The Servant Who Loves
When I imagine Jesus that night in the Upper Room, I see him kneeling, wrapped in a towel, reaching out to wash feet that were dusty and worn. He knew the hour had come for him to leave this world—to be betrayed, arrested, and ultimately crucified—and yet he chose to serve first. He poured water into a basin and, in that simple act of humility, revealed the heart of God for all who would follow him.
Lessons from Nana: Love in Action
My grandmother, who we all called Nana, lived out that same startling love every day. She cared for her dying brother, patiently feeding him and changing his soiled sheets, even when I, as a boy, thought it impossible. When I asked her how she could do such a humble task, she simply looked me in the eye and said:
“When you truly love someone, nothing is too low to do for them.”
That lesson shaped our family. We saw how love in action transforms lives—nurses, pastors, caregivers all following the example of service she embodied.
The Towel and the Table
Jesus did not separate foot washing from the meal he shared; they are one story of grace. The towel and the table belong together because they both declare the same good news: a Savior who serves first, loves us first, gives himself first. In John Wesley’s words, “Come as you are.” There is no striving to prove yourself perfect before you approach him. You simply come to be loved.
From Foot Washing to the Cross
The same hands that broke the bread would soon be pierced. The same voice that said, “Love one another,” would cry, “It is finished.” As shadows fell and Jesus breathed his last, he bore our sin on his shoulders, and his dying breath became our life.
The Breath of God: It Is Finished
In that moment on the cross, the breath of God that had given him life returned to the Father—and in his final exhale new life was breathed into us. Sin was dealt with, the barrier between us and God was removed, and the promise of resurrection dawned in the darkness.
Waiting in Hope
Tonight, I invite you to come to the towel and the table. Some of you will kneel at the basin to wash hands or feet; others will remain in prayer. Both are holy responses. Neither earns you a gold star—Jesus simply longs to love you tonight. Whatever burdens you carry, bring them here.
As we move through this Holy Week—from the foot washing to Gethsemane’s sorrow, from the cross to the empty tomb—let us wait together in hope. He who served us to the end will save us for eternity.