So much to say here thanks to the way in which Jesus of Nazareth instructs his followers and then takes on the duty of dying. Just go to the upper room as John's gospel relates those moments before and at the table. Especially poignant is the answer Jesus gives to Peter who can't stand it that his teacher is on his knees preparing to wash the feet of the disciples. "Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”(John 13:7)
We risk much in thinking that the wisdom to respond in such a way is based on Jesus' being the Son of God having some kind of foreknowledge. It likely is as much that Jesus is indicating a kind of "servant's obedience" that acts without the benefit of power or authority. He is modeling for Peter and for us.
Servants are supposed to do what their lords command without the benefit of knowing all the reasons or intentions of the commander. So what Jesus says to Peter he says from his heart not just his head because everything that he is doing is from an even more profound obedience.
By demonstration Jesus extends the opportunity to Peter and by default to all disciples to take on their own obedience. If he had explained everything he would have not allowed Peter's -- or our -- obedience to be an act of trust in the person of God.
We know from our own experience and should remember the distinction between strict adherence to law or flawlessly following orders when it is compared to the trust that is forged in our obedience to a person.
Sadly our experiences are just as full of moments when a person has said "trust me" and then . . .
That's not the case here. Jesus, especially as John portrays him is resolved and stays on the course we can also follow. The words he last speaks are not the anguished cries we hear from the synoptics but the words only a trusting servant would speak, ". . . ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:30b)
He has not stopped trusting the person of his "Father in heaven." My sense is that he understands the value of God's foreknowledge or omniscience. He just as much understands the value of God's omnipresence. That is to say that God is always God -- in space and time -- and always trustworthy.
We have a chance to rehearse our own version of trusting servant every Sunday when we obediently make our way to the altar and extend our hands and hearts in communion. We don't need to have the "magic" of transubstantiation figured out nor do we need to totally comfortable with mystery of the word made flesh. But we are allowed to trust that God's presence is with us.
It's as if Jesus is saying to each one of us, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
