The Church of St. Paul and Incarnation, Jersey City NJ
April 1, 2021
Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Jesus, Teacher of Hope
In the gospels there are many titles for Jesus, but one of the most common is one that we heard tonight:
Teacher.
Jesus’ own disciples often call him “teacher,” as do others who are curious, or maybe even skeptical, about his message.
Jesus the teacher.
And, all these centuries later, Jesus is still rightfully celebrated as the great teacher. After all, we still remember the lessons that he taught long ago. We are still learning the lessons that he continues to teach us.
Tonight, on Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus the teacher gathered with his closest disciples for one last meal.
For some time, Jesus had been predicting his suffering and death, but, understandably enough, his friends and followers did not – or maybe could not – hear what he was trying to tell them.
But now, together at the table one last time, the truth must have been sinking in.
And now, with time growing short, Jesus the teacher uses this meal as an opportunity to teach a few final, most important, lessons.
Jesus the teacher uses the most vivid and unforgettable imagery available in an effort to get through to his friends who, while lovable, often had a hard time understanding his meaning.
So, Jesus takes and blesses the bread and wine – this is me, he says, broken and poured out for you.
Jesus promises, each time you gather at the table just like this, I am here – I am among you always.
Do this in memory of me.
The second lesson of the Last Supper is perhaps even more stunning and memorable – it’s the lesson we reenact here just once a year, but we should probably do it more often.
Jesus washes the feet of his friends – an act so down-side up that Peter immediately objects.
But, to Peter’s credit, when he realizes the stakes, he gives in pretty quickly.
Peter and the others finally learn that following Jesus means allowing him to wash us.
Following Jesus means washing the feet of our brothers and sisters, offering loving service to people whose feet are covered with dust – caring for people whose hearts are covered with the dust of suffering and despair.
And, in one of the biggest miracles of this whole story, the disciples did not forget Jesus’ lessons.
They remembered what Jesus taught that night and passed on these lessons to us.
And, we’ve been breaking bread and washing feet ever since.
A year ago when Sue and I were alone here for our Maundy Thursday service with all of you watching on Facebook, the pandemic and virtual worship was still very new to us.
We consoled ourselves by thinking that we would need to do this just once and that a year later the thirty or so of us who usually gather for this service would be back again, some of us choosing to have our feet washed in what is always a beautiful and awkward moment.
But, now, a year later, it’s still just the two of us here.
And after the year of suffering that we have endured – and with an uncertain future ahead – I’m learning something new from Jesus’ lessons – or, at least something that’s new to me, anyway.
Yes, Jesus is teaching that he will always be with us in the bread and the wine, in our community.
Yes, Jesus is teaching that we must be washed in Baptism and give away our lives in loving service to others.
But, you know, gathered around for that final meal, facing the death of the one they had come to know as the One, the first disciples must have looked to the future with only fear and dread.
How could they go on?
What new horrors awaited them?
And now for us, after all we’ve been through this past year – a raging pandemic, political instability, a shattered economy, ugly prejudice and brutal violence against people seen as “other,” after all we’ve been through this past year, maybe we also look to the future with fear and dread.
And so tonight, Jesus teaches hope – hope – not magic, not wishful thinking, and not even optimism - but hope.
Just when it seemed like we were reaching the end of the story, Jesus points to the future.
Jesus teaches that this isn’t the end, it’s a beginning.
No matter what terrible things may happen, Jesus will always be present in the bread and the wine.
Jesus will always here in the community when we gather around the table. Yes, even on Facebook.
Hope.
Jesus points to the future that God and we can build together – a future we make real by washing the feet of people so desperately in need of kindness – a future we make real by giving away our lives in loving service to others – a future we make real by following Jesus’ command to love one another as he has loved us.
Hope.
Just when it seemed like we were reaching the end of the story, Jesus points to the future.
So, tonight, like the first disciples, in our own time of fear and despair, let’s learn from Jesus the teacher.
Let’s learn his lessons of bread, wine, and water.
Let’s learn his lessons of love.
Let’s learn his lessons of hope.
Amen.
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