Preached Thursday, April 2, at All Saints, Collingwood, Anglican Diocese of Toronto.
Lections: Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17,31b-35
You may think you’re here by choice. Maybe you volunteered to assist in worship tonight, maybe you’re here because choir practice follows our service, or maybe you’re here because you are one of those rare people who enjoy all the mystery and richness of Holy Week. Well, those are all good reasons for you to be here, but, my friends, let’s be clear that none of us are here by choice. We’re here because Jesus wants us to be here (I am indebted to Fleming Rutledge for this idea - see her The Undoing of Death, 2002 pp 69-77).
“You did not choose me but I chose you.” So says Jesus to the disciples in John’s gospel, after he has washed their feet in the upper room. We can imagine that by the time he says these things, the disciples are already somewhat dazed by what has happened. Their teacher has done the work of a servant by washing their feet. One of their number, Judas, has left after Jesus accused him of treachery, a stark reminder that Jesus will soon be taken and killed. Jesus has given them a new commandment, that they “love one another” (Jn 13.34), and he has promised that his Father will send them the Holy Spirit.
In other words, Jesus promises the disciples that they are chosen because they are God’s beloved friends, and will never be left alone, no matter what happens.
Jesus says and does all of these things as he prepares to go into darkness. He lays down his robe as he will lay down his life. The lord of the universe accepts the humiliating role of the servant as he will accept the humiliation of the cross. As he cleanses their feet, he cleanses their sins. As the beginning of the gospel reading tonight says, “he loved them to the end”. Jesus goes into the darkness because he loves his friends, because he loves us.
Tonight, as our worship ends, the church will be stripped of its finery. We will leave in silence and darkness, a reminder that our lord has chosen the silence and darkness of death for our sakes. Our lord Jesus has chosen to go into darkness. We know he will return in glorious light, and all will be well, but tonight, let us hold onto this moment. Let us hold onto this awful and wonderful knowledge, that our lord has chosen the darkness because he has chosen us.
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