Jesus Persists
(Maundy Thursday 2016, John 13:1-15, 34-35) 

When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples all seemed to go as planned,
until Peter.
Peter responds with utter indignation, disgust, embarrassment, and pride.
“You will never wash my feet, Lord.  That’s the job of servants, not you.”
Jesus persists.

Then Peter wants washed, fully clean, all of him—his hands and head, too.
Jesus persists.
“Just your feet, Peter.  You are clean already, but not all of you.”

Jesus guides Peter’s feet into the basin of water.
He gently washes off the dirt and the grime,
showing tender compassion to the man who would all too soon deny that he even knew him.
Three times would deny him:
“Woman, I do not know him.”
“Man, I am not!”
“Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”[1]
And Peter will flee into the shadows of sin and despair, weeping bitterly.

Though not yet, for in this moment,
as Jesus tenderly holds the feet of his
exasperating,
flawed,
all too human
disciple Peter in his hands,
He loves Peter with a love greater than he had ever imagined possible.
Jesus’ love persists.

-Rev. Lauren Lorincz
March 25, 2016

[1] From Luke 22, NRSV.

Photo by Rev. Lauren Lorincz.