It’s Not About Me

One important contribution the Church of the Brethren makes to Christian tradition is the observance of footwashing, described in John 13. My congregation observes this within the context of the Love Feast worship service twice a year; on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week (March 28 this year) and World Communion Sunday (the first Sunday of October).

The Love Feast is a remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. After the meal, but prior to sharing the bread and wine of communion, John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus “got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him” (John 13:4-5, NRSV).

As Jesus makes his way around the room, he eventually comes to Peter. In his brashness, Peter will have nothing to do with Jesus washing his feet. In Peter’s eyes, it’s beneath Jesus’ dignity to wash the dirt and grime off their dusty feet. There should be a servant to do this; anyone but Jesus. Peter is not willing to have someone who is his leader take the role of a servant. He will not see Jesus humbled in this way. Peter wants Jesus to do things his way.

But it’s not all about Peter. Receiving this expression of servant ministry is essential to Peter’s soul. Peter must let Jesus wash his feet.

The story, however, does not end there. As Jesus finishes he gives the disciples this instruction: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).

How are we to obey this command in our generation?

One answer is to literally wash one another’s feet in a service of worship, as the Brethren have for over 300 years. Helpful as this is, I would challenge us to see even more. In our consumer-based, post-Christian culture, I believe that this kind of servant ministry is an effective form of showing our neighbors the love of God.

Our entire culture is built on the notion that I ought to have things “my way.” I was reminded of this just last week, when my parents gave me the American flag presented at my grandfather’s funeral. I would like to display the flag in our home, so I began searching for a case. After spending only five minutes on the internet searching for “American flag cases,” the pop-up ads on other sites advertised flag cases for the next week! Custom service. Apparently, it’s all about me!

Except that it’s really not. As a follower of Jesus, my life is defined by the sacrificial expression of servant love, demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus. Our calling as Christians is to demonstrate this kind of love to the world by washing the feet (literally or figuratively) of those around us, demonstrating that we are willing to invest ourselves in another’s well-being.

The next time that we wonder why someone continues in the unhelpful patterns of their life, or why people continue in poverty, or wonder why our church isn’t growing, perhaps we can remember Jesus’ words at the Love Feast: “you also should do as I have done to you.”

What would Roanoke look like with increasing numbers of Christians dispersed into the neighborhoods around our church buildings, learning ways we can “do as I have done to you”? What would our churches look like if we thought “maybe 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning isn’t convenient for everyone, and we began to serve people’s spiritual needs with worship services at other times, and in different styles?” How would our own lives be transformed by a greater willingness to interact with people who are different from us, and learn what life looks like through the eyes of people of different cultures, income, or educational levels?

As we proceed through the season of Lent, may we each remember an uncomfortable thought: “it’s not about me.”

Tim Harvey is the senior pastor at Central Church of the Brethren in Roanoke. Visit them at www.centralbrethren.org

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