Maundy Thursday Devotion on John 13:1-17

Jesus Knows How to Love and Serve.

The setting: before the Passover feast/as it was beginning.

Jesus knows what is soon going to take place and that this meal is important.

- last time he has a chance to communicate his love - Things are going to get Crazy.

- The Passover meal as the remembrance of the redemption of Israel from Egypt points to the Redemption of Jesus through his sacrifice.

This act of Footwashing is presented as a result of the following. In other words he did this because.

His mission is almost complete. He is about to die on the Cross.

He has loved them to the end - Judas included?

The Father had given him all authority - all things into his hand.

What do we Do with Jesus’ love and service?

We Need to Receive Jesus’ Love and Service.

Why do feet need to be washed?

- Cultural commanality - A thing of hospitality

- However, this is a task of a slave, not of a master in the culture.

- Passover Preparation - Cleansing the house of all yeast like materials - including ones clothes. Ceremonial Washing of hands today - This cleansing helps the family reflect on cleansing from the yeast of sin.

Mikveh - Pointing to the Ritual Cleansing - again a cleansing before sabbath.

Cleanliness is important in the O.T. as one can only be in the presence ie temple unless one is clean - ritually or morally

vs. 7 - What Jesus is doing they don’t understand, but will after these things. - The Things are after his death they will truly see how the Lord served them and cleansed them.

Peter wants to his whole body cleaned - full immersion.

Jesus’ response shows that his gesture is more symbolic than the reality it points to - Jesus’ cleansing is the only cleansing one needs.

Yes, this is like Baptism

We know it is symbolic because he washes Judas’ feet, and Judas later will participate in the Last Supper as well, but he is actually not cleansed. He did not receive Jesus’ true cleansing on the cross.

We must receive Jesus’ cleansing, his service on the cross before we can be partakers of his redemption and be in His presence.

The first point of Jesus’ gesture is that helps disciple’s see what Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross does for us.

The second point Jesus makes at the end, is he is our model.

Disciples Serve Like Jesus Served.

The symbolism of footwashing does not necessitate that we actually wash anyones feet. Some traditions almost make it another sacrament.

It is in fact not a bad thing to do. Symbols have a way of pointing us or helping us practice, or put into action the reality it points to.

Jesus’ primary point is not that we should do ritual footwashing, but that our lives should model the Gospel story of Jesus’ life.

Sacrificial love and service towards each other.

Philipians 2 - What Mike preached on two weeks ago.

Story of Queen Elizabeth coming to clean your house.

Why do I raise my hands in worship?

Worship as a re-enactment of the Gospel Story

-Why the Passover meal? - re-enacts the Redemption from Egypt

-Why Baptism? In re-enacts Jesus’ death and resurrection as our cleansing from sin.

-Why Communion? In re-enacts the story of creation, need for salvation from sin, Jesus’ incarnation, his death, resurrection, his presence, and the feast when he comes again.

It patterns our life - the symbolic re-enactment is intended to live that way through our life.

Conclusion:

Let’s re-enact the teachings and model of footwashing and receiving Jesus’ service and love by serving each other in communion.