Final Draft, March 14, 2013
Message preached, 5th Sunday of Lent
March 17, 2013
Message preached, 5th Sunday of Lent
March 17, 2013
At some point we need to look down and realize that our feet are wet.
I'm sure we have all heard phrases like "wet behind the ears".
The phrase is meant to imply that one is naive.
Typically, first time car buyers are wet behind the ears when it comes to negotiating with car salesmen. The allusion is to the inexperience of a baby, so recently born as to be still wet.
When a baby is born, it is covered with mucous and fluid. It takes a little while for the
baby to dry off. Protected areas, such as the area behind the ears, take a bit longer.
"Wet behind the ears" refers to a time shortly after birth before being completely dry. Hence unworldly, naive, and inexperienced.
"Wet behind the ears" refers to a time shortly after birth before being completely dry. Hence unworldly, naive, and inexperienced.
Right off the bat, we need to go see what that word means - naive.
If any word might rightly describe a new believer or follower in Christ, naive might just be the word.
There is so much they have not been exposed to yet. So much these disciples don't understand.
But Jesus doesn't wait for them to get it. He trudges on.
Bringing them to a meal where the bread and the wine have already been broken and shared, he drops to his knees in a teachable moment for these children.
Bringing them to a meal where the bread and the wine have already been broken and shared, he drops to his knees in a teachable moment for these children.
John 13:1-17
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
It is the first time during this series that we have touched on the Gospel according to John.
Most of our material has come from Matthew, some from Mark, at time eluding to Luke.
But, this moment completely belongs to John. This is the only place we find a discourse that does not center on the bread and the wine. The synoptic accounts give us a very plain account of Jesus breaking the bread and lifting the cup, explaining to his disciples what they mean in accordance with his death. John's account, however, focuses on a different point.
But, this moment completely belongs to John. This is the only place we find a discourse that does not center on the bread and the wine. The synoptic accounts give us a very plain account of Jesus breaking the bread and lifting the cup, explaining to his disciples what they mean in accordance with his death. John's account, however, focuses on a different point.
Servanthood & Cleansing.
The work of cleaning the feet of weary travelers would have fallen to the lowest servant in the house.
There is a pecking order, a totem pole approach to life in every corner of the world.
From the top of the Wall Street chain to the dirtiest factory job you can think of.
If you are the 'new guy' then you are the guy who gets to do the job nobody else wants to do.
Nobody really want to get down on their knees and wash other people's feet.
And, that's exactly why Jesus does it.
In the midst of this 'communion' service, as we would call it, Jesus stops to illustrate for his disciples what that broken bread and poured out wine would really mean.
Why was Jesus' body broken for us?
He is broken as part of his service to us. He called himself, repeatedly, "The Son of Man".
The servant role. The life giving role of servitude to mankind in giving his life.
The servant role. The life giving role of servitude to mankind in giving his life.
How much sleep had he lost sitting up with the disciples and other explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of God? How much time did he spend in prayer focusing his time and attention on the needs of others? How much blood would he spill on the cross giving all that he had to cover our sins?
Which leads to the cleansing. The life force of the human body spilled, that would be cut open with the sharp ends of the whip, painfully taken by the spiked ends of nails through his hands and feet and finally opened wide with the end of spear in his side.
John would write later about that cleansing...
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
John would write later about that cleansing...
1 John 1:9
New International Version (NIV)
Purify. Cleanse. Through servitude.
Not through simply telling people what to do. Not by demanding people's allegiance.
By giving all that one has.
If Jesus wants his disciples to get anything from this moment, he wants them to see this.
Forgiveness is not something to be demanded, but it is something to be sought.
Forgiveness is also extended long before we even realize we need it.
These men understand so little. They don't even understand the possibilities.
We, too, seem to forget and miss the point so quickly.
There is such need to be open with Christ and share our hearts with him.
Yet, we draw back like Peter.
As teacher to student, Jesus has listened to Peter rattle off some real clumsy statements.
But, maybe this one takes the cake. And, Jesus doesn't give a long parable-like explanation.
Short. Sweet. And, to the point.
And, then, in typical Peter like fashion...
All he knows at this point is that he doesn't want to miss a thing. Wherever his Lord goes, he wants to also. Even if he doesn't understand it all.
In Sesame Street like fashion, this particular experimental situation was brought to us by the Teacher himself and the naive disciple who thinks he knows it all.
Little does he know what exactly it is his Master & Lord wants him to know.
Problem being, did they see it? Did they get it?
No. At least not yet.
In just a short while these twelve who said they would never run, who said they would go with their Lord and Savior to his death, would run away and leave him to face the certainty of pain and punishment. So, to make sure they get it later, he drops to his knees with a towel and a basin and washes every one of their feet. Even Judas. the one who would betray him. Jesus washes his feet right in front of the others. The evidence that God's forgiveness is extended to anyone. Anyone.
Hearing this, how easy is it for us to put ourselves in the shoes of these disciples?
What's it like to be wet behind the ears? Or, more accurately, to have wet feet?
These men have feet just recently refreshed and they have no idea why.
The Lord extends his forgiveness to us each day. Do we, in turn, look to those around the circle and loe them with the same love extended to us? Who is in our circle? Our family, our friends, our co-workers. People who depend on us and need us.
But, we don't get it at first either. We begin this Christian life in this naive state.
At some point we need to look down and realize that our feet are wet...and wonder why.
Not through simply telling people what to do. Not by demanding people's allegiance.
By giving all that one has.
If Jesus wants his disciples to get anything from this moment, he wants them to see this.
Forgiveness is not something to be demanded, but it is something to be sought.
Forgiveness is also extended long before we even realize we need it.
These men understand so little. They don't even understand the possibilities.
We, too, seem to forget and miss the point so quickly.
There is such need to be open with Christ and share our hearts with him.
Yet, we draw back like Peter.
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”Are you kidding me Jesus? You are the King! You're the Messiah! I don't want you washing my feet.
As teacher to student, Jesus has listened to Peter rattle off some real clumsy statements.
But, maybe this one takes the cake. And, Jesus doesn't give a long parable-like explanation.
Short. Sweet. And, to the point.
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”I like to think of this moment with a pause. Jesus looking into the eyes of Peter as he kneels before him. Master to disciple. Teacher to student. Waiting for an answer. Waiting to see if he gets it or not.
And, then, in typical Peter like fashion...
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”Is this man really willing to go all the way with Jesus? Maybe he is. Maybe he thinks he is.
All he knows at this point is that he doesn't want to miss a thing. Wherever his Lord goes, he wants to also. Even if he doesn't understand it all.
In Sesame Street like fashion, this particular experimental situation was brought to us by the Teacher himself and the naive disciple who thinks he knows it all.
Little does he know what exactly it is his Master & Lord wants him to know.
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.These twelve who have wrestled with the truth and also wrestled with each other over who is the greatest, a couple of them asking if they can sit on Jesus' left hand and his right, are being asked to love each other with the same Love that was just extended to them.
Problem being, did they see it? Did they get it?
No. At least not yet.
In just a short while these twelve who said they would never run, who said they would go with their Lord and Savior to his death, would run away and leave him to face the certainty of pain and punishment. So, to make sure they get it later, he drops to his knees with a towel and a basin and washes every one of their feet. Even Judas. the one who would betray him. Jesus washes his feet right in front of the others. The evidence that God's forgiveness is extended to anyone. Anyone.
Hearing this, how easy is it for us to put ourselves in the shoes of these disciples?
What's it like to be wet behind the ears? Or, more accurately, to have wet feet?
These men have feet just recently refreshed and they have no idea why.
The Lord extends his forgiveness to us each day. Do we, in turn, look to those around the circle and loe them with the same love extended to us? Who is in our circle? Our family, our friends, our co-workers. People who depend on us and need us.
But, we don't get it at first either. We begin this Christian life in this naive state.
Sometimes despite overwhelming blatant evidence we are oblivious to what is going on in our surroundings. We listen to what any teacher has to say. We flock to what any service is offering.
We act however we want to and say whatever we want to. At some point we need to look down and realize that our feet are wet...and wonder why.
