Holy Thursday (2026)

John 13:1-15

My Brothers and Sisters I have spent the past few years preaching on the Lord’s Supper, and its importance this night, but there was another important that took place on this night, as Christ prepared for to lay down his life. He takes the time that night to do something which shocks and surprise them. He pauses and sets aside his outer garments to wash the feet of His disciples. This simple action carries much meaning and is to be taken to heart for it finds its fulfillment in the Cross the following day, and it is good for you to understand and know why the Son of God does this lowly task.

In today’s world, we can keep feet fairly clean, but it’s work to do so. They get wrapped in socks, shoved in shoes, and boots, and after a long day’s work, they have a certain aroma, that can take up a room. In the time of the New Testament, it was important to wash feet, because they were walking everywhere. The roads in towns and cities served not just as a means of transport, but you would also have the filth of trash, and excrement on the streets as well. This work was not a great work, not a glorious work, not a work that was praiseworthy, but a work that was reserved for slaves.

So when Jesus takes up the towel, and pours the water in the basin and begins to wash their feet, what’s going on? We have heard this lesson before, the shock of it isn’t present in our minds, but in order to understand the Scriptures, we have to learn to move our minds into their context to appreciate their surprise, the shock, and Peter’s words. Who is this man that is kneeling before them holding their feet in his hands, as He washes away the dirt, the mud, and the filth of the world before they eat?

The washing their feet is the one that when He was baptized they saw the heavens open as the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove, and heard God say, this is my beloved Son. This is the one who turn water into wine, who healed lepers with a touch, who called Lazarus out of the tomb, who feed thousands, walked on water, calmed storms, and proclaimed a gospel of peace, and forgiveness to sinners, who taught the Word with power and authority. This is the one that had crowds crying out Hosanna and laying down palm branches and their garments in the road as he entered Jerusalem. This is the one that Peter saw speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountain as he was transfigured in glory that He has in heaven, and now he sits like a slave at the feet of his disciples washing their feet.

Is it any surprise that Peter says what he does? They all thought this was going to be the moment, the day that the Kingdom of God would be established in power and majesty, and that Jesus would assert himself as the Son of David, and Israel would be blessed as a nation. This doesn’t fit the picture of a king, it doesn’t fit the picture of majesty, and glory that the disciples had seen with their own two eyes. Here is the promised messiah, the Christ, the Son of God doing the work of a slave. But what Jesus told them? The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

This work was done to prepare them for the burden that Christ was about to bear, and that’s revealed in his response to Peter. Peter doesn’t want it, but Jesus warns him, that if Jesus doesn’t wash him, then he has no share with him. Peter tries to bargain and make it something honorable, something decent, something acceptable, but Jesus says, “the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”

When we look at the cross, what is Jesus taking upon himself there? Is it our good works, our decent lives, our moments of glory that look all shiny and beautiful? No, what rests upon the head of the Son of God, isn’t anything good, or decent, or respectable. It’s your sins, your shame, your guilt, your weakness, your failings, the filth and excrement not just of the world but of our body and soul. It rests upon the head of someone who is good, decent, and loving.

Now we like Peter may think, that the Lord is too holy, too good, too righteous to handle our sins, and we don’t want to sully Jesus with our unclean lives, sins, and failings. We want him to wash the parts of us that are honorable decent, or acceptable, but Jesus did not come to wash clean things that are honorable and decent, He is the savior of Sinners, and so He takes your failings, your cowardice, your lust, your hatred, your lies, your greed, and the shameful sins that you hide and you don’t want anyone to know. Jesus takes them upon Himself that He might declare you are clean.

Now I would be remiss if I didn’t point to the fact that this all points to that Holy Water which washes away our sins. Jesus has gone down into those waters ahead of us, that He might make those waters a washing of regeneration and restore all who were unclean to God’s grace, by uniting them with His death upon the Cross. For there is a great exchange that happens in those baptismal waters, our sin rests upon Christ, and Christ’s holiness is given to us.

But if you reject this washing, if you avoid it, or spurn it, then the result is your own destruction. Yes be baptized, but do not then walk away from it, don’t cover yourself once again in the filth of sin, but treasure what Jesus has done for you here taking all your sins upon himself.

Now he gives a command after this to wash the feet of each other. What does that mean? We who have been forgiven, whose debt has been paid by Christ. When Jesus saw the wretchedness inside your soul, He didn’t spurn or reject you but He sought your forgiveness, your restoration with God, this is what you are to do as well. To show love to one another, and be willing to forgive each other whatever the sins might be. The world bear grudges, and refuses to forgive, refuses to deal with the mess that comes with sin and failings, but we are to show compassion and love to each other, and to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

We see this played out throughout the history of the Church that we have sought the redemption of people from their sins, and to bring them back to life. This willingness to forgive our neighbors, stems from the loving kindness and mercy that Jesus has shown us and the forgiveness that He showed to us. This is the new commandment that he gives to the disciples on this night, before He is crucified, 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. Love covers a multitude of sins, and that is what Jesus has shown us.

Now my Brothers and Sisters in Christ tomorrow night, we will gather together and we will spend time meditating and reflecting on that great love that God has shown us in His Son. It is sobering to consider and brings home the reality of our faith, that even though we were Jesus’ enemies by our sins, unclean, and not worthy of heaven, that out of love He showed us mercy. I would encourage you spend some time tonight reflecting on that love, and whether you have shown it to those around you, if your heart remains hard, and unwilling to yield, come tomorrow night and be reminded of what Jesus suffered for you, and how none of your sins were too great, that He did not wash them away and forgive you. In Jesus name. Amen.