, Jesus’ love remains unwavering with his scandalous gift of divine love (13,8). It is scandalous, because the one who comes from God and who is going to God takes on the menial task of a salve.

Jesus’ act of service recalls what Mary of Bethany had done for Jesus just a few days earlier, washing his feet with expensive perfume and drying them with her hair. Jesus interprets her extravagant act of love and service as an anointing for his burial (12,7). Certainly He took the role of a slave in order to suffer the kind of execution the Romans used for slaves and rebels.

Jesus’ expression of his love is not only a gift, but an example. He requested his disciples to follow his model by washing one another’s feet. In this way they are called to share the love they have received from Christ. Jesus did the unexpected by stooping down and using his hands to wash. It is a call to show up when no one might expect it. It is a call to translate love into service to do what is needed. It should be a love that startles and surprises.  Therefore Jesus refrains from commanding them until they have received His love more surprisingly.

Jesus’ commands in John’s Gospel are community-building.  He tells his disciples to wash one another’s feet as he washed theirs, and later He says that they are to love one another as he loved them (13,14.34). In both commands there is a sense of mutuality: people wash and love “one another”. Mutuality recognizes that Jesus’ followers need to receive love from others even as they continue giving love to others. In washing and loving Judas, who betrayed him and Peter, who denied him, Jesus becomes the best example of community building and a model for confronting its failing members.