The Last Lessons – Part 1: The Feet (John 13:1-38)

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC...

The Last Lessons – Part 1: The Feet (John 13:1-38)

 

I have set you an example,
that you also should do as I have done to you. 
John 13:15

A waiter at a diner serves Bill Belichick a soda. The famous football coach says, “Listen, I need a quarterback. Think you could do that for me, son?”

The waiter was floored! He said, “Wow, really?! You want me to play in the NFL?”

Belichick said “No, you moron! This drink costs 75 cents and I gave you a dollar!”

 

Today we begin our study of the Upper Room Discourse in John 13-17. While other gospel accounts give only a single chapter to the upper room events, John provides 5 chapters of material of what was said and done that last night between Jesus and His disciples.

 Holy Communion is missing from John. We know they are celebrating the Passover, but there’s only a mention of the meal. There’s no establishing the bread and cup as symbols of the new covenant. Instead, foot washing takes center stage.

 In some Christian traditions, Christian Service is a sacrament. It is symbolized by a bowl and towel. Jesus set an example for us to serve others.

 Over these next five chapters, we’ll look at Jesus’ last lessons, metaphorically through parts of the body. In chapter 13, Jesus addressed our feet. In chapter 14, our hearts, chapter 15, our hands, 16 our minds, and in chapter 17 the whole body. I certainly do not believe John arranged his thoughts around parts of the body. That’s just how I’m choosing to frame the conversation, as we listen in on the upper room discourse.

 There’s a lot going on in chapter 13. Straightaway, in verse 2, the devil puts into Judas’ mind the idea to betray Jesus. The Greek means to toss it toward Judas. In the same way, Judas is planning on putting Jesus into the hands of the authorities. And Jesus knows that God the Father has placed all things into His hands. So, nobody, not the devil, not Judas, not the Romans or the Sanhedrin have any real power in determining what happens to Jesus. As Jesus said,

 

“No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.” (John 10:18)

 

Knowing that Judas is going to betray him, knowing that He was going to suffer painfully and die in great humiliation, Jesus startles us. In an act of great love, He assumes the role of a slave and washes the feet of his disciples, including Judas! Can you imagine being in Jesus’ place and doing that? Can you grasp the selfless love and humility of our Savior? My tendency would be to turn my back on my enemies. Jesus humbles himself. He has all the power and authority, and he uses it to serve others selflessly. He humbly submits himself to God’s plan of salvation, Judas’ betrayal, his arrest and torture, his agonizing crucifixion and death.

Peter can’t believe what Jesus is doing. Foot washing in Jewish culture had many meanings. It was usually performed by female slaves and therefore considered to be the lowest form of service. Foot washing was a form of hospitality. A host provided water basins to guests and sometimes personally washed their feet. This gesture was considered great hospitality and a sign of respect and honor. Children sometimes washed their fathers’ feet, or a wife her husband’s, as a sign of love and honor. Students of Jewish rabbis were known to wash the feet of their teachers, as a sign of admiration and respect. So, you can understand why Peter had a problem. It would’ve been acceptable for a disciple to wash the feet of their master, but for a master to wash the feet of their students was outrageous.

 

Peter told Jesus, “You will never wash my feet!” This was an expression of his high esteem for Jesus. But Jesus told him, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” The Greek translated as share is often translated as portion, part, area, region or place. Jesus is telling Peter that he has no place with Him unless he washes his feet.

 

In his typical exuberance, Peter blurts out, “Well then wash all of me!” He wants Jesus to know that he is fully with Him. Peter would later passionately profess that he would lay down his life for Jesus. But we all know what happens. When Jesus is arrested, Peter denies that he even knew Jesus, to save his own skin. Jesus patiently explains to Peter that he only needs his feet washed. He and the disciples have been cleansed by the word of God. Only Judas remained stained with the filth of evil.

 

Priests wash their feet before making offerings and sacrifices. It was considered an affront to God not to wash the feet before entering the temple grounds. Ritual baths were made available for worshippers all around the temple. At what level is the act of washing feet a preparation for standing on holy ground? For what holy encounter is Jesus preparing his disciples?

 

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet during the supper, not as they entered the upper room, so it isn’t an act of hospitality. It’s an act of love and honor. And it is a teaching moment. Jesus is handing his ministry over to His chosen. The students are about to become the teachers. The followers are about to step into Church leadership. What could be more holy that ministering on behalf of Jesus? And Jesus is showing them the way they are to lead. They are to lead humbly as servants.

 

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15)

 

Not only is this act a teaching moment, an invitation to servant ministry, it is a consecration into holy service. Jesus is preparing his apostles to lead the Church, to offer themselves in humble service to God and God’s people.

 

I know whom I have chosen… whoever receives one whom I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” (John 13:18, 20)

 

These newly consecrated apostles (which literally means sent ones) represent Jesus, and the God who sent Jesus. But they are not merely representatives of Jesus. Jesus will be with them through the Spirit, empowering their ministry. But that will have to wait for another conversation about the last lessons of Jesus in the upper room.

 

What does this mean for our lives as followers of Jesus? Foot washing was a way to prepare for worship. How do you prepare yourself to enter God’s sanctuary? There’s an African American tradition of getting ones Sunday attire prepared the night before worship. The suits and dresses are inspected for lint, or stray threads. Any wrinkles in the fabric are steamed and pressed. Shoes are polished to a shine. Everything is set aside, ready for wearing one’s Sunday best. This ritual is as much a part of worship as prayer and singing hymns and engaging in the hearing of the word of God proclaimed. 

 

How might your weekly worship experience be transformed by your preparation at home? Our feet take us where we are going. Where are you going? How are you preparing your feet to get you there? Where are you ultimately headed? What is your destiny? How are your feet pointing you in the right direction? In other words, how is your daily walk consistent with your desire to have a place with Jesus? How does your daily activity reflect your role as a representative of Jesus?

 

 

In the 1980s, the all-girl rock group, The Bangles, had a hit single called Walk Like An Egyptian. We are called to use our physical feet and our spiritual movement in the service of our Master. We are consecrated to humbly serve one another after the example of Jesus. Walk like the Galilean.

 

Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment to love one another. Love is shown through humble service to others. Joh wrote in his first letter to the Church,

 

How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees another in need and yet refuses help? …let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:17-18)

 

When volunteers are sought, move your feet to serve with humility, knowing that you are a representative of Jesus. And when you serve, know that Jesus is with you, empowering your service with His holy presence. You have a place with Him.

 Christian service is sacramental. For when you do for the least in the world, you’re doing for Jesus.

 May you find new ways to move your feet into service in Christ, and may you experience blessing upon blessing with those you serve.