March 17, 2019
There are few substitutes for loving parents. When children grow up in a home in which the parents love each other and love their children, those children learn how to love a spouse and their own children. They follow in the loving ways of their parents.
This morning we are in Jn.13. John had been a follower of Jesus for many years and his gospel is deeply reflective and thematic. We find themes of light and darkness, the vine and branches. Jesus is the good shepherd and the bread of life. Whereas Matthew, Mark and Luke give the account of the Lord’s Supper, John give us the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. From this story we learn that as we experience the love of Jesus we are called to love like Jesus.
I. WOULD YOU LET JESUS WASH YOUR FEET? Jn.13:1-11
Another theme in John’s gospel involves the word, “hour.” Throughout the gospel we hear Jesus saying, “My hour has not yet come.” It refers to the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Finally in Jn.12 we read that his hour has come. In Jn.12:27 Jesus says, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” And then in 12:31-33 Jesus adds, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”
So in Jn.13 we see that Jesus is aware that his death on the cross is immanent. His hour has come. Look at Jn.13:1-5. “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.”
Notice the phrase, “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” Who are “his own?” They are his disciples. How does one show their love to the end or to the uttermost? I am reminded of Jn.15:13, where Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The highest form of love is that which seeks the best for another regardless of personal cost. Jesus showed his love by laying down his life for us on the cross, bearing our sins upon himself.
In that day people wore sandals and since the roads were dusty, one’s feet would get dirty. It was common courtesy for house guests to be provided a bowl of water to wash their feet, or a servant would wash their feet. When the disciples got to the upper room for the Passover meal, it is clear that no provision had been made for washing their feet. So at a moment during the meal, Jesus does something radical. He takes off his outer garment and ties a towel around his waist. He pours water in a basin and he washes the feet of his disciples. Jesus was taking on the role of a lowly servant. In washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus was painting a graphic picture of the meaning of his approaching death. Leon Morris calls it, “a parable in motion.” On the cross Jesus took our sins upon himself, dying in our place, so that we might be cleansed of our sins. The washing of the disciples’ feet pictured this cleansing through the self-denying, humble love of Jesus.
Peter could hardly bear it. Why? Because it was embarrassing and humbling to have Jesus, his master and Lord, stoop to wash his feet. It was culturally inappropriate. If anything, one would think that the disciples would have washed Jesus’ feet. But no, that was a job for servants and they were not servants! So Peter says, “Lord, do you wash my feet? I don’t think so! You shall never wash my feet.” It would not be until after Jesus died and rose again that Peter would understand what Jesus was doing. Jesus responded, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." In other words, if Jesus does not cleanse us from our sins, there is no eternal forgiveness of sins, no life with Jesus.
When Peter heard this he changed his tune. “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" In v.10 Jesus says to Peter, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.” In these words I believe Jesus extends the parable to suggest that once we turn to Jesus for cleansing and life, we begin to live in a relationship with him. But as forgiven people we still struggle with sin. And so it is important to daily confess our sins, to daily have our feet washed, so to speak, so that we might have moment by moment fellowship with Jesus.”
In this parable in motion, dirty feet symbolize sinful hearts. Just as Peter had to let go of his stubborn pride so that Jesus could wash his dirty feet, so all of us must let go of our stubborn, self-justifying pride & turn from our sins to Jesus. Sin always leads to death because sin separates us from God who is holy and who is the giver of eternal living. If we are separated from God we are separated from life.
Obviously there was water in the upper room. I imagine Peter could have washed his own feet if he wanted to. But he didn’t want to. Why is it that we are often content with our sinful selves? Why is it that we pull away from God’s loving provision for cleansing and life? Jesus, God in the flesh, was showing God’s love and Peter almost missed it because of his pride. In the interest of self-autonomy we prefer to justify our sin. Even though cleansing and forgiveness is available we ignore it. We are quick to condemn these people who lied and cheated to get their kids into college, while at the same time we minimize our own sinful guilt. That might work for a while, but a day of reckoning is coming. Why would you not embrace the cleansing love of Jesus? Jesus, our loving Savior has taken our sin upon himself on the cross so that we can be cleansed and receive his resurrection life. Would you have let Jesus wash your feet? Will you let Jesus cleanse you of your sins? Apart from him there is no cleansing, no forgiveness, no life.
II. ARE YOU WILLING TO WASH THE FEET OF ONE ANOTHER? Jn.13:12-17
Look at v.12-17. “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.”
When we turn to Jesus, having our hearts cleansed of sin, we receive his eternal, resurrection life. It is not a life that is waiting for us in heaven. It is a life that begins immediately. We live out the life of Jesus as we are living in this world. In these verses Jesus is teaching us what his life in us will look like. It will look like him. If Jesus’ life is in us, and he is our Lord and Teacher, then we will seek to follow the example he gave us. We will learn to wash one another’s feet. In other words, we will take on the role of a servant.
Why did Jesus take his outer garment off? Well, he was going to get dirty and wet. When we serve one another, at times we are going to deal with that which is unlovely in each other. Dirty feet will be exposed. If we are not willing to humble ourselves in service we will find it difficult to deal with each other. Our own needs for dignity and control will hinder us. Instead of washing one another’s feet we may actually harm another in self-righteousness and pride. Being a servant is not easy. Taking the lower place is not desirable.
Jesus told them to wash one another’s feet. In Christ, we belong to each other. It is often difficult to love and serve those we know best. When Jesus came to wash Peter’s feet and Peter told the Lord how things were going to be, the Lord did not become impatient. He did not defend himself. The Lord did not throw in the towel or cast blame or shame. In selfless love he pursued Peter so that Peter could have life and fellowship with Jesus. Our selfless service to one another is how we express and establish the bonds of Christ’s love in the church.
Rob McCleland, the former executive director of the NAB Conference ushered in a number of changes. One of the changes was very simple. Whenever you call someone at the international office, the person who answers the phone says, “Hello, this is so and so. How may I serve you.” It was a nice touch. But, of course, it must be more than a nice touch.
As we approach a season of transition, I am sure there are going to be challenges for us as a congregation to face. How important for all of us to willingly shed the garments of pride, control, and the need to be right.
But how do we do this? Few of us have the inner resources to consistently serve in a selfless, loving way. I point you back to v.3. It says, “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.” Jesus was able to lovingly, humbly serve because he had confidence in his relationship with God. If we know Christ, we are kept secure by the power of God who dwells in us through his Holy Spirit. The humble love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and so we can serve one another and bear with one another in love.
Perhaps it would be helpful for all of us to train ourselves to quietly, regularly think to ourselves, “How can I serve this person who is with me in the church. What can I do or say to express the humble love of Jesus to them? How can I serve the congregation? How can I encourage the leadership? How can I humbly build the body up in Christ?
I can tell you, the next pastor who serves here will be greatly blessed as we make strides in being a congregation that serves one another in love.
As we experience the love of Jesus we are called to love like Jesus. Have you experienced the love of Jesus through the cleansing of your sin and receiving his life? Are you learning to love like Jesus? Amen