Washing the Feet of Others
Notes
Transcript
Today we’re looking at this passage & considering what it might tell us about leaders
Particularly what sort of leaders Jesus expects us to be
After we look at this passage Christine & Julia will come up the front...
And talk about what sort of leaders will be needed at St Paul’s looking forward
In today’s passage Jesus washes the disciples feet before the disciples had eaten their Passover meal
This act was one of serving - he was meeting a need they had
In those days everyone wore sandals so your feet got dirty just walking down street to friends house
So normally the host of Passover meal would arrange to have his servants wash feet of his guests
It was an act that was the most lowly, degrading, undesirable, humiliating task any servant could do
It was so bad Jews would never make Jewish servant so - they’d always ask Gentile servant to do it
So that’s a bit of background as to why Peter freaked out at Jesus washing his feet...
And why Jesus used this act as a way of showing disciples what it meant to follow him
Particularly as leaders - the disciples of course were to be leaders of Early Church
So Jesus was preparing them to lead His Church by giving them an example to follow (slide)
Jesus wanted his disciples to be servant leaders of the Church
Love through Service
Love through Service
So I first want to look at what our motivation should be when we are leaders
Now when I’m talking about leaders I’m not just talking about ministers, Parish councils etc
By anyone who is responsible for others actions, behaviour, well-being, livelihood etc
In reality we are all leaders to some degree - as we are all called to lead others to Jesus (slide)
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
So John tells us what Jesus motivation was in doing this act of service for His disciples
It was love - love for all his disciples
love is one of God’s main attributes or characteristics - God is love
But love is also one of God’s main motivations to act
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
It was God’s love for humanity & all creation that motivated God to send Jesus out of heaven to earth
He loved creation so much Jesus willingly reduced himself to human form
Then suffered through most horrific torture & death, baring burden of all sin - because of his love for all of us
I want you to notice what verse 1 says
Jesus loved all his disciples - even Judas who devil already had control of & planted seeds of betrayal
And Judas was there at this meal & Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him (slide)
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
And yet Jesus still washed Judas feet - Jesus still expressed love by serving Judas
Even though Judas was committed to betraying Jesus - amongst other things he was up to
In other words Jesus loved his disciples unconditionally & served the good & those not so good
Love is to be our motivation when we are leading others through serving them
illus - The early church demonstrated their love for others during a horrible plague in 3rd Century
In Rome 5000 people died in worst day of plague - which lasted approz 15-20 years
In city Carthage, North Africa all pagans were sacrificing animals to their gods to stop plague killing people
Dead bodies were piling up in streets abandoned by families
But Christians under bishop Cyprian instead chose to bury dead bodies, care for sick, & give aid to poor
For 5 years Christians under Cyprian cared for pagan Roman people who also persecuted them
That’s an example of people leading others in service motivated purely by God’s love
So as servant leaders Jesus wants love to be our motivation as we lead others through serving them (slide)
Humility in Service
Humility in Service
Next Jesus modelled the way we should lead - what our leadership should look like
I want you to look at a few details in this next portion of the story
In order to wash the disciples feet - Jesus dresses like a servant (slide)
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “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; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
Jesus takes off his outer robe, so he’s basically in his underwear
He then wraps a towel around his waste - and uses the towel to dry disciples feet
So he pours water into a bowel, then begins washing off dirt, dust, & general grime off disciples feet
Peter is so freaked out Jesus is dressed like lowest slave, doing lowest slaves worst humiliating job on planet
He actually tells Jesus off - “you’re the Messiah, our teach, son of God...
you’re too great & powerful to be doing such a demeaning & disgusting job - what are you doing?!?” (slide)
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
But Jesus had told them time & again his mission was to serve - all humanity & creation
in fact Jesus underwent an even more humiliating act - he was tortured, humiliated & abused by religious leaders
He was then mocked & humiliated by Roman soldiers & paraded through streets, mocked by his own people
then stripped naked and killed in the most humiliating, & denigrated way
nailed naked to wooden cross & publicly displayed - there to suffocate to death (slide)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Paul says in this verse that we should always raise others up above us - not look down on them
In other words to follow Jesus means to intentionally humble ourselves - just as Jesus did
illus - What’s interesting is University of Maine in US did a study on leadership of 1500 leaders & their employees
What they found was “humility was the most strongly linked (personality trait) with helpfulness”
And that humble leaders ensured their employees enjoyed better work ethic, generosity and reliable relationships.
Those employees who worked under humble leaders were inspired to be more committed to their work
If Jesus was willing to lower himself to the lowest level then as leaders we should be willing to do the same
No task is below our position - whether its washing others feet, cleaning toilets, picking up rubbish
If we’re humble when we’re in leadership then people will be inspired to follow us
As we follow Jesus… & lastly... (slide)
Leadership by Service
Leadership by Service
So in passage Jesus was washing disciples feet to show disciples what he expected of them as his followers
That regardless of what position you hold or what God calls you to do…
As followers of Jesus we’re to do as he does - & humbly serve others in love
That is the definition of a Christ follower - a Christian - one who followers Christ’s example
We are feet washers
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
However if we approach our faith, our God given responsibilities, or our leadership as though we’re superior than others
Then we’re not true Jesus followers - instead we are hypocrites (Slide)
And Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day who were also hypocrites
People who claim or give the appearance of being humble, loving, caring
when in fact they are none of those things…
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
(Slide)
illus - In 2007, Barna Group did an extensive research project - they asked non-Christian people why they rejected Christianity
Top 3 problems people had with Christianity were they viewed it as anti homosexual (91 percent of responders),
judgmental (87 percent of responders) & #3 hypocritical (85 percent of responders)
Sad fact is non-Christians believe the greatest proof God doesn’t exist is behavior of Christians themselves!
However if we seek to follow Jesus example through prayer, self-reflection, & through action (slide)
And be humble loving servants to others then Jesus promised we would receive God’s blessing
But blessing only comes if we put knowledge Jesus has given us into action
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
So let’s pray
Heavenly Father - we thank you for Jesus example
That he was willing to serve your plans & purpose
& humble himself in loving service to all creation through death on the cross
Please help us through the power of you spirit to be like Jesus
To humbly serve others in love - that we may lead them to Jesus our Lord & Saviour, Amen