The will and practice of being more like Jesus
Easter 5C | John 13:31-35
This morning, we find ourselves back in the evening before the Passion, when Jesus is sitting at a table with his closest followers, sharing their last supper together. It is from this table that he excuses himself, strips down, and washes their feet in an act of profound and improbable humility.
And it is in this act that his spirit is troubled and he speaks to his disciples with regret and sadness, for one of them will betray him. He doesn’t call out Judas by name, but by action, saying one who will eat with him is the betrayer, and then feeding Judas. And, without ceremony, Judas gets up and leaves the table to begin the cascade that will follow from this.
This is an important moment for making sense of what this humility and this betrayal have to do with Jesus. And when Jesus turns their attention to a “new commandment” which isn’t actually new, but in calling it new, he’s drawing newness into the moment, saying this, given this moment, is new. New to you now….Keep Reading
For a limited time, you may find the audio here.