The Call to Community

Perhaps my favorite word in the Bible, right after salvation, redemption, love and the like (OK, there’s a lot I like in the Bible), is community. Community means that I am part of something bigger than myself, that I am not alone and that my contribution counts.

There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:25-27

Jesus lived community, and set examples for how we should live out our expression of community. He knew that our idea of community would consist of power over each other, of selfish desire and of self-promotion. He lived the exact opposite, and expects us to follow his example.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… Philippians 2:5-7

Jesus lived community by becoming a servant. He reduced himself to fit into a human body, just so he could save us. He suffered death and rose again, and then he left, sending his Spirit to unite us and make use one body, his body. 

One of my favorite examples of how we are to live in community occurred just before Jesus’ arrest. Jesus knows his time is up. The meal is served, Judas has already left to betray him, and Jesus was getting ready to go home.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1b

What follows is what John considers the full extent of Jesus’ love for his disciples, his earthly community.

He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with a towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:4-5

Jesus great power was expressed in servanthood. Whoever had booked the room for their feast that night had neglected to arrange for a servant to look after their needs. The roads were dirt and dust, and they wore sandals. It was the servant’s job to wash their feet. Not one of them lowered themselves to do the job of the servant. Jesus lived servanthood, and admonished them to do the same. He who would be great in Jesus’ kingdom must be servant of all. Jesus was the greatest in all regards.

Peter was aghast. He objected to allowing Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus was no servant! He was Messiah! Peter should have been washing Jesus’ feet. The thing is, if Peter had lowered himself to be a servant, had offered to wash feet, Jesus wouldn’t have been wrapping that towel around his own waist. Jesus doesn’t rebuke him for not serving, but offers him the choice; “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Unless you accept my gift of servanthood, you can’t be part of my community.

I struggle with community. I don’t want to be your servant, but even more, I don’t want to allow you to serve me. I have just as difficult a time accepting your gifts as I do wanting to give you mine. Maybe harder. But that’s the nature of community. I use my gift to teach you and build you up. You use your gift to encourage me and make me stronger. We are better together than we are alone. Community means mutuality. Serve and be served. Wash and be washed.

Pick up the basin. Wrap that towel around your waist. Sit down and take off your sandals. Engage in community. Jesus is here. There is no better place to be.