2nd April 2026 –
In the Garden of Gethsemane, after the Last Supper Jesus the man had to reconcile himself to his immediate future. Though He is the Word of God made flesh He still had to come to terms as a human being with what he knew the Jewish authorities wanted to do with him. “Father if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Never-the-less, let your will be done, not mine.”
Before this happened, however, He demonstrated the true nature of his Kingdom: that in his world the king was servant, and the one who served was master, because authority is given and exercised as service. Jesus’ idea of greatness and power lay in serving others and so he washed the disciples feet. Each example that Jesus gave was a preparation for a fuller, deeper demonstration of the lengths he would go. But we are told He had to insist, our sinful human nature rejects this way of thinking, it does not see a king as servant or a servant as master!
Unless the disciples would allow him to serve them, unless they could serve in turn, then they could have nothing in common with him. Jesus resolved to serve by surrendering His will to that of the Father – in this way his life would become a real offering. Jesus gave himself away for his friends. He gave His body and blood in the form of food and drink, so that those who should follow him may be one with him. What he offered them at table he would offer on the wood of the cross. This why priests must be servants of the baptised.
Thus if we are to follow Jesus we cannot separate the command to eat his body and drink his blood and his command to serve. Together they bear witness to what it means to be a Christian. Heed therefore the warning Christ gives us this evening – “If I … your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each others feet.” This attitude of service towards each other is of utmost importance. We are to consider and behave towards each other as though each were the servant. Tomorrow Jesus shows us just how much it costs to carry out the Divine will, how much it costs to serve others – tomorrow the Suffering Servant is presented to us on the altar of the Cross. Tonight though he asks us to watch and pray with Him, that we may not be put to the test – for the spirit may indeed be willing but our flesh is weak.
