He washed their feet!

Today I shared this "story" in chapel with all our students as we opened another school year:

It was late in the day as he his friends and family gathering in the Jerusalem home of Anna and Heber, parents of young teen John Mark. The excitement of being together again as friends, as family, was obvious with the many conversations in the room. Jesus stood along a wall smiling, wanting to join in with several of the men but content to stand back and observe.

He was pleased to notice that Peter, his noisy, bold and even at times rude friend, noticed the John Mark and pulled him into the circle of conversation. The loud laugh from James no doubt came from the pleasure he took in carefully worded riddles and jokes he tried on the men; his contagious laugh caused Jesus to laugh even though he hadn't heard the newest and latest joke.

The penetrating smell of the specially prepared meat was in the air.The incredible blend of herbs, spices and onions were mouth watering. And then there was the aroma of fresh baked bread – ahh – Jesus closed his eyes and imagined slowly chewing the bread, tasting the grain, enjoying how it would slowly melt in his mouth. They were gathered for a special holiday, the Passover feast.

The platter of fresh black olives, purple grapes, green figs at the dinner table was so inviting; no wonder several couldn’t resist the temptation to grab hand-fulls and enjoy the taste and texture of freshly picked fruit well before it was dinnertime.

Several whistled and hummed the songs that were traditionally sung at this feast; one strummed the lyre while another softly patted the drum causing several to join along in song and dancing to the methodic rhythms.

Jesus moved away from the wall, washed his hands, splashed water on his face The cold water refreshed him after a day of teaching near the temple. He looked around and noticed that the servants were no where in sight. Anna and Heber must have dismissed them from their household duties so they to could join their friends and family for the holiday. Usually it was the servants of the household who welcomed people by offering a clean robe, washing dusty feet and directing them to the table spread with food and drinks.

Jesus wondered, who would be the servant on this occasion? Who would welcome the friends by helping them clean up for the meal and escorting them to seats at the table?

It was a dirty task – carefully washing the smelly, dusty, grimy feet of those who gathered. The temperature of the water had to be just right and of course people expected the water to be clean – so numerous trips to the water warmed in the kettle on the open fire were required. Seldom did anyone say thanks. Often people complained about their feet not being dried right, the wetness between the toes was the toughest to get and of course some grumbled when they should have laughed because their ticklish spot had been touched.

Jesus quietly took off his jacket, prepared several buckets of water, found the towels and knelt down. The room slowly quieted to an uncomfortable silence. Several wondered aloud in awkward whisperings. What was this? Jesus, their friend who earlier in the day had silenced several well-trained rabbis in the temple when he claimed he was the way to the Father, the way to Yahweh, the way to the God of Israel. People had been amazed at Jesus and started to worship him.

Could it be that the great God, the One who had led their ancestors out of Egypt centuries earlier, was now in their midst?

Jesus beckoned each; smiling and quietly called each one by name. He knelt, carefully washing, drying, pouring fragrance and kissing the top of their feet as they laughed and told of memories of days gone by. They hugged and slapped each other on the back as the uncomfortable silence changed to laughter and animated conversations. Joy filled the room as they talked of how they could too might humble themselves and serve others.

They realized and talked of how Jesus humbled himself, forgetting about who he was and with no concern of what others thought of him, to serve and love his friends. They were amazed that the once whom they worshiped knelt, they were amazed that their Lord was their servant.

So who among us will serve? Who will love? Who will "wash the feet" of others?

Today we welcome all back to school. We welcome several new teachers, Kristina Hamsher, Thomas Dunn, Bill Seymour; we welcome Ellie Wiebe from Paraguay and Song Gu from South Korea
We especially welcome 66 new students to our school.

Our commitment is to love and learn as Jesus did. Jesus welcomed family, friends and visitors by humbling himself to serve. My hope and prayer is that all of us will choose each day to humble ourselves and serve. It is when we serve that we are like Jesus! It is when we serve that we discover true and lasting joy!