Filthy Feet

John 13:1–17 NRSV

1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

FILTHY FEET

HAVE YOU EVER HAD THAT UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO HELP THEM? YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO HELP, BUT YOU’RE STUCK.

YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY TO GET OUT OF HELPING. MAYBE THEY ARE MOVING, AND YOU KNOW THEY WON’T BE READY. YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET THERE TO HELP…..THEY WILL BE THROWING THINGS IN GARBAGE BAGS AT THE LAST SECOND.

OR THEY NEED A RIDE AND YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET THERE TO PICK THEM UP, THEY WON’T BE READY….EVEN AFTER YOU SENT THEM A TEXT LETTING THEM KNOW YOU’RE ON THE WAY…..OR THEY NEED SOMETHING FIXED…YOU KNOW HOW TO FIX IT….BUT YOU KNOW THEY DON’T WANT TO BUY THE PARTS FOR IT.

DO I HAVE A WITNESS THIS MORNING?

• YOU REALLY DON’T WANT TO HELP

• YOU DON’T WANT TO PUT YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION

• THEY ALWAYS CALL ON YOU TO HELP WHEN THEY MESS UP

YOU WANT TO MAKE AN EXCUSE NOT TO HELP BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY……

AND FBC……DON’T KNOW YOU….IN THIS WORLD OF SMART PHONES THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY…THAT THERE IS AN APP FOR THAT…… SOMEONE MADE AN APP THAT GENERATES EXCUSES……NOW DON’T YOU ALL GO TO YOUR APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY TO LOOK FOR IT….

TO ME IT’S AMAZING THAT THERE IS AN APP WE COULD USE TO GET OUT OF HELPING.

YOU COULD GO RIGHT TO YOUR PHONE AND CLICK THE APP AND THERE WOULD BE A READY MADE EXCUSE NOT TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.

• EXCUSES WHEN YOU ARE ASKED, “CAN YOU HELP SERVE?”

• YOU CAN GO TO THIS APP, AND RESPOND I HAVE A ‘MEETING ON THAT DAY’

• YOU CAN GO TO THIS APP, AND RESPOND I HAVE ALREADY MADE PLANS TO BE OUT OF TOWN ON THAT DATE

• YOU CAN GO TO THIS APP, AND RESPOND I HAVE ALREADY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT DATE AND TIME

• BUT TRUTH BE TOLD ….MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…. AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, IS THIS HOW WE ARE TO LIVE OUR LIVES?

• ARE WE TO SAY YES TO CHRIST, BUT NO TO THE REST OF THE WORLD?

• ARE WE TO SAY YES TO HEAVEN, BUT NO TO OUR BROTHERS/SISTERS WHEN THEY HAVE A NEED?

LET US EXAMINE OUR TEXT AND ALLOW IT TO SPEAK TO US THIS MORNING.

LET’S VISUALIZE THE IMAGE OF JESUS WASHING FEET; THE PICTURE OF HIM SERVING THOSE AROUND HIM. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE DOES.

LET’S SET THE CONTEXT FOR THE IMAGE OF LOVING LIKE JESUS. HOW DO WE DO IT?

ONE OF THE WAYS IS, WE WASH FEET.

OUR PASSAGE THIS MORNING TAKES PLACE THE DAY BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE EMOTION JESUS MUST BE FEELING.

YET, I LOVE WHAT JOHN TELLS US -- “JESUS LOVED THE DISCIPLES TO THE END.”

JESUS KNEW THE DISCIPLES STILL DIDN’T GET WHO HE WAS.

• THEY ARGUED ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST

• THEY ARGUED ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES THEY NEED TO FORGIVE

• AT TIMES THEY SEEMED FAITHLESS AND MOSTLY CLUELESS

• SO, JESUS LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AT HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS AND WHAT DOES HE SEE

• HE SEES PROUD HEARTS AND FILTHY FEET

LET’S MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE NARRATIVE HERE BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE EVENTS IN BIBLE.

IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS’ BETRAYAL AND CRUCIFIXION.

• IT WAS AN INTENSE TIME IN JESUS’ LIFE

• HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY WAS QUICKLY COMING TO AN EARTHLY END

• JESUS NOW TURNS HIS FULL ATTENTION TO HIS DISCIPLES

I WANT YOU TO USE YOUR SANCTIFIED IMAGINATIONS WITH ME IN THIS SITUATION FOR A MOMENT.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…..WHAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND IS…..

IN THAT CULTURE THE MOST DEMEANING TASK AROUND WAS TO WASH THE GUEST’S FEET.

FOOT-WASHING WAS NEEDED IN PALESTINE.

