Advent Thirteen

Ford Madox Brown- The Tate Collection

 In a moment of privacy Jesus and his friends share the festival meal together.  It is clear that Jesus has a lot to say.  It’s also in his actions.  This is Peter’s take on what is going on.  Peter challenges Jesus…

No Shit!

"Put those down this instant!"

"Now stop protesting.  You've had a hard day.  I can see you're stressed.  We keep hearing that you're leaving us, that this is going to be our last get together.  So come and relax, we're celebrating."

He'd managed to slip out and begun the disgusting task of cleaning the dog shit off our shoes.  I wasn't going to be able to stop him.  I know he loves us all, and this is the way he shows it, but he said it was much more than that.  According to him, the dirt he was cleaning was on the inside. If I didn't let him clean me up, we couldn't actually be friends. 

"Right," I said. "I'm stripping." 

“No, not so extreme”, he laughed. He's come to clean up the shit we get ourselves into.  Actions speak louder than words.  We have to let him finish what he has started.

When he was done he made the point.  Here's the message.  He's been our guide, our mentor.  But the students are not greater than their teacher, and the ones delivering the message are not greater than the message giver.  So we too should serve others.  Copy him.  It's the way to be.

 

Where Jesus friends begin to realise that Jesus needs to clean

 them up in extraordinary ways

All this is happening before the storm.  Jesus knows that he has just hours with his friends before he will be killed.  It is as if he is working out what they really need.  Actions speak louder than words.  They are amazed that he stoops down and washes their feet.  This is a servant’s job.  Everyone would expect someone else to do it.  Peter’s discomfort, this is the realisation that I am dependent of Jesus’ suffering and humiliation to survive.  Without the act of suffering I remain dirty. 

The tradition of being submerged under water, and coming up (or whatever symbolic variant is used) is like a marriage ceremony.  It is a vow to ‘be washed clean, and to remain washed clean’.  It is a vow, for better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness and in health, to follow Jesus.

This is why we remember this act with a symbolic Passover meal, even though the thought of the execution is repulsive.  It is a brutal, uncivilised, 'not fit for children', event.  But we must never allow to become sanitised.  We are the fortunate ones who have heard, understood and been changed.

PRAYER – I need you every day.  I need to be clean inside and out.  I need to know your selfless love.