Maundy Thursday 4/14/22

Read John 13:1-17

Now read this reflection, from Peter’s perspective:

Last night, all of us got together to keep the Passover. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised when Jesus got up from the meal and bowed before each of us and began washing our feet.

But I was. I was quite surprised, and a little offended. What business does the Lord have washing my feet? Jesus is no slave. We’ve come all the way to Jerusalem, to His Father’s temple, to the place where all authority sits, and Jesus wants to act like he doesn’t have any power? It’s just this sort of behavior that makes so many priests and teachers and crowds and authorities want to get rid of him.

I’m the servant. I serve Jesus. I’ve given up my livelihood to follow him, and now he wants to be my servant? Wash my feet? No, I needed to wash his feet. So I offered.

But he said that if he didn’t wash me, then I’d have no part with him. So of course I asked him to wash all of me. If being washed by him draws me closer to him, then I want a full bath! Wash my hair, my hands, all of me!

Then Jesus says that I’ve already bathed. I don’t need a bath. I’m already clean. Which is it? It’s hard to describe how confused I am. He explained something about loving one another and another thing about servants not being greater than their masters. Jesus is being reckless, washing our feet. Somebody around here is going to get a big head if he keeps serving us.

  • What is it like for you to envision this story through Peter’s eyes? How might God be inviting you to respond?