HOLY THURSDAY MEDITATION




I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. 
                John 13:15 (CEB)

“Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, Master who acts as a slave to them.”
              “Jesu, Jesu” by Tom Covin, 1969, #432, United Methodist Hymnal




When Jesus took on human form, He did not demand to live in a palace, seated on a throne, dressed in purple silken robes and surrounded by servants catering to His every whim.

His hands were not soft and smooth.  They were calloused and rough from years of carpentry work.  He didn't spend his time elbowing with with nobles, diplomats and the great minds of the time.  He hung out with fishermen, tax collectors, lepers, the mentally ill, the sick and the poor as well as men and women of questionable reputations.

He chose not to exploit his divinity but rather took on the form and function of a servant.  He served the blind, the lame, the broken hearted, the people grieving in darkness.  Jesus healed and taught in service to the Mission of God for the redemption of all creation.

He came with a servant's heart filled with God's love, love that was not only unconditional and steadfast, but it also was a love that was self-giving, self-sharing, self-sacrificing for the sake of others. 

As Christ served, He had a humble spirit, thinking of others and what they needed and touching their lives in ways that were personal and relevant.  He demonstrated that humility to His disciples that night in the upper room.  With a towel wrapped around his waist, He, the Son of God, knelt at their feet, showing by example what it meant to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.  Serve others.

"If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself."
                                                                                                     Philippians 2:1-8 (The Message)

Be a servant.  Humbly kneel at the feet of our friends, our neighbors, the stranger and the least among us.  Wash their feet, welcome the outsiders, feed, clothe and advocate for medical care, education and healthy living conditions.  Visit the sick, those who are isolated and cut off from society as well as those who are held prisoner by their addictions, mental illness, or because of their actions. 

“Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.”   
                                                           “Jesu, Jesu” by Tom Covin, 1969, #432, United Methodist Hymnal

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRISTIANS AND COFFEE BEANS

Image
1 Peter 1:17-23 John 17:14-19 Potatoes, eggs or coffee beans? Which are Christians called to be? We're going to find out as we explore what it means to be “in the world but not of the world” in today's message, “Christians and Coffee Beans.” Put three pots of water on to boil. When the water begins to boil, put some potatoes in one, eggs in another pot, and coffee beans in the third point. Boil for 20 minutes The potatoes went into the pot hard. After boiling in the hot water, they are now soft, easily broken up and mashed. The eggs, with their fragile shells and soft centers, are also changed. They are now hard-boiled. The coffee beans are different. While they look the same as they did when they were put into the water, they have transformed the water. The water has taken on the smell, taste and color of the coffee Jesus was not of this world, yet he came into the world to redeem the world by his death and resurrection an...
Read more

OATHS -- GONE WITH THE WIND?

Image
Leviticus 19:11-12 Matthew 5:33-37 Even if we've never seen the movie, Gone with the Wind, we're probably familiar with Scarlett O'Hara's oath. Framed by the sunset, Scarlet raises her fist in defiance and says, “As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!” In today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus leads us into a new understanding of oaths and profanity. Did the character, Scarlett O’Hara in the movie, Gone with the Wind , take the Lord’s name in vain when she made her famous oath? “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again. Leviticus 19:11-12 tells us not to take oaths, make promises that profane the Lord’s name, that is take the Lord’s name in vain. Scarlett’s oath is a profane ...
Read more

ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

Image
"...  and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds...  " --  Hebrews 10:24  ( Amplified Bible) "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."  -- I Thessalonians 5:11 (NRSV)       To encourage means to:   give support, confidence, or hope to someone; give support and advice to someone to help them do or continue to do something; thelp stiulate development.  Encourage and building each other up go hand in hand.  Here are some ways we can encourage and build each other up which will in turn help us become healthy, thriving churches. 1.  Have high regards, great respect and favorable thoughts for each other. 2.  Be thoughtful and intentional when you speak.  Consider where someone is coming from and choose wisely your words. 3.  Be gracious.  When someone makes a mistake, be quick to forgive...
Read more