Status is irrelevant in God’s kingdom...

In a world that is often so competitive, our God is refreshingly different. The desire to be dominant or a leader burns bright in many people, and often their desire overwhelms others.  We all know the ones who might not be the CEO or the boss of our institution or organisation, but they are the boss. Everyone defers to them in some way, whether reluctantly or not.  They maybe hold the keys to that special cupboard, run the kitchen or canteen with an iron fist or simply know everything and use that as capital.  At the other end of the scale they might be Sir Alan Sugar types with the power to say you are fired.

Yet God operates in such a different way. Holy Week is our yearly reminder, our focal point if you wish, on this.  This week we are reminded that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  We are reminded that we for life to happen, death must occur.  And that death isn’t of just anybody, but of God’s Son.

God was willing to give his very own Son, not only to live our lives but to die in such shaming conditions because he loves us.  Greater love has no man than he lay down his lives for his friends.  Jesus gave his life so that we might all live.  The prophet Isaiah wrote in the readings we had on Tuesday night of Holy Week:

It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’

For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

We know that this week, the events tomorrow in particular should inspire awe within us, overwhelm us with the magnitude of God’s love for us, and bring us to our knees in repentance, turning away from all that is not of God.   The events of this week should give us such a spiritual high, we don’t come back down til Pentecost, when we get another influx of God’s spirit, and we truly burst with energy.

But somehow that doesn’t happen.  God invites us to join him as he watches his Son take this journey to cross, and it begins with an invitation to allow Jesus to wash your feet.  We often talk of inviting Jesus into your heart, when actually what he wants to do is wash your feet.

Take a moment and cast your eyes down to your feet.  Don’t worry you don’t have to take your socks and shoes off yet.  Imagine if you will for a moment, that Jesus is before you and he wants to wash your feet.  The Son of God kneels before you with a towel around his waist, a basin in front of him, and goes to lift your foot into the water…

What do you do?  How do you react?
For some you will embrace the moment, such is your relationship with Jesus.
Others will pull back with embarrassment and suddenly Peter’s reaction makes perfect sense.
Others of you are struggling to even imagine Jesus kneeling in front of you.  Perhaps because you know him only a little but wish to know him more. Perhaps because Jesus is still a concept to you and not a reality.  Perhaps because imagining things is not your forte.

Jesus invites us to follow in his footsteps, but the path doesn’t start at the cross, it starts with servanthood.  And it isn’t about being a servant or slave to God, it is about being a servant with God.  Jesus shows us that he doesn’t expect us to be something he isn’t willing to be.  He washes their feet and then serves at the table.  To host the Passover was a honour, a privilege and so Jesus moves from a position of servant, and a footwashing servant was right down at the bottom of servant positions, to hosting the meal, albeit in a guest room.

God has the right to sit at the top of the table and the bottom of the table.  But once again he invites us all to sit at the table with him, and he serves them all, even Judas who he knows will betray him.

Whether we are CEOs or big shot lawyers, whether we are community workers or picking up the litter, whether we are caregivers or unemployed, whether we are super educated or barely literate, we are called to be servants and we are called to share at the Masters table.  There is no status in God’s kingdom – even for God’s Son.

As we move forward towards Good Friday with its darkness and light, sorrow and joy, hope and despair, we see it through resurrection eyes.  But remember, as Paul said we preach a crucified Christ and Jesus told us we must pick up our cross and follow him.  We cannot avoid Good Friday, but we can know God’s presence and invitation to be a part of Holy Week, the week that changed the world.  You, whoever you are, are important enough to God that he was willing to die for you.  And in doing so, created all of us equal in the sight of God.  Amen and thanks be to God.

Readings: Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 116:1,10-19

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

1 Corinthians 11:23-26