The Power of a Grand Gesture

If I then, your Lord and Master, have
washed your feet; ye also ought to wash
one another's feet. For I have given you
an example, that ye should do
as I have done to you.
(John 13:14-15... KJV)

A Grand Gesture is an act that is uncharacteristically demonstrative or spectacular, made in order to prove one's love or win back a lover's affections. Often, such gestures are spoken of dismissively because they exist in the greatest numbers in fictional, romantic storylines.

In any case, Jesus himself showed the world, beginning with his disciples at the Last Supper, that such a gesture is more powerful, and timeless, than a verbal declaration. Throughout his ministry, He was constantly teaching. He taught that the way the world would know they were his disciples was because of the love that they had one for another. He taught them about love and prayer and fasting and sacrifice. He was always teaching.

But on the night in which he was betrayed, he chose to move beyond the articulate phrasing of parables and stories and instead "took a towel" to give them a visual that would forever be branded into their mind. Earlier in the week, they had each been present when Mary had broken the alabaster box and anointed Him "for his burial". This extravagant gift had been criticized by Judas as too costly, but was, in a sense, justified by Jesus because of it's powerful demonstration of selfless love. This is a lesson that in centuries to come would be repeated "wherever the gospel is preached" and was one of the only times when Jesus allowed himself to be ministered to in such an intimate and powerful way.

Here, in these last poignant moments, filled with the stress of impending betrayal, suffering and death, he turns the attention away from himself and onto others. Others who would betray, disavow and abandon Him. Others who would only later realize that when he could have been making demands on their affections to strengthen him in His desperate hour, he instead poured forth all the love he had in a "grand gesture" of servanthood!

So when life leaves us with the choice to remonstrate or demonstrate... always demonstrate! It's what Jesus did. And it was His way of "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"