AtomMaundy Thursday: the titanium rule
John 13:1-17, 34-35
Rules to live our lives by…to help us make decisions…we all have them…voices we listen to!!
On the day that Jesus gives us his “new rule” to live by, Maundy Thursday, Let’s name them some of them tonight…the first two in the value chart…from lowest to highest:
“Do to others before they do it to you!!” This is called the IRON rule…
“Do to others as they do to you!!” This one is named the SILVER rule…
Both of these I sense have some flaws…they are pretty self-centered…
The next in the list is a bit more famous…at least the name is familiar…
“Do to others as you want them to do to you!!” And, this is the GOLDEN rule…
Many people stop with this one…saying, “Just live your life by the Golden rule and you’ll be just fine”…and…there is some truth to this…and several variations’ of this.
I remember the sign at the little convenience story by the cabin that said, “Drive towards others as you want them to drive towards you”…and thought…I liked that as a new driver 37 years ago.
But…the Maundy Thursday “New Commandment” doesn’t stop here, so, neither should we…as this rule is still a bit self-centered. Let’s keep going.
The next rule in succession is:
“Do to others as THEY want to be treated!!”
This one takes YOU out of the equation…and is called the “PLATINUM” rule.
The Platinum Rule takes into account the feelings of others. The focus of relationships shifts from “this is what I want, so I’ll give everyone the same thing” (Golden Rule) to “let me first understand what they want and then I’ll give it to them” (Platinum rule). And…it’s a good model for living…but, it’s still not the best.
Now, there is another rule by which to live…Len Sweet calls it “the Titanium rule”…but…let’s tell the Maundy Thursday story before we get to this rule…
Note…the disciples that first Maundy Thursday were living by several of these rules…and very few paintings or re-enactments of the last supper give us an accurate portrayal of what most probably happened.
I mean, when I’ve seen the Last supper portrayed, those who do it have always tried to make it a “Da Vinci” style supper…like the painting…with the disciples all focused on Jesus…with their faces Angelic and so holy. Biblically, we know it wasn’t ANYTHING like that.
Luke tells us that they came into the room, arguing over who was the greatest among them. They were all playing, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the greatest of us all?”
In simplest of terms, the disciples were having a family fight. My brother Rick (the middle child) pulled out a T-shirt at one of our recent family birthday gatherings that said, “Mom loves me the most!!” And this is what was happening!! They were fighting: “I’m better than you are! Jesus likes me better!” And catch the irony: here were peasants and fishermen from some of the tiniest towns of the Roman Empire debating who was to be the greatest to sit on the right or left hand of Jesus. It must have been crazy…
They were acting like chickens…trying to establish a pecking order…you know about this. I looked it up:
“Take ten chickens,” the author wrote, “any ten. Put them in a pen together, and spread a little chicken feed. In short order, you will witness an amazing phenomenon. In a matter of minutes, the chickens, previously strangers, will vie for a hierarchy based on dominance, or, in everyday language, they will establish a Pecking Order. Instinctively, they will determine, through a series of skirmishes, who the Number One Chicken will be; then the Number Two; the Number Three; all the way down to the unlucky Number Ten Chicken.
“Much is at stake in this dance of domination. Chicken Number One pecks at and intimidates Chicken Number Two, without experiencing any kind of retribution from Chicken Number Two. Chicken Number Two will take it from Chicken Number One but will turn around and peck away at Chicken Number Three, who will, in turn, take out its frustration on Chicken Number Four. The Pecking Order continues all the way down to Chicken Number Ten, who, needless to say, has a pretty miserable life: pecked, but no one to peck.”
With all this happening with the disciples, was it any wonder that none of the disciples washed anyone’s feet…the most basic rule of hospitality in that culture?
Let’s remember:
In the holy lands, feet were NOT beautifully pedicured. Feet were coated with dust because of the dry environment. When it did rain, feet and toes were caked with mud.
The people all wore sandals which were pieces of leather with one string to secure them to their feet.
The streets were traveled by beasts of burden, not Buicks, so you can imagine the raw sewage lying around everywhere. There were no street cleaners or garbage pick ups, so you can imagine the filth and dirt which would have accumulated on their feet!
Because of this, in every house there was a copper urn and basin with a pitcher by the door to wash the feet of those who entered. A common sense thing to do, don’t you think? The servant, (if there was one), would wash the feet of the guest before they reclined on the couch to eat, Roman style.
And, let’s remember…
There was no servant there that night except Jesus. The disciples certainly were not going to wash each other’s feet. To do so would have lowered their position and prestige in the group.
In the midst of this conflict, it is the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes off all his garments, except for a loin cloth, and takes upon himself the lowly duties of a servant. Notice he first gives the example then he teaches it.
Max Lucado describes it in vivid language:
“As they argue, the basin sits in the corner, untouched. The towel lies on the floor, unused. The servant’s clothing hangs on the wall, unworn. Each disciple sees these things. Each disciple knows their purpose. But no one moves, except Jesus.
“As they bicker, he stands. But he doesn’t speak. He removes his robe and takes the servant’s wrap off of the wall. Taking the pitcher, he pours the water into the basin. He kneels before them with the basin and sponge and begins to wash. The towel that covers his waist is also the towel that dries their feet.”
And then He teaches…about the highest rule in the value chart…the rule that gives LIFE!!
My followers Practice DOWNWARD NOBILITY not UPWARD MOBILITY!!
Love serves and servants love!!
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Len Sweet calls this “downward nobility” the TITANIUM RULE…the greatest rule to live by.
And…it’s simplistically profound.
“Love one another as Jesus has loved you!!”
And how has Jesus loved you…me? In my thinking, I center on two words:
Unconditionally, and in-spite-of
Today, on Maundy Thursday, we gather to remember and give thanks for this Love of Jesus given that night so long ago….given to all today un-conditionally and in-spite-of…
And then,
As we remember and give thanks…we also, from our vantage point, see the cross ahead of us…and are reminded of the truth of the hymn writer Isaac Watts:
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died.
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!!
As we live out the Titanium rule in our hearts and lives..
May it be so with us again today. Amen.
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