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I’ve been pondering the meaning of the next few days as we move from Palm Sunday to Easter. When Jesus came down from the Mount of Olives riding on a donkey toward Jerusalem, the crowds were ecstatic. They laid their garments and palm branches before him and cheered and praised him shouting ‘Hosanna!’ This triumphant parade signaled the beginning of Holy Week. But as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he knew he was riding into the valley of the shadow of his death.

When Jesus entered the city, he knew there was going to be trouble. Likely, his first followers must have wanted to go back to the ‘good old days’ before the unpleasantness began. But perhaps they and we need to remain here for a while – in this dark place where Jesus journeys, where we too must journey.

Holy Week is filled with stories of betrayal, false accusations, abandonment, denial, crucifixion, death. As we think of this, where do we fit in? Would we rather jump ahead from Palm Sunday ‘Hosanna’ to Easter ‘Alleluia’? Will we betray, deny, abandon Jesus?

Imagine what it was like to have been in the Upper Room at Jesus’ last supper. This part of Holy Week is truly breathtaking. I see Jesus silently kneeling before his disciples, insisting on washing each one of their feet. In this amazing love, he touches them – not just their minds or hearts but also their dusty, dirty feet. He does this as one last act of compassion, of utter devotion and loyalty to them. He does this with the full awareness that their loyalty will soon fade away. And what about us? Do we allow Jesus to take our dirty feet and our ‘dirty’ lives into his hands and to cleanse them? Or do we say: ‘You shall never touch my dirty feet.’ Jesus serves his friends in what I consider to be an astounding way. And then he gives them a new commandment that they love one another just as he has loved them. And he says: ‘I have set you an example. You are blessed if you do this.’ (John 13:17)

I can’t help but think about the disciples and the promises they made that evening – to stay with Jesus, to fight or die with him, if necessary. Yet they disappear into the shadows of the Garden of Gethsemane and evaporate when they see the Roman swords. On their freshly washed feet they abandon him. With his ‘body and blood’ still on their tongues they betray him. Peter, his vocal supporter, denies him saying, ‘I do not know the man!’ And what about us? What do we do?

Distance isn’t really an option for us this Holy Week. We need to come close to Jesus, to let him bathe our feet, cleanse our minds and hearts, and touch our souls.

Beloved Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. We are like your early followers – running away, denying you, abandoning you. Forgive us. Help us to have the courage and strength to follow you – even through the valley of the shadow. You are our Beloved. Amen.

Joy Carol
www.joycarol.com