Maundy Thursday
John 13:1-17, 31b – 35
Have you ever had your feet washed?
Yes? No?
What were the circumstances?
As a kid, I somehow had a nail go through my shoe into my foot. I remember how the first aid required the careful removal of my shoe, then the sock, and then a careful washing. It was done with great care and tenderness.
What is it that about foot washing – in church – that makes us hesitant?
Washing feet is a pretty intimate action.
In some way, feet represent the whole body.
Your feet carry an enormous load.
It’s been said that the average person will walk the equivalent distance of
3 times around the earth in their life time.
The foot itself is very complex:
23 bones
33 joints
100+ muscles, ligaments and tendons.
If your feet don’t work well it affects the rest of you as well.
Wherever and however your feet go, the rest of you follow.
If your feet hurt, your whole body hurts.
If your feet are cold, you are more likely to be cold all over.
If your feet are di8rty, it’s hard to feel clean until they are washed.
There is something intimate, revealing, about your feet.
In our Gospel lesson from John 13, could it be that Jesus wants to show us how intimate he desires to be with us, in assuming the role of the servant, serving us in this most basic, intimate way?
Jesus approaches…would we let him get close enough to us to wash our feet? And if we are reluctant to let him get close to our feet, would we let him get close to our hearts?
The disciples arrive at the place for dinner and there doesn’t appear to be anayone to help them wash their feet. It was a common courtesy to offer a basin of water to wash the everyday dirt of the road off your feet.
But on this night, no one is there to offer such hospitality.
No basin. No water. No towel.
Maybe they were all distracted by the events of this past week.
Parade on Sunday into Jerusalem.
Cleansing of the temple on Monday.
Back and forth to Bethany.
Healings, teachings, following Jesus all week long.
Matthew, Mark and Luke all include a meal – the Last Supper – on the night before the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. Never do they mention foot washing.
John, mentions nothing about a “Last Supper,” rather focusses on something else.
Jesus knows that the Father had given “all things” into his hand. So the thing he takes into his hand is the most humble thing of all:
a pitcher of water, a basin for washing dirty feet, a towel for drying.
And with these humble objects, offers an equally humble action, and in so doing, models to us what it means to follow him, to love.
To follow Jesus is to learn how to love as he first loved each one of us.
It is something we learn…usually shown to us by another.
Love works that way. When we love someone who becomes injured or ill,
no task is too menial or beneath us to perform.
Love bathes broken bodies, empties bed pans, cleans up the bed, fixes the meals;
does what is necessary for the comfort and healing of the other.
Love makes the phone call, goes shopping, checks in, stands in the front yard to say things like, “Are you ok? Can I get you anything? I miss you! I love you!” It was during the meal that Jesus got up, took of his outer cloak, wrapped a towel around his waist, and approached each disciple with a pitcher and basin.
Coming to each one, I wonder how they felt:
ashamed at their own reluctance to show basic hospitality?
guilt for being distracted by other concerns?
Confused by watching Jesus?
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered, “You do not realize now what I am doing,
but later you will understand.
No, said Peer, you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well.
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet…”
Peter – who has done so much in his walk with Jesus,
will now receive even more from the Master.
Peter will know the full measure of this new commandment – to love as Jesus has loved in the next day…
I suppose Jesus could have given us this picture,
this principle of what it means to follow him at any time.
John here in his Gospel, reports it to us on this night,
the night before “it” all comes unwound.
The night before the prayers in the Garden, the betrayal with a kiss,
the arrest, beatings…crucifixion.
Washing the feet…a cleansing, a washing…an analogy to Baptism:
When we see Jesus extend the hospitality of washing the feet before entering into the house and sharing in the dinner prepared, is this not the way of baptism? Washing as an entry into the house, is akin to baptism as an entry into the life of Christ, into the life of the Church.
When we humble ourselves to accept the gift of washing, we are ready to enter into the life of the Body of Christ, and there, to love as He first loved us.
Jesus comes to each one of us, offering to make us clean – to wash the stain of sin that no water could ever remove.
It is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world
who humbles himself, even unto death upon a cross,
that we might be made clean.
Washed, cleaned, by water outwardly…by the blood shed upon the cross inwardly.
I suppose, if all this night is ever about is what happen on the outside, than nothing much happens. We wear socks and shoes to protect our feet, to keep our feet clean.
If all the towel and basin – these external agents – if all they have to do is act as a symbol of cleanliness…that what Christ has done, and is doing, and our role in the church as those baptized in Christ…none of it will have any value.
On this night, it isn’t enough to say,
“I like the idea of Jesus washing feet;
the disciples long ago…I just don’t want him washing MY feet.
As long as we e keep our distance from the intimacy Jesus desires,
as long as we stand apart from Christ
All the knowledge and religious experience in the world makes no difference.
It is a matter of the heart.
Holiness, not hygiene.
Lives stained by hate, fear and guilt…washed clean.
Separated by a deadly virus…connected by grace, offered life in Jesus.
A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Will you let him love you tonight…right where you are this evening?
You see him approaching you…washing their feet…
now, he comes and kneels down before you:
Will you let him get this close, this intimate?
Will you let him love you…and show you how to love another?