10-03-21 “Wash up before dinner”

Scripture       John 13:1-34

Pastor washes feet while the scripture is read with music underneath.

          You have just heard the beginning of the book of glory. John 13 and following compared to John 1-12 takes a monumental shift much like the OT to the NT. The hour of Christ glorification has been pointed to through Jesus public ministry in John 1-12. 18-21 is his final glorification and 13-17 is the most intimate section of scripture recorded. It is Jesus alone with his disciples. The closest thing to compare this to would be Adam and Eve in the garden with God before the fall.

          In this intimate setting Jesus makes it even more so by beginning with something that was so intimate it shocked Peter. Foot washing was common. People wore sandals and walked on dirt roads. Coming to a formal sacred meal like Passover, it would have been customary for the servant, even the slave, to wash everyone's feet. It was considered the lowest task for the servant with the least seniority.

          Why then, did Jesus wash his disciple's feet? We know it was as an example for them to go and do likewise. But it was so much more than that. It was a picture of the crucifixion he was about to face. Let's consider this when we look at the exchange with Peter.

Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Jesus poured out what was needed for cleaning feet. On the cross Jesus poured out his blood, which is the only thing that will cleanse us of sin.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus knows he is the only one who can wash away sins and he must do it or people will remain unclean.

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

"No, you shall never wash my feet."

Peter had the right idea from a human (lower story) point of view that the master should not stoop below the student. From God's point of view, the student is unable to wash himself - never has been able and never will.

"Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

"Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

Again, peter has the right idea from his perspective but not from God's.

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 everyone was clean.

Because Peter already believed Jesus to be the messiah, he was clean. Jesus knew that even before morning, Peter would sin 3 times, even denying that he knows Jesus and that his feet (his mouth) can only truly be cleansed by the ultimate eternal sacrifice of Christ himself. And to confirm this, after his resurrection, Jesus commissions Peter to carry on the ministry not one, but 3 times. Remember, Peter has difficulty understanding forgiveness. He once asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone. This foot cleansing ceremony is to help them understand the eternal cleansing that will take place shorty on the cross.

Even before that exchange with Peter, it says - he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Jesus got up from his heavenly table, took off his heavenly clothing and put on the clothing of humanity. Phil 2:5-8 Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!           THEN:

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.

When Jesus was crucified and risen, he put back on his heavenly clothing and returned to his place to continue being a servant and prepare that place for our arrival, while we are to be washing feet on his behalf.

If the foot washing is a picture of what the crucifixion will be, this adds to why people see the crucifixion as Christ's darkest hour. Not so, both reveal his glory. This is why he came. The crucifixion was not a failure, it was God's moment of triumph over sin and death that plagued the world since the garden of Eden. People saw it from and earthly perspective, Jesus saw it from a God perspective. Much like the scene in Apollo 13.

JUDAS

The story of Peter and the foot washing & last supper show us what it means to receive forgiveness and salvation in light of the cross, then the story of Judas and the foot washing and last supper show us what it means to miss forgiveness and salvation in light of the cross.

Jesus knew Judas would betray him but had him come to the last supper anyway. The one who would seal his fate also had Jesus kneeling before him, washing his feet, just hours before he would betray him. And the saddest picture of all is that Judas was sitting close to Jesus - close enough to receive a piece of bread directly from him. Elsewhere, Jesus and Judas share a bowl into which the dip their bread. John points out that Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas. During the sedar (Passover) meal, the hosts dips the bread and gives it to someone he loves - someone who is the honored guest at the table. No one could be closer to God on earth than that moment when Jesus honors Judas and hands him the bread. Immediately after receiving it, it says the devil entered him - had full control - brought him over to the dark aide - literally. It says, when he left it was night - dark. This act is the antithesis of Jesus who is the light of the world.

Are you more like Peter or Judas in this story? Jesus tells us we should be more like him. We are given a new command to love one another. In this moment he is only talking about us loving those who are part of his body - the church. That love should look like one person humbling themselves for another by washing their feet. When a person walks into a church, they should see people who deeply love one another - not just their friends - but everyone who is there.

Simultaneously while we are growing in our actionable love for one another, we are going into all the world to invite people to the great wedding feast of Jesus! COMMUNION PREP>>>

(GIDEON STORY)

Gretchen said, We were all having a rough morning, I was having a rough morning, I was sitting with Gemma trying to help us all calm down and Gideon went upstairs.

He came back down and scooted a toy bin over and asked me to put my feet in it.  I was confused and then I saw two little towels on his shoulder and he began washing my feet.  What a beautiful moment of grace and reminder of God's love.