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John 13 Sermon Maundy Thursday

"Opportunities to Serve Are All Around"

by Clancy Nixon

March 24, 2005

Church of the Holy Spirit

Several years ago, a family man, call him Tom, came to my office at Truro and

asked me, "How can I love God? I want to love him better, but I'm not sure how." I

asked about his spiritual life. Tom already had a daily quiet time of prayer and Bible

Study; he already attended Sunday worship faithfully, and he had a home group. You

could say that he wanted to be "more spiritual." When I asked him about other aspects of

his life, he admitted that his marriage wasn't so good, his teenage son was quite

rebellious, and he didn't have a close friend.

Since he asked for advice, I suggested to Tom that one way he might get closer to

God was to serve those around him more. Hang out more with this son, playing pool and

chess; have regular dates with his wife, whether to San Vito's or Taco Bell; and mentor a

younger man. Christianity is very practical. Christian spirituality does occasionally

include rapturous experiences of intimacy with God. But, the everyday reality of

spirituality more often looks like changing diapers, listening to your wife and folding

laundry, than it does mystical reverie.

Spirituality means you will be regularly inconvenienced. Do you want to be

more spiritual in your life, or just in what is left of Holy Week? I haven't been as holy

this week as I'd like. It's not too late. You made a good start coming here. Here's one

possibility: invite your unchurched neighbors over for dinner, ask about their lives, and

just listen to them. Look for ways you might serve them in some way that meets their

needs. Maybe the mom is sick, and they could use some dinner. Do you know your

neighbors well enough so that you'd know when they were sick? Opportunities to serve

are all around us.

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus gave three main commands to his inner

circle: remember him in the bread and wine; love one another; and most often forgotten,

he commanded them to wash each other's feet. Jesus washed their feet to show them

how to love one another: by serving. Though he was their Lord, he took the role of a

servant. A servant does whatever is needed to be done. Let me repeat that: A servant

does whatever is needed to be done. Let's say that together: A servant does whatever is

needed to be done. Jesus put on the serving towel, got on his knees, and did the lowliest

job, a job that none of the others had done, but it needed to be done.

That same night, Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves" (Luke 22:27).

"I came down from heaven, not to do my own will." (John 6:38) Humbling himself

before God the Father meant humbling himself before women and men, too.

Washing the feet of others will humble you. Having someone else wash your feet

will humble you more. Face it: Feet are parts of our bodies that we normally cover up,

deodorize, and try to forget. Jesus calls us to remember. He wants to clean us, to comfort

us, to strengthen us for the journey ahead. Feet are a symbol of the spiritual journey.

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

Willingness to serve, to obey, to do whatever the Lord asks, is a mark of

Christian discipleship. Jeff Milrod joined our church two years ago. Though he has

many gifts for ministry, he asked to serve first only in our sign ministry, setting them out

and lugging them in, week in, week out, snow or rain. There is a servant. Jeff does not do

this because hauling signs is in the center of his call and gifting. He does it because it

needs to be done. He's also a Home Group Leader now. He and his family continue to

do the sign ministry with no help from anyone else. Is anyone willing to help with this?

The ones who do the lowly things are fit for the service of highest honor. It means laying

down your own agenda.

I remember very well many years ago when Ginger and I sensed God's call to

have no agenda for that one day but to serve others. We were on vacation at Family

Camp on Lake Erie. Instead of deciding what we wanted to do, like play tennis or go

swimming, we were radically open to whatever God wanted us to do. We sensed a call to

spend time with people we did not know well. We listened and went along. That day, we

babysat the children of people we did not know, so they could swim; I went to the store

to get ice for a family; and I listened to a broken man tell me about the pain of his life.

We did not spend time with the people we chose, but with the people who chose us. It

was awkward at times, but it was a memorable day. Who is God calling you to spend

time with? It might be to those who are responsive to you, rather than the ones you

would choose, the ones who tell you, "Let's get together." Most often, a servant does not

choose who to serve. Opportunities to serve are all around us.

Follow Christ's example. He commanded us to wash each other's feet. It might

seem embarrassing; it might seem yucky; it might seem odd. If you are not ready to

come tonight, don't worry, the Lord understands. Jesus said, "Later, you will

understand."

The way you participate is to go to one of the stations to sit, and have your feet

washed. Then you will kneel, and wait for another person to come forward, to wash their

feet. While we do this, the Praise Band will sing. You are welcome to join in the

singing.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, let this act of obedience to your command cleanse us and

comfort us. Let it also challenge us and prepare us to lead lives of humble service. In

your name we pray. Amen.