Today is Thursday, April 9, 2020. We have been in official state mandated 'stay-at-home' for 4 days. We've been social distancing for about 4 1/2 weeks. There are aisles of empty shelves at Wal-Mart. There are daily updates from the Governor concerning the progress and effect of COVID-19 in our state. I have purposefully stayed away from news reports. I have had meetings via ZOOM and conference calls. Things are different to say the least.
On top of all this, it's Holy Week. The week we remember the events leading up to Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. So, on Thursday, Jesus had a meal with His disciples. As He was hours away from the cross, he wanted to spend time with His friends and He taught them in the process. Jesus was ever the Master Teacher. As they gathered in the upper room and got comfortable, here was the normal chit-chat, joking and horsing around like guys do when they get together. Especially men who had been together almost constantly for 3 years. And in the midst of this, Jesus got up, pulled up his robe and gathered it around his waist, poured water into a basin, took a towel and then approached each disciple and began to wash their feet. I don't know about you but I do not like people touching my feet. In those times you know that hygiene wasn't a top priority. Plus there were dirt roads and they walked around in sandals. Those feet had to have been nasty. Nonetheless, Jesus, the Messiah, went to each disciple, knelt down, because they weren't sitting in chair but were on the floor, dipped the towel in the water then slowly washed their feet. At first the chatter continued. Whoever what the first to have his feet cleaned may have sorta jumped in surprise as something wet was massaging his feet. That disciple's conversation stopped immediately. He probably poked the guy he was talking to who may have jolted and said, "WHAT?" Then the first disciple pointed at what was going on at his feet. Slowly, the whole room grew eerily silent and all eyes were on Jesus. You could hear the towel dipping into the basin then the dripping noise echoing in the basin then on the floor and the soft sound of feet being washed. Jesus moves from disciple to disciple repeating his task. He gets around to Peter and Peter pulls his feet back. "No, Lord, I'm not going to let You wash my feet." I bet the other disciples started shaking their heads. Jesus said, "Now Peter, if you don't let me do this, you can't be a part of me." Peter's reply, "Okay, Lord but wash all of me, not just my feet." "Peter, that's not necessary." And then as far as we know Jesus washed Peter's feet and continued until all the disciples' feet were washed.
Jesus shared with them, "What I've done is an example to you. As I've served you, you are to serve others. Here, near end of our time together, I want to once again tell you, follow Me."
We are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of relationships now that we have been forced apart. I heard a DJ say this the other night. We are '#alonetogether.' That fits this time we're in as we are bombarded once again with oxymorons. Reminds me of terms like jumbo shrimp, bittersweet or exact estimate. Today we have social distancing and alone together. They just don't make sense. Jesus reminded use that relationships are important. He spent His last few hours with His friends. Even on the cross, He thought of others as He said, 'Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing.'
As we remember the events of this week and the difference they made in our lives, let's also remember that this difference Christ has made is to be shared with others. Just as Christ's crucifixion was very public, our Christian walk should be public as well. Not only in this Easter season but, during these uncertain times, let's focus on others as much as we can. During these crazy times, people want to hear some good news. Well, we have the best news ever.
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