John 13:1-15 Holy Week: Thursday

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Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father.  He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.

Just a couple of days ago there was a tragedy in the skies above Florida.  Two skydivers (an instructor and a student) from Iceland were killed when their respective parachutes failed to open.  What happened remained a mystery until the sheriff’s department reviewed the video taken from the instructor’s helmet camera.  It showed the instructor, Orvar Arnarson, 41, desperately trying to pull the cord on 25-year-old Andrimar Pordarson’s parachute.

According to the skydiver “manual,” you may help your partner if their parachute fails to open, but must abandon the effort if you reach the dangerous altitude of 2,000 ft.  The video shows that Arnarson never abandoned the effort.

Instead of calling Arnarson an idiot, the sheriff called him a hero.  “He’s a hero.  He died a hero.” Indeed he is.  And he may have changed the manual for good.

These types of hero stories bring tears to our eyes, and not just because of the way they end, but because they highlight a fact that is often forgotten in the midst of tragedy; and that is, “Someone’s life is worth more than mine.” 

Last night I heard hours and hours of confessions.  The line was enormous and seemed like it would never end.  What a sight!  Who said that people no longer go to confession?  Must be those who never go!    

But why do we go?  Why are we willing to wait in line for hours?  Because we know the Lord is eager to forgive and is generous in His forgiveness. Yes, Christ wants to forgive us.  He has made it painfully obvious He wants to forgive us.  But why?  Why is it so easy?  What does this mean?  In my opinion, it can only mean one thing:  He has great hope in us, in humanity.  He sees great things that are possible with us in Him.   

Why does the Lord wash his disciple's feet? Because He knows what we are worth, and it’s much more than we think.    

We tend to make a lot of noise about nothing.  We make "something out of nothing" all the time!  But when God makes something out of nothing, it is always something incredible.  Why?  Because it's done with love and humility.  This is what turns a simple act (the washing of feet) into a enduring feat.

Our goal on earth is to be a "professional Christian."  In other words, to say and do what must be said and done, regardless of how we feel and how our world is turning upside down.

Jesus was the ultimate "professional."  He was calm before the horrific storm.  He never allowed the high-strung emotions of others to overwhelm Him.  He never allowed his very own emotions to overtakeHim.  Not once did He allow the circumstances surrounding Him to overpower Him.  He did not even allow His detractors to take away His final meal with His men.  All was according to His plans.  For on the night He was betrayed, He gave His final sermon on Love and give His men a new commandment:  “Love one another as I have loved you.”  And as His betrayer and the hour fast approached, He continued to stay with His own, serving them by washing their feet and knowing they would soon flee from Him.    

The Lord was a professional.  He could see well beyond the given moment.  He knew this moment, though excruciatingly painful, would quickly come to pass.  He knew that His disciples, once recovered, would become strong again: through Him, with Him and in Him.  He knew they would imitate Him to the four corners of the world, and how with Him, through Him and in Him, they would change the world forever!  He was not about to let this moment go unnoticed.

Today, the Lord washes the feet of His Apostles.  The first is last. He is doing something new, a new beginning, a new creation.  He is, once again, up to something:  creating something out of nothing, and turning it right-side up.

As the Lord gave His life for me, I pledge my life to Him.

Resolution:  To be a professional Christian.