Suffice to say, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and The Who can emote. In this short refrain there is much of human longing – an edge, a wariness, all belying a longing for a new order, for hope, for love. Paul Simon would sing “It’s every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.” There is a fundamental longing for one upon whom to place our hopes, and a wariness in the hope.
Jesus’ followers, then and now, shared these longings and concerns too. John 13 has always been resonant to me; I’ve recently revisited it, and these emotions and fundamental longings are expressed there not only in words, but in shocking image too.
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). The greatest among them, the greatest in any time and moment, shockingly descends, becomes less, and in so doing becomes more. Jesus not only becomes more in exemplary, sacrificial service, but our lives become more too, because we are loved by the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In his serving, saving love comes down. That which we fear to long for is given.