Anybody Could Have

“The Responsibility Poem” by Charles Osgood: “There was a most important job that needed to be done, And no reason not to do it, there was absolutely none. But in vital matters such as this, the thing you have to ask, Is who exactly will it be who’ll carry out the task? Anybody could have told you that Everybody knew, That this was something Somebody would surely have to do. Nobody was unwilling; Anybody had the ability. But Nobody believed that it was their responsibility. It seemed to be a job that Anybody could have done, If Anybody thought he was supposed to be the one. But since Everybody recognized that Anybody could, Everybody took for granted that Somebody would. But Nobody told Anybody that we are aware of, That he would be in charge of seeing it was taken care of. And Nobody took it on himself to follow through, And do what Everybody thought that Somebody would do. When what Everybody needed so did not get done at all, Everybody was complaining that Somebody dropped the ball. Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame, And Everybody looked around for Somebody to blame. Somebody should have done the job And Everybody should have, But in the end Nobody did, What Anybody could have.” How many times have I found myself in this mess?

[John 13:1-17] About two weeks before Jesus’ death he announced he was returning to Jerusalem and he also predicted his impending death. “...with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.” (Mark 10:32). All the believers were looking forward to the kingdom appearing (Luke 19:11) and started jockeying for position of power. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and their mother approached Jesus wanting major places next to Jesus in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-45). “When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John” (v.41). (There had already been arguments among the twelve about who would be greatest in the kingdom; i.e. Matthew 18:1-ff; Mark 9:33-ffLuke 9:46-ff). Jesus told them it was not his place to grant them such a request as he himself was but a servant of the One who sent him; “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (v. 45). > Fast-forward to the night Jesus was betrayed. Jesus and the twelve were alone in an upper room to celebrate the Passover supper. It was in those days a custom to have a servant of the house wash the feet of their master’s guests before they lounged to fellowship and eat a meal. In their haste to assemble in the upper room, already arranged for by Jesus (Matthew 26:17-19), no one had considered the washing of feet as a part of their preparation before the feast. “...When what Everybody needed so did not get done at  all, Everybody was complaining that Somebody dropped the ball. Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame; And Everybody looked around for Somebody to blame. Somebody should have done the job And Everybody should have, But in the end Nobody did, What Anybody could have.” Jesus took this opportunity to humble himself and show the true servant he is, not only to the twelve present but to his Father in Heaven, by washing the feet of his disciples. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:14-17).