John 13:1-15, 34-35
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Tonight is the night when Jesus was betrayed into the hands of evil men, but the plan had already been put into motion. The money had been counted and put in Judas’ pocket on Tuesday of Holy Week. That day, Satan entered into Judas Iscariot through a love of money (Lk. 22:3-6), and he agreed with the chief priests and officers to hand Christ over to them.
This is probably why we do not have any record of what Jesus did on Wednesday of Holy Week. Jesus probably didn’t do much that day. After Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He would enter the city and preach and teach publicly in the Temple. The Gospels record that these public appearances and teaching happened Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. But there is no record of anything happening on Wednesday.
It is very possible that Jesus didn’t even enter into Jerusalem on Wednesday because He knew the plot. If He had entered into Jerusalem on Wednesday, He would be arrested. It is also probably why He didn’t appear to have a plan on where He and His disciples would celebrate the Passover. Jesus isn’t just a guy who doesn’t like to make plans. His plan was to keep the plan secret. The whole thing is carefully and deliberately orchestrated so that Judas can’t betray Jesus until He is ready.
It isn’t until sometime on Thursday that Jesus sends only two disciples, Peter and John, to find a certain man carrying a water jar, follow him into the house he enters, and tell the master of the house that Jesus would like to eat the Passover there (Lk. 22:7-13). So, until they get to that upper room, only Jesus, Peter, and John know where they will be that Thursday night. Again, Jesus orchestrates all of this so that Judas can’t betray Him secretly. Judas only betrays Jesus when Christ dismisses him to do it.
And Jesus times His betrayal so that He can give His Church a new commandment or ‘mandate’ (which is why tonight is called ‘Maundy Thursday’) and a meal.
The very same night Jesus was betrayed, our Lord washed His disciples’ feet. This foot washing isn’t a Sacrament. There is no word or promise of forgiveness attached to washing feet. This washing was, in a sense, a parable acted out. By serving His disciples in this way, Jesus is showing how He wants them and us to serve and love one another.
Foot washing was a common thing in those days. Anyone who was going to be a guest at a banquet would have their feet washed even if they had just bathed. The walk from one house to another would make a person’s feet dirty and dusty enough to need another washing. But the task of foot washing was always reserved for the lowest servants. A disciple would do many different chores for the rabbi he was following, but foot washing was never one of them. But here, in a beautiful reversal, Jesus, the Rabbi, the Teacher sent from God, and in fact God Himself in the flesh, humbles Himself to do the lowest of tasks for His disciples.
At this point in the supper, all twelve disciples were still there. Judas had not yet left to betray Jesus. So, yes, our Lord washed the feet of Judas and served His betrayer in this way. This foot washing was an act of vulnerability and intimacy. In this washing, Jesus takes their faith and, in return, gives them His righteousness and cleansing.
Judas does not benefit from this, but Jesus still does it for him. Judas rejected the righteousness of Jesus in place of the thirty pieces of silver. Later, Judas will reject forgiveness too. After the crucifixion, Judas seeks atonement in remorse and self-judgment, but he didn’t find it there.
With this foot washing of all the disciples including Judas, Jesus gives us an example that teaches us a very important lesson, and that lesson is this: Love isn’t always easy or clean. Love can often be one-sided and unanswered. Just because you love someone and do selfless acts for them does not mean they will love you in return. And know that you aren’t greater than Jesus. If His love was rejected and repaid with betrayal, yours will be too.
Yet, still Jesus would have you, His disciples, His Christians, love your enemies as you have been loved by Him. Bear one another’s burdens. Forgive and serve one another. That is this new commandment, this new mandate, that Jesus gives. Which, again, is why today is called Maundy Thursday.
But because you do and will fail in this mandate that Jesus gives, Maundy Thursday is more than that. It is the night that Jesus mandates and gives you a meal. Tonight is the night in which Jesus was betrayed, and Judas isn’t the only culprit. Even the disciples who do love Jesus fail Him, but He does not fail them. That is why Jesus gives the disciples more than a mandate. He also leaves them the enduring, continual gift and meal of His living Body and Blood.
We have considered Baptism the past several weeks in our Lenten services, and Baptism is who we are as Christians. In Baptism, we are given God’s name (Mt. 28:19), we are begotten as His children (Jn. 3:3-8), and we are clothed in Christ (Gal 3:27). Baptism defines who we are.
And the Lord’s Supper is what we do because it is what Jesus has given us to do. We are to eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus (1 Cor. 11:23-25) and whenever we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, according to Scripture, we proclaim His death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26). In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus promises that we receive the forgiveness of sins. Is there anything more Christian than receiving Christ’s forgiveness?
When Jesus calls us to eat and drink in remembrance of Him, He doesn’t mean, “Do this while you think fondly about Me and what I did for you a long time ago.” Instead, this remembrance is about faith. Faith recalls and clings to what Jesus did and still does with this bread and cup. According to what Jesus says, this bread is His Body which was broken upon the cross for you, and this cup is His Blood which was shed for you. In faith, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper believing that all of this pertains to us and to our salvation.
Jesus’ death happened nearly 2,000 years ago on a cross outside Jerusalem, but the fruits of that redeeming death are given both before and after. Jesus gives His disciples His Body and Blood even before He makes the sacrifice. And He continues to give the same gifts in every congregation where two or three are gathered. His gift is not bound by time or place.
Both of these things go together – the mandate and the meal, the washing of feet and the Lord’s Supper. They are faith and love in action. With the sacrifice of His body and blood, Jesus loved them. And when He washed their feet, Christ showed them how to love each other as they place their trust in Him.
So, dear saints, follow Christ’s example and do as He has done to and for you (Jn. 13:15). Your Savior became your servant.
And know that when you come to this altar, to this table, you are, in fact, serving the world. The world benefits from you coming here to receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus. This Sacrament drives back the forces of darkness because in this meal, Jesus’ death in the place of sinners is proclaimed (1 Cor. 11:26). Here, Jesus comes to you as a Man, alive and out of the grave. He puts His Body and Blood into you to crucify you to the world and the world to you (Gal. 6:14). As you receive this meal and do this in remembrance of Him, you celebrate His victory over sin, death, and the devil. And those around you will benefit from this. As you are fed and strengthened in your faith, you will go back into the world knowing that God has forgiven you for the sake of Christ.
And, then, when you fail to be the servant Jesus calls you to be, when you fail to love as you have been loved, run back to Jesus. He is always ready to give you another washing and another serving.
Dear saint, you are declared by Jesus to be clean. Your Lord and Savior is here to be your Servant and clean you again. Come and receive what He gives you for your cleaning, for your comfort, for your strengthening. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Pastorsamwise 