THE STREETS WERE DUSTY AND PEOPLE WORE SANDALS WITHOUT SOCKS OR STOCKINGS.

IT WAS UP TO THE HOST TO PROVIDE A SERVANT TO WASH A GUEST’S FEET….IF THE HOST DIDN’T IT WAS LOOKED AT A POOR HOSPITALITY….

AND TO KEEP IT REAL WITH YOU……THIS WAS A JOB DONE BY LOWEST SLAVES OR SERVANTS.

BUT IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE PEOPLE WORE SANDALS AND DID MOST OF THEIR TRAVEL BY FOOT. EVEN A SHORT TRIP WOULD MEAN THAT YOU HAVE DUST ON YOUR FEET.

THEY WALKED ALONG TRAILS THAT WERE NOT ONLY DUSTY BUT ALSO CLUTTERED WITH CAMEL AND DONKEY – WELL…YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THOSE ANIMALS DID ALONG THE TRAILS.

PUT IT THIS WAY….

• I’M SURE GUESTS ARRIVED WITH MORE THAN DUST ON THEIR FEET

• IT WAS A COMMON COURTESY FOR THE HOST TO HAVE HIS SERVANT WASH THE GUEST’S FEET AS THEY ENTERED THE HOUSE…

ARE YOU WITH ME FIRST BAPTIST…….(PAUSE)

LISTEN……

JESUS HAD SENT PETER AND JOHN TO PREPARE FOR THEIR MEAL TOGETHER.

• THE FOOD HAD BEEN COOKED

• THE TABLE HAD BEEN SET

• AND I’M SURE THE DISCIPLES THOUGHT THIS MATTER WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL

• BUT, IT WASN’T!

AS JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES ENTER THE ROOM THEY SEE TOWEL AND WATER BASIN IN THE CORNER.

BUT…..THEY DO NOT SEE A SERVANT TO WASH THEIR FEET.

PERHAPS SOME OF THEM PAUSE AS THEY ENTER THE ROOM, WONDERING WHERE THE SERVANT WAS—MAYBE WONDERING WHY PETER AND JOHN HAD NOT TAKEN CARE OF THIS IMPORTANT DETAIL. AS THEY RECLINE AT THE TABLE, EACH DISCIPLE FEELS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. I CAN IMAGINE THAT A FEW OF THE DISCIPLES THOUGT……

“SOMEBODY OUGHT TO AT LEAST WASH JESUS FEET.”

• BUT—IF I DO THAT, WHERE WILL THAT PUT ME ON THE SOCIAL PECKING ORDER?

• I WOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP

• IF I VOLUNTEER I’LL GET STUCK WITH THAT JOB FROM NOW ON

• MAYBE IF I JUST WAIT—SOMEBODY ELSE WILL DO IT

IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU THIS MORNING…..WE CAN BE LIKE THAT AT CHURCH…..WE DON’T VOLUNTEER…..AND WE HOPE SOMEONE ELSE WILL….

• I THINK MAYBE EACH DISCIPLE WAS HOPING ONE OF OTHERS WOULD VOLUNTEER

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS……

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE.

THE HOST WOULD NEVER WASH THE FEET OF THE GUEST; THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO HUMILIATING.

THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A SERVANT WHO WOULD COME AND WASH THE FEET, THE HOST WOULDN’T DO IT, BECAUSE, LET'S BE HONEST – FEET CAN BE KIND OF SWEATY AND SMELLY AT TIMES.

• IMAGINE IF I CAME TO YOUR HOUSE. "HEY, PASTOR. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. COULD I GET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?”

• HERE TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, I’LL GIVE YOU A FOOT MASSAGE!"

• BUT, I DON’T THINK ANYONE IN HERE WOULD EVER SAY THAT

• I AM PRETTY SURE, NO ONE WOULD WANT TO TOUCH MY FEET

• THIS WAS A JOB RESERVED FOR THE SERVANT

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE DISCIPLES MUST BE THINKING.

PETER IS PROBALY SILENT FOR ONCE, AND FOR HIM THAT IS RARE, HE IS PROBABLY THINKING –

• WHY ARE THESE GUYS LOOKING AT ME?

• DON’T THESE TURKEYS KNOW AND RECOGNIZE THE CALL OF GOD ON MY LIFE?

• DON’T THEY SEE THE LEADERSHIP GIFTINGS IN ME?

