Imitated

CONTEXT

Jesus has entered Jerusalem for the great celebration of passover.

Remembrance of deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Blood of a Lamb for the Israelites, so they were ‘Passed over” but the angel of death struck down the first born of Egypt. Prompted pharaoh to finally release them.

an occasion for God’s people to hope for universal redemption from sin and death that would one day come with Gods’ divine kingdom.

In our lesson this evening, Jesus is in an upper room. His last evening with his disciples.

The new passover is about to occur. His blood will be shed on the cross, a new lamb of God, to redeem God’s people from bondage to sin and death.

TEXT: John 13:1–17

John 13:1–17 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:31–35 ESV

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

INTRODUCTION

Hiking in Germany. Tired, hot feet. Cool water bath for feet. Walking. Resting. Rubbing. Cleansed, cared for, rested and rejuvenated. Should be at the bottom of every hike. We remember the foot washing even more than the hike!

Foot washing an established practice in the ANE. Lots of walking. Sandals. Where sandaled feet got hot, dry, injured, dirty.

Foot washing was for promoted hygiene, comfort.

Jesus uses it to teach about his cross.

EXEGESIS: Love to the extreme

Bible footwashing an expression of welcome and consideration.

Typically good host provide water and guest wash own feet.

Genesis 18:4 Abraham to angels “Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,”

Bad host: ignore this courtesy

Luke 7:44 “Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.”

Powerful and mighty host: A servant would wash your feet. So rare, no Biblical examples of it. only as an expression (1 Samuel 25:41 “…Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

His last night Jesus chose to perform this action on his disciples. If this were one’s last night on earth, would this be what one would choose to do?

To be a servant.

Having loved them, his own, he loved them to the end. To the last moment, to the very fullest extent, to the very point.

To show that going to the CROSS was an INTENTIONAL self-abasing.

A PICTURE of Son of God placing himself beneath them and beneath death.

No one takes my life, I lay it down, of my own accord.

He could have just gone to the cross, but he makes the effort to show what it means to him from his perspective.

Although I am the lord, yet I have washed your feet…yet have I HAVE SERVED YOU IN LOVE.

Implication: Jesus loves us extremely

Jesus’ crucifixion an act of servanthood to his disciples, by extension to all.

God’s love in Christ expresses itself through servanthood.

Not just like a server at a restaurant. They get paid, we offer tip. Not just one who serves, but a servant.

A coming lower than.

Jesus’ story of the washing and his crucifixion is not hidden, but told. As if to say, I am here to serve you too.

Every time we hear gospel, we are benefitting from Jesus lowering himself beneath us.

SON OF GOD SERVING US

UNCOMFORTABLE…and this leads us to Peter.

Exegesis 2: Welcome

Peter is resistant.

Resistant to receiving this kind of love and service. Big fisherman had probably never had someone wash his feet!

certainly not his rabbi!!

Jesus insists. If I don’t wash you, you have no part in me.

You have no part in me = part in the Kingdom I represent, the Kingdom of my Father.

Not just about me humbling myself, it is about HELPING you.

To WELCOME you to enter the Kingdom of God.

ENACTED PARABLE.

you must wash your feet before you enter the great hall.

My Father is so great he has a servant to wash you feet.

I am that servant.

You Must let me wash you.

For the place where you are going to stand is HOLY GROUND.

If I do not wash you, you cannot come in. Washing is a symbol of the BLOOD he will shed.

Then wash all of me! The same love that forbad him to wash, now invites to wash all the more! I want to be in the Kingdom!

Implication: we need washing

EG: once attended foot washing service.

It felt awkward. Our feet are always there, ignore them. But not when someone else is going to pay attention to them. Then self-conscious. I don’t want to do this! Taking off my socks. Convinced my feet were going to smell. Convinced they would think my feet were ugly, or dirty. Exposed.

Maybe a good analogy for how we feel about our souls that are stinky and stained with sin. Don’t pay attention perhaps, until Jesus says let me wash your soul. Ah, I don’t want you to see that.

JESUS INSISTS: The SOUL NEEDS TO BE CLEANED TO COME INTO KINGDOM.

Jesus gently washes our soul it feels good. Caresses, cleans, and heals.

His blood pays for all sin. The waters of baptism he uses to wash us clean.

Like Peter, we want to say, wash all of me.

My sin, not in part, but the whole!

After having my feet washed,…not bad. Good. Loving. I wondered what it would be like when it was my turn to do the washing. Looking forward to it.

So the story…

Exegesis 3: Example

After washing his disciples feet, he said, I have given you an EXAMPLE.

I command you to do this for each other. Love one another as I have loved you.

The ancient command were:

You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and soul and strength. AND you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Someone might ask: HOW am I to love my neighbor?

Jesus: Love AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.

Love as a servant. Not a the performer of menial, meaningless, oppressive work.

But as a ENACTER of LOVE. One who acts to help, heal, cleanse, strengthen another… Even at the expense of one’s self.

Jesus said, no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his brothers.

To have a share in Christ is NOT JUST FOR THEM TO COME INTO THE KINGDOM BUT FOR THE KINGDOM TO COME INTO THEM.

Strive to be like me. Strive to love in a self-giving way — and not in some other — people will know you are my disciples.

Implication 3: loving service

EARTHLY goal to have servants. HEAVENLY goal to be servants.

EG: I wanted to wash the next persons feet. I got my turn. Another church member. Ministry together. Etc. Partners. Now I was being a servant. And that revealed, unleashed the love. I didn’t really acknowledge was there.

Not washing your feet because I have to, but because I love you. Now connected to you.

Serving in love, makes Jesus present.

That is what he promised, you will know, all will know you are my disciples.

Conclusion

hiking and washing feet: this should be everywhere!

Jesus explained his death on the cross by washing his disciples feet.

An act of service. An act of welcome. An act of love.

An act to be imitated. Everywhere.

Prayer of Intercession

Liberating and redeeming God, we give thanks that you hear the cries of your people. Therefore, in our time of trial, we call upon your name, saying: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As you delivered our ancestors from slavery and led them to a land of promise and plenty, liberate all who are captive or oppressed and bring them to a place of abundant life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As you saved your people from death on the night of the Passover, redeem us from sin and death through Jesus Christ the Lamb. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord stooped down to wash his disciples’ feet, teach us to love and serve our neighbors with Christlike compassion and humility. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As Christ the Lord has handed on to us a feast of grace in his body and blood, help us to share with all who hunger the gifts we have received from you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God our liberator and redeemer, we give thanks that you have heard our cry. Continue to lead us from death to life eternal, and let our lives be a sign of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.