Washing Up
John 13:1-20
Linden Heights Baptist Church
June 17, 2012
NRS John 13:1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord– and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. 20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
INTRODUCTION
Max[O1] Brazil walked out of the door the last day of his residency program without any fan fare. The five year program at UCSF was grueling. 100 hour work weeks in high pressured environment. It was one of the most prestigious training programs in the country. He had come from a small town in Texas to complete this training program. He had accepted a position in his hometown where he would spend the rest of his life practicing medicine. In completing the program there was no fanfare. It was simply another day. The recognition of graduates doesn’t really change anything about what has happened or what is coming next. One can even see how in a utilitarian day it may even seem like one more commitment. In almost every graduation there are those who choose not to participate. But I want to suggest that transitions and symbols are important. If for no other reason than we see the Lord making use of them.
In our text today we read the setting for this famous symbolic act. The time had come for Jesus to leave his disciples. This final act has been remembered and provided a model for how Jesus’ followers have thought about what it means to live in relationship with others.
BUFORD
We[O2] read in verse one that this famous act of service was done at a specific time for a specific reason. The hour had come to depart this world. Jesus knew that his imminent departure was at hand, and for this reason he performed this act of service. This was done for a specific reason. It was done for the disciples to see. Some months ago I saw a cartoon on the Baptist Press website. The cartoon depicted a minister presiding over what seemed to be a funeral service. The caption reported the minister’s comments at a funeral service. The minister tells the gathered congregation, “we all remember Buford’s last words, hey you all watch this.” People do things for others to see for a variety of reasons. I was reminded of this cartoon with the recent exploits of the man who walked across a tightrope over Niagara Falls. A reason people do some exploits is to entertain. Some people have more than one motive for entertaining others. It may be to make money. It may be for the attention. There are other motives of why people want to draw the attention of others. I am reminded of trips to country fairs. Inevitably there is a booth where some man or woman is behind a booth displaying some new kitchen appliance. The purpose is not simply to entertain the crowd, but to convince the onlookers to purchase the product. What is the significance of this act?
We[O3] are told explicitly a reason for this action. Jesus tells the disciples that he has done this as an example. This is an example to imitate. But what is being indicated by this act of service? This is a symbolic action that demonstrates Jesus’ love for the disciples. Reflect for a moment on the significance of this simple statement Jesus loves me. The author of life, the maker of the heavens and the earth, He who knows every hair on your head loves you. There are a number of difficulties in embracing such a concept. How do I know that Jesus loves me? I know if this person or that loves me, but Jesus I don’t see. Jesus I don’t hear. I have heard the preacher make this claim. I have read the stories in the Bible that make this claim. But then there are days when I feel like these are just words, maybe in an especially despairing moment the claim appears to be something like a wish.
We[O4] all know that in our daily interaction with loved ones it is easy to find oneself losing sight of such important truths. Yes I know you love me, but I am concerned with something else right now. Perhaps you have had the experience of being out of work and desperately waiting a phone call about a job. The phone rings and you pick up the receiver only to hear your spouse’s voice. Oh it’s only you. Twenty years ago…maybe just three years ago you would have been excited to hear this voice calling to speak to you to enquire about your day, and you find yourself angry and irritated. I’ve got to get off the phone I’m waiting for a call. It is one thing for something like this to happen in a passing way it might make for a tense evening the need for flowers and apologies surely such reactions are not uncommon to life. But I use this as one example of something that can come to dominate and undermine our relationships. We can find ourselves for prolonged periods of times in ways that are ultimately destructive to relationships failing to recognize what is most important in our lives because of passing concerns. I tell this illustration as a reminder of a related question to how do I know that Jesus loves me. How would you know?
JUDAS AND PETER
In[O5] this passage we are offered two different responses to this love. The first we see in Judas. It is interesting that Jesus did not wait until Judas had already left. He knew what Judas was going to do. He knew the decision that Judas had made. I think it may be helpful to clarify a potentially misleading aspect of this passage. Sometimes the way the Bible conveys ideas it can be a bit confusing. In this passage it almost sounds like Judas had no choice, as if he was obliged by the evil one to act in a way that he had no control over. I do not think this is the meaning of these words. We often find that ultimately any act of disobedience is ascribed to the evil one. And yet this doesn’t mean that every individual act is orchestrated by the devil. Judas resolved to act in the way he did. Why is another question? Was it for greed? Was it to force Jesus’ hand? We don’t know but we do know he sat there and had his feet washed knowing that he was about to act to hurt Jesus. For me this is a stark reminder of the simple truth that being recipients of this message even in the congregation of God’s people doesn’t mean that we have accepted Jesus as our savior and Lord. He feigned love. He feigned obedience when in his heart he was not a follower.