• I JUST WISH THEY WOULD REMEMBER THAT I’M THE ONE WHO ANSWERED JESUS’ QUESTION: “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”

• I GOT THE REVELATION—‘YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD’

• I’M MOVING IN THE SPIRIT—DON’T DISTURB THAT ANOINTING OPERATING IN MY LIFE

• I WISH THESE PEOPLE WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD’S DOING IN ME

• IF THEY HAD, THEY WOULD BE OVER HERE RIGHT NOW WASHING MINE AND JESUS’ FEET

WE DON’T KNOW ALL THE SPECIFICS, AND I’M MAKING SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT MIGHT OF HAPPENED THAT EVENING

--BUT THERE IS ONE THING THAT WE ALL KNOW…

WE KNOW THAT NONE OF THE DISCIPLES DECIDED TO WASH FILTHY FEET….

SO, JESUS IS AT THE FINAL MEAL. THE NIGHT BEFORE HE'S GOING TO DIE AN EXCRUCIATING DEATH.

HE LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM AND HE SEES PROUD HEARTS AND FILTHY FEET.

WHAT DOES HE DO?

HE GETS UP AND PUTS ON A SERVANTS APRON. HE FILLS A BUCKET WITH WATER AND WHILE EVERYBODY’S GASPING AND SHOCKED - - THEY'RE LIKE, "NO, NO WAY!"

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO THIS IS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JESUS –

• THE SON OF GOD

• THE LAMB OF GOD

• THE PRINCE OF PEACE

• THE LIVING WATER

• THE BREAD OF LIFE

• HE’S OUR REDEEMER

• OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

• HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

• HE IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

• THE BEGINNING AND THE END

• THE FIRST AND THE LAST

• THE KING OF KINGS

• THE LORD OF LORDS

AND HE STOOPS DOWN AND DOES SOMETHING THAT’S RESERVED FOR THE LOWEST OF THE LOW IN THE SOCIETY.

AND JESUS SAYS I’LL WASH YOU FILTHY FEET - I’LL SERVE!!

SERVING AND MINISTRY GO HAND IN HAND.

YOU CAN’T DO MINISTRY WITHOUT SERVING.

• JESUS SAID CHECK YOUR FEET

• “YOUR FEET ARE FILTHY”

• THERE WAS A NEED

• EVERYBODY SAW THE NEED

• I SUSPECT ALL THE DISCIPLES KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG…BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SERVANT THERE TO WASH THEIR FEET….

• BUT JESUS DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT

• JESUS MET THE NEED

• HE DID NOT JUST TAKE ACTION

• HE TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTION!

WE ALL HAVE A CALL UPON OUR LIVES FOR MINISTRY AND SERVING.

WE MUST STAY OPEN TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE LORD.

• WHEN YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE RIGHT HEART - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU

• WHEN YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE RIGHT HEART - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR GIFT

• WHEN YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE RIGHT HEART - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR RECOGNITION

• IT'S ABOUT SERVING GOD FOR HIS GLORY

SERVING MUST BE MODELED AND LIVED.

WE SERVE NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO.

WE UNDERSTAND THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING.

• WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AND WE’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING

• IT BECOMES A WAY OF LIVING

• WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU SERVING OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF, PEOPLE ARE MOVED BY THAT

SO, IF WE ARE IN THE CHURCH TODAY, BUT NOT SERVING IN THE CHURCH, THEN THERE'S SOMETHING GOD WANTS TO BE DONE THAT IS NOT BEING DONE.

SOMETHING’S MISSING, SOMETHING’S LACKING.

WHEN YOU SERVE OTHERS, GOD CHANGES LIVES AND THE FIRST LIFE WHICH IS CHANGED IS YOURS! THE QUESTION IS “WHAT THEN DO WE GET OUT OF SERVING?” WE GET THE EXCITEMENT OF BEING USED BY GOD.

IT COULD COME IN A HUNDRED DIFFERENT WAYS.

• YOU COULD BE A PRAYER WARRIOR, AND REALLY PRAY FOR PEOPLE

• YOU COULD BE VOLUNTEERING IN THE CHURCH OR IN SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION, SERVING PEOPLE

IN THE TEXT PETER THOUGHT HE HAD A BETTER IDEA THAN JESUS. JESUS WANTS TO WASH HIS FEET—PETER DOESN’T WANT HIM TO DO IT.

• NEXT THING YOU KNOW PETER WANTS A FULL BATH

• IT TOOK PETER AWHILE TO LEARN THAT NONE OF US HAVE A BETTER IDEA THAN JESUS

• THE BEST THING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO IS TO SIMPLY HEAR HIM AND OBEY HIM

PETER EVENTUALLY LEARNED TO SIMPLY OBEY THE LORD RATHER THAN OFFER BETTER IDEAS.

THAT’S SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE TO LEARN.

NOTICE HOW JOHN DESCRIBES JESUS’ BEHAVIOR AT END OF VS. 1, “HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHO WERE IN THE WORLD, HE NOW SHOWED THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS LOVE.”

