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Jesus uses this last meal to show his disciples the fundamental principles of his kingdom. The disciples might be tempted to dream about power and authority and their place in the coming kingdom, rather than Jesus' humble acts of service. It was difficult for the disciples to humble themselves and serve each other, which is the central focus of Jesus' message. In practical terms, they did not follow the local custom of washing their feet before having a Passover meal, so Jesus reminded them both of what is right and proper, as well as how to serve.
It is in this setting that Jesus uses water to demonstrate the essence of his teaching. Water is used for cleansing and purifying the dirty feet of the disciples and becomes the symbol of restoration and of new life! The everyday act of foot washing becomes the vehicle for divine revelation.
Jesus envisions a new community which is not defiled by power and greed for authority, but of humility and servitude. But today in our world water has become a source of power and division. Those who unjustly control the sources of water make it into a commodity, owned and sold by powerful monopolies, while those who cannot afford this basic human necessity have to be content with polluted water, endangering themselves. It is sadly the case that in the majority of the world today water has become the cause of death and not of life. Water, "the source of life", has been privatized and exploited to such an extent that only certain human communities can have access to its benefits. The lack of clean water is causing millions to die of diseases every year and human greed has robbed water of its purifying and restoring nature. The challenge Jesus Christ sets for us by symbolically using water at his last meeting with his disciples says loud and clear that we have to learn to embody the message of love and service for the renewal and restoration of human communities. Jesus invites us to wash ourselves of our greed and desire for power. Water must be restored to being a source of life and basic right of the whole of creation if the world is to carry on. This Lent, we as Jesus Christ's disciples, are once again invited to allow Christ's love and challenge to wash over us, so that we may embody his message to others.
*The Rev. Dr Anderson Jeremiah is an ordained Anglican Priest from the Church of South India and currently lectures in
World Christianity at Lancaster University, United Kingdom. His contribution first appeared in 2009.
Ideas for study and reflection
Lent is a time for reflecting on ourselves and our relationship with God. Some of us give up comforts that we are used to in
order to better concentrate on the essentials or as a form of atonement. Whether we fast or use Lent as a special occasion for
giving to others, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on our failures, on our own greed and indifference, but also a time for
reconciliation and renewing our joy and trust in God's power and mercy as we approach Easter.
Questions for discussion
1. What are your memories of being washed by another person? What kinds of relationships are evoked by such memories?
2. What are your memories - or even imageries - of having your feet washed by another person?
3. In what way do the experiences of washing the things in your life (dishes, clothes, floors, cars, etc.) speak of the need for
cleansing in our lives?
What you can do
- Organize an event where volunteers can actually wash the feet of other participants and then discuss what was the
experience of washing the feet and being washed by the other. - During the Lent period, can you make a resolution of not buying bottled water for consumption but look for other
alternatives of safe drinking water, such as boiling or filtering water to drink where tap water is not considered safe to
drink? - If you decide to keep a fast or give up eating special kinds of food or, for example, alcoholic beverages (which is a
practice in certain parts of the world consider contributing the money that you will have saved by this fasting/self
denial to the cause of water justice. You can contribute it to a local water initiative or you can donate to the EWN
(details on how to contribute financially to the EWN are available on our website).
