John 13:1–15, 34-35

¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴ rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”⁸ Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not 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, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.^[1]

On Sunday, we heard the account of Jesus’ Passion from Mt. 26-27. With all the horrible things that happen to Jesus – the betrayal, the denial, the arrest, trial, beating, mocking, and crucifixion – it is hard to read and listen to. Again, don’t forget that Jesus endured all of that for you because He wanted to. For that joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb. 12:2). But even knowing that Jesus did it all for the joy of purchasing you, it can seem like everything and everyone in creation conspired against Jesus and that He was a helpless victim. But that is not the case. Jesus was in complete control of everything that happened.

When you consider everything that happens after Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, you can see that He is the one running the show.

Palm Sunday and the following Monday and Tuesday, the Gospels record how Jesus would enter Jerusalem to preach and teach in the Temple. On Tuesday, Judas conspired with the chief priests and put the thirty pieces of silver in his pocket (Mt. 26:14-16). None of the Gospels record Jesus entering Jerusalem on Wednesday of Holy Week. The reason for this was Jesus knew Judas was seeking to betray Him (Jn. 6:70-71). Going into Jerusalem would have given Judas an opportunity to get Jesus arrested too soon. This is also why it appeared as though Jesus didn’t to have a plan on where He and the disciples would celebrate the Passover. But that isn’t the case. His plan was to keep the plan secret. Jesus carefully and deliberately orchestrated everything so that Judas can’t betray Jesus until Jesus is ready.

On Thursday, Jesus sent only Peter and John to find a certain man and follow him to a house, and the owner of that house would show them the upper room where they would prepare the Passover meal (Lk. 22:7-13). So, when Jesus and the twelve disciples get to the upper room, only Jesus, Peter, and John knew where they would be that night. Judas doesn’t betray Jesus until Jesus dismisses him to do it which happens in some of the verses we didn’t read tonight (Jn. 13:21-30). Again, Jesus is in complete control. Even though the events of the Passion seem to be chaotic, Jesus is exercising His authority. 

But look at how Jesus uses that authority. He uses it to serve the disciples by washing their 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.

Having someone was your feet was common in Jesus’ day. 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 enough to need another washing. But the task of foot washing was always reserved for the lowest servants. It was normal for a disciple to 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 in the flesh with all authority – humbles Himself to serve His disciples by doing the lowest task for them. This foot washing was an act of vulnerability and intimacy.

When Jesus washes their feet, Judas had not yet left to betray Jesus. Judas was still there. Our Lord washed Judas’ feet and served His betrayer in this way. Judas does not benefit from this, but Jesus still does it for him.

With this foot washing, Jesus gives us an example that teaches us a very important lesson: 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. Remember, 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 just 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.

But because you do and will fail in this mandate that Jesus gives, Maundy Thursday is more than Jesus giving a new commandment. It is the night that Jesus also 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 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.

The two Sacraments Jesus has given us are both precious and give salvation and forgiveness, but they are different. Baptism defines 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, the Baptized, 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. And most Christian thing you can do is receive 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 His 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 the mandate to love one another and the meal of the Lord’s Supper go together. They are faith and love in action. With the sacrifice of His Body and Blood, Jesus loved the disciples. 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, who has all authority, came to serve you.

And know that when you come to this altar, to this table, you come as royal children of Christ the King and are serving the world. The world benefits from you receiving what Jesus gives in Holy Communion. 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). Jesus 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. Of course, you benefit from this, but so does your neighbor. 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 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 cleanse 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.

---

^[1] Reworked from 2021.