IN THIS INTERACTION WITH PETER AND THE OTHERS, JESUS WAS EXPRESSING HIS LOVE FOR THEM.

HE WAS TAKING TIME TO PREPARE THEM FOR WHAT WAS AHEAD.

THEN ON THE CROSS, HE OFFERED THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE FOR ALL OF US - JOHN 15:13 “GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” THAT’S WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU AND ME.

WHEN YOU SPEND EVERY DAY ON YOURSELF, YOU WILL BE EMPTY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU INVEST YOUR LIFE IN OTHERS JUST AS JESUS HAD DONE AND YOU WILL BE FILLED, THE GREATEST IS THE ONE WHO IS A SERVANT.

IF YOU ARE NOT USING YOUR GIFTS, YOU ARE ROBBING YOURSELF OF THE BLESSING OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE AND BEING USED BY GOD.

• IT WILL CHANGE YOU AND IT WILL CHANGE THOSE AROUND YOU

• YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MARRIAGE? - SERVE YOUR SPOUSE

• YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS? -- SERVE YOUR FRIENDS

• YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY? -- SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY

• YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR CHURCH? -- SERVE THE MEMBERSHIP

• YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? -- SERVE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH AND BE THE CHURCH

• YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR LIFE CHANGE? -- SERVE OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE WHEN YOU SERVE OTHERS

• GOD CHANGES LIVES, STARTING WITH YOU

OFTENTIMES WE LOOK AROUND THE CHURCH AND WONDER WHY THERE ARE EMPTY PEWS AROUND US.

WE WONDER WHERE ARE OUR – CHILDREN – GRANDCHILDREN – NIECES – NEPHEWS – SIBLINGS.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THEM BECOME PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS?

• BECOME PASSIONATE

• SERVE GOD OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF

• GET THEM ENGAGED USING THEIR GIFTS SO THEY ARE NOT CONSUMES OF THE CHURCH

• YOU BECOME A SERVANT FOR CHRIST

• JESUS DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED

• HE CAME TO SERVE

• HE COULD HAVE HAD EVERYBODY HE ENCOUNTERED SERVE HIM

• HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME A SERVANT

LET ME GET READY TO CLOSE…

-- JESUS HAD JUST PERFORMED AN ACT OF HUMBLE SELFLESSNESS - THAT OF WASHING THE DISCIPLES’ FEET.

ALTHOUGH THIS ACT OF LOVING SERVICE WAS PERFORMED HOURS BEFORE THE AGONY OF GETHSEMANE AND THE CRUELTY OF THE CROSS - YET THE SAVIOR STILL HUMBLED HIMSELF AND TO ATTEND TO THE NEEDS OF HIS DISCIPLES.

WHEN WE SERVE, LIKE JESUS SERVED, WE BECOME THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST – WE BECOME HIS LIKENESS TO THOSE IN NEED.

• WHEN WE FEED THE HUNGRY

• WHEN WE CLOTHE THE NAKED

• WHEN WE HOUSE THE HOMELESS

• WHEN WE ENCOURAGE THE BROKENHEARTED

• WHEN WE GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS

• WHEN WE BECOME A FRIEND TO THE FRIENDLESS

• WE TAKE ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

• WE BECOME – IN ESSENCE – CHRIST-LIKE AMBASSADORS FOR GOD

(PAUSE)

--AS FAR AS OUR LORD WAS CONCERNED, HOWEVER, HIS LOVE WAS COMPLETE

--JESUS KNEW HE WOULD BE BETRAYED BY ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES

--JESUS KNEW HE WOULD BE DISOWNED BY ANOTHER

--JESUS KNEW HE WOULD BE DESERTED BY ALL OF THEM FOR A TIME

--STILL HE SHOWED THEM THE EXTENT OF HIS LOVE

--GOD KNOWS US COMPLETELY, JUST AS JESUS KNEW HIS DISCIPLES

--HE KNOWS THE SINS WE HAVE COMMITTED AND THE ONES WE WILL YET COMMIT

--STILL HE LOVES US

--EVERY NIGHT WHEN WE LAY DOWN TO SLEEP - GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE DISOBEY AND DISAPPOINT OUR LORD - GOD WILL WASH YOURR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE FALL INTO SIN AND THE LORD DOES NOT CUT US OFF – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE ACT UGLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE GOSSIP OR TALK ABOUT SOMEONE BEHIND THEIR BACK – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE REFUSE TO LOVE – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE REFUSE TO SAY A KIND WORD – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--EVERY TIME WE FALL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY – GOD WILL WASH YOUR FILTHY FEET

--GOD WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE US

--STOPPED BY 201 WAYNE STREET THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU – GOD LOVES YOU….

--SERVE GOD AND ONE ANOTHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH