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Maundy Thursday , 03/29/2018
Sermon on John 13:1-17, 34-35, by Judson F Merrell
A sermon on John 13:1-17, 34-35
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. 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (Joh 13:34-35 NRS)
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Does it mean dying on a cross? Does it mean baptizing as many people as possible? Does it mean that you have to go to church? Tonight and tomorrow, Good Friday, used to be two of the most well-attended church services in our county. Now there are local churches that don’t do one or both. One local Lutheran church is only able to get people to their service tonight by serving a meal beforehand. They don’t even have a Good Friday service. And yet these two days are so theologically important to us as Christians. Tonight on Maundy Thursday, we have the same lessons we normally have. This night always has the unique Gospel reading from John’s account. It is different than the other three Gospels, in that it includes foot washing instead of Holy Communion. There are many things that are the same, but in this account we don’t read about Jesus taking bread and wine, likening them to his body for the forgiveness of sin. Instead we have this unique story about foot washing. This humble act by the teacher to the students gives us a hint at what it means to be a disciple of Christ.
John tells us that as he gathered with his disciples for supper, Jesus rose from the table and “took off his outer robe”, a gesture designed to make vivid his laying aside his life. He divests himself of his own life on behalf of his own people. Then he “tied a towel around himself, girding himself for the work to be completed at the cross. John does not say here that Jesus “poured out” his life or “poured wine” for his disciples but broadly hints at that when he writes that Jesus “poured water” into a basin. John pictures Jesus as girded with a towel, kneeling with a basin of water, ready to perform the central action of that night. Jesus begins to wash the feet of his disciples. Peter draws back, refusing this service that Jesus wishes to offer him. Perhaps Peter did not fully understand the relationship between Teacher and Disciple, even though he had been with Jesus for years. But our Lord Jesus tells Peter that this is a “washing” without which Peter cannot share in the circle of Jesus’ fellowship. In other words, Peter needs to be washed to fully be a disciple. He needs to be cleansed. But exactly what is this washing? It is more than a humble act designed to serve as an object lesson that teaches humility. Note that Jesus performs this act of washing during the meal, at a point when we expect to hear of a loaf and a cup, of a body broken and life outpoured. This washing is nothing less than initiation into the company of Jesus, into friendship with Jesus and so into the fellowship of God. This indispensible flood is the outpoured life of Jesus. When Peter catches on to all of that, he becomes marvelously enthusiastic about receiving the washing.
Jesus’ dying on the cross washes and sanctifies his own, thoroughly and completely, qualifying them for entrance into the presence of God. It did it then, and it does it now. Christ is present with us this evening, in body and in blood. Christ’s example of having not himself served, but instead serving those around him, is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Yes, we are to come to the table, yes, we are to be baptized, washed in the water and sealed by the Spirit. And yes, we are to spread the gospel message wherever we go. But in doing so, we are to serve others, even if we end up being the teacher instead of the student. So I invite you to come forward tonight, feel the presence of God in this room, partake of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and give thanks to God for humbling himself to the point of death, for you and for me. Come and be nourished, while remembering your own washing, your baptism, and the promises of life that flow from the sacraments of God. Amen.