Peter[O6] offers another example. Not a perfect example. In fact his response receives a corrective rebuke from Jesus. Have you ever had the experience of having a rebuke deeply hurt your feelings such that the shame and humiliation has made you want to separate yourself from any possible repeat experience? Peter no so much. Of all the disciples he is the most frequently corrected disciple. I find this quite encouraging. It is a reminder that following Jesus doesn’t mean that we are always going to avoid being mistaken in what this obedience entails. This to me is a freeing word. Not that I want to be rebuked or corrected. I don’t want to be embarrassed or ashamed. But I want to have sincerity of heart that Peter displayed. This is quite important for his ability to receive correction. He voiced the concern. Wait you aren’t the one who should be washing my feet? I won’t let you. Sincerity is an important starting point for obedience before God. But sincerity doesn’t equal obedience of course. We do not find anywhere in scripture the sentiment expressed…”well he meant well.” His errors are called into account. But this calling into account is because of the love of Jesus.
The[O7] title of this morning’s sermon is if you are not washed by me, you can have no part in me. What Peter expressed in his sincere desire to not allow Jesus to lower himself on his behalf may have been a sincere expression of love and concern but it was a potentially disastrous judgment. Peter did not realize the depth of his need for that which Jesus offered. This act of the washing of the disciples feet is symbolic. It is not that in the performance of these washings that something happened to the disciples guilt before God. No it was an act to demonstrate what Jesus was about to do on the cross. He was about to give his life as a ransom for sin. Peter’s second response also in error though not as potentially dangerous…then wash all of me. He wants the healing Jesus offers. And what Jesus offers is sufficient.
EXAMPLE FOR YOU
This[O8] weekend I attended a reception to honor those who had completed their fellowship in Psychiatry. There were cheese plates and drinks, awards and speeches. My niece was sitting at the table. One of the speakers was pretty funny. He had a number of clever comments about the graduates. We laughed appropriately. My niece clearly did not understand the joke. But she laughed. She saw that we were laughing and so she laughed. But she didn’t know why we were laughing. When you understand the joke you don’t have to think about laughing. It is simply the natural response. The example Jesus gave for us to serve others as he served is of a similar type. There are times when we might feel like we should be serving. We feel perhaps it is the obligatory response we are after all Christians. And to some degree we should do something. Usually when this is our approach to service it will be a kind of service that is of limited depth. We may serve until something confronts us with an experience of pain or maybe not even pain but simply something less than pleasant convinces us that such course of service is not in keeping with a flourishing life. For the disciples who have experienced the love of Jesus our response to service should be rooted simply in the conviction that we are servants of the king.
We[O9] are reminded by this act of service that there is no service that is too menial for us to be a participant in. I remember some years ago returning from a trip with youth. I had been away for a very long week at camp. I finally pulled the van onto our lot at the Baptist center. I cleaned out the van and I was ready to go home. As I was throwing away the trash left in the van I tossed the keys into the dumpster. Not pleasant. Added to this unpleasantness of my action was that it had just rained. The dumpster was filled with water. I was most unhappy. At this moment the pastor of the church came out and saw me. Without hesitating he climbed into the dumpster to get the keys before I even had the chance to protest. I am reminded of this simple act of service. His action was simply a response to the need without any thought of dignity.
No[O10] task is to menial, and no person to distorted. There are people who have very bad habits. Habits that are toxic to others. This doesn’t mean that we simply ignore the potentially destructive behavior. It must be addressed this is part of loving those who are hurting. And yet this love is not conditioned on their response. It is not conditioned by an attempt to change the individual. There is not person who we should not see as a person to love and to serve.
CELEBRATION
When[O11] one is recognizing a group of graduates we want to affirm you for what you have accomplished. Working diligently to complete your assignments and demonstrate the necessary competency to pass. Sometimes it can feel when you have been in the soup you may not recognize just what all you have persevered to complete. It is healthy to mark such times with reflection that affirms what has been completed. If for no other reason than it helps remind one of some of the importance of the simple tasks that can be neglected. Well done. It is good to acknowledge those who have made it possible for you to complete your course of study. Your parents who insisted on your doing your duty even when you may not have felt like it, an instructor who especially inflamed your interest in a subject and helped you to complete the necessary requirements. Your peers with whom you spent much time some of it productively. Today we are recognized your accomplishments in church. One reason is because we are a community, and we want you to know that we celebrate with you this accomplishment. We also recognize and celebrate this accomplishment in the church because whenever there is something for which we are thankful it is good and accurate to lift our eyes to God. The maker of heaven and earth, the giver of life, the sustainer of life, the creator of every good and perfect gift to God we give thanks for your accomplishment.
One[O12] aspect of graduations is celebrating your accomplishment there is another natural inclination and this is to give some thought to the new transition that lies before you. What is next? Some of you have very clear plans. You may know what will be in the next ten weeks. You may have less certainty. One certainty is that we do not know what tomorrow will bring. A reason I chose this passage today is because here we find a very clear message to Jesus’ followers to us about how we should conceive of our lives. As we imitate the master we will find what Jesus says is a blessed life. In whatever field, situation, adversity, affluence, may we have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus who did not consider equality with God as to be something to be grasped but emptied himself taking the very form of a servant. Amen.
Reflections 