The clock was ticking and he knew it. Every passing minute brought him that much closer to the climactic moment at the end of his story. You could feel it in the air…the tension was thick and emotions were volatile.
· Within a four day stretch Jesus had experienced the euphoria of a triumphant victory march into Jerusalem, an explosion of whip cracking rage directed at money changers in the Temple, a seething denunciation of the hypocrite Pharisees, and now, this night, an outpouring of tender affection directed at his closest friends.
I don’t know who you think Jesus was but he certainly was no dispassionate Zen Master. He was all heart, and guts, and courage…and he was a man on a “get out my way” mission.
The clock was ticking…and he had a job to do…to prepare his naïve young followers to save the world.
· He had but a few hours left to get them ready to receive the baton…to take the lead in the invasion of the Kingdom of God into the world.
This was why, the day before, he lashed out at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. As we saw last week…the 7 Woes he leveled at the Religious Leaders were really designed to tell his young leaders what not to be…
· don’t be like them - Pharisees and teachers of the law
o don’t be hypocrites - don’t be blind guides
o be clean inside and don’t let your inner rot ruin the movement of the kingdom
o and for heaven’s sake - don’t shut the door in the face of people who want to know God
· don’t-- be – like -- them
In these last hours on the planet Jesus was deliberately provocative …the clock was ticking, he was leaving, and these spiritual novices weren’t quite ready for it…
And that’s why, the night in the upper room, Jesus emotions swung to the other end of the spectrum…
Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1
The full extent of his love…what an unusual phrase…it means “the extreme limits”…he pulled out all the stops…he held nothing back…
As shocked as they were about his fury the day before…they were now as stunned by his passion. Let’s look deeper at this night of love
John 13:1
There was a lot going on in that room that night:
· The annual Passover celebration was why they gathered
· But Jesus repurposed some of the imagery – took bread and wine and had them ingest them to create a moment that would be repeated for millennia.
· While this was going on a juvenile debate broke out about who was greater than whom. Like middle schoolers in the lunch room
· Which prompted Peter to go Peter on everybody and pound his chest with fake courage.
· And on top of all this nonsense was this side bar testy interchange between Jesus and Judas with Judas slinking off to launch the betrayal.
So, yeah…tensions were high…not unlike a meal in your household maybe! …and in the middle of all the drama Jesus does an unthinkable thing…
Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, 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, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his 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 I tell you the truth, 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. John 13:1-17
What on earth was going on here? We get a clue from Vs. 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…
· Jesus was thinking – the clock is ticking, the hour has come …I’m about to return from my mission…and I’ve got to begin the transference of power to these bozos.
· I’ve got to show them how to save the world. I’ve got to leave them a memory that they’ll never forget. An object lesson that will stand the test of time.
· They’ve got to learn that: The world will be saved by an army of servants who know how to love.
The world won’t be saved by an army of intellects who know how to plan.
The world won’t be saved by an army of activists who get things done.
The world won’t be saved by an army of moralists who know right from wrong.
The world will be saved by an army of servants who know how to love.
His object lesson was, to say the least, unusual and totally out of left field.
· Foot washing was not unusual – there were lots of dirty feet up in there…and exposed by the way they dined. But…it was always done by servants or women or children.
· It was way out of the box for the honored guest to do the deed. To see him undressed, bowing down, doing a menial, somewhat gross thing, was unnerving.
Peter, of course does not in any way get it…
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."
Peter is indignant – not having it - but Jesus pulls out the org chart and says – if you don’t let me do this – you’re fired!
To which Peter tries to cover up his insubordination with… 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
It’s at this moment Jesus realizes that Peter is missing the point…and frankly so do we…
· Peter misinterpreted this as something about sin and spiritual cleansing, which was a big part of the religion he grew up with…”Oh, I get it…”this is about my soul…! So…OK then…wash all of me!
Jesus responds…no… 10 "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his 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.
Jesus, in essence, says…no…you’re good…you don’t need more spiritual cleansing...we've been working on your heart...you're good... (well, except for the one bonehead)
Then he asks them a question to get them thinking about the real point of the exercise… 12 "Do you understand what I have done for you?"
…I’m guessing they’re all shrugging their shoulders about now….if this isn't some spiritual object lesson then...no we don't get it …So he explains: 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.(this isn't about you and me...this is about you and you...and you and other people) 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (You're not more important than me...right? So if I can do this...then certainly you should) 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:1-17
This was not a spiritual exercise but a real, practical illustration of leadership posture...how I want you all to lead.
· This is the great and strange posture of the kingdom of God.
· This is the way I want you to carry yourselves in this world.
· This is how the world will be won.
The world will be saved by an army of servants who know how to love.
…did they get it? Probably not…
7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.
So let’s use our imaginations and fast forward a year...
· Jesus is of course long gone, in body, present in Holy Spirit, the church is exploding, these twelve are now, beyond belief , powerful leaders of an honest to goodness world saving movement.
Imagine a moment when… let's say... Philip....has gathered the church together in a small town north of Jerusalem…young couple full of themselves want more power...angling for position…looking to be noticed…
- and he's about to come down on them...and then remembers ...
Imagine a moment several years later … Peter is in the middle of contentious debate of Acts 15...and finds himself face to face with a fool demanding his way...a real controller dominating the debate…
- and he's about to come down on him ...and then remembers ...
And Imagine a moment in the years to come when Thomas is being threatened by an angry local leader who is trying to kill him...evrything inside of him Is screaming fight back! …and he remembers …
The world will be saved by an army of servants who know how to love
They didn't get it that awkward night of love...but they got it later...
Do you?
Do you get this?
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5
Do you get this?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:2-5
This is nuts, you know…right?
· this posture is NOT culturally in vogue
· foot washing is not an American thing to do.
· You don’t lead from weakness you lead from strength
· Life is about convenience not inconvenience.
· It’s about taking pride in yourself not lowering yourself.
This is hard – right?
We shouldn't say things about our beliefs that we won't back up with our love. Bob Goff
but…
· How do you wash the feet of your spouse?
· How do you wash the feet of your children?
· How do you wash the feet of your fellow employees?
· How do you wash the feet of your classmates?
· How do you wash the feet of your students?
· How do you wash the feet of your neighbors?
· How do you wash the feet of your friends and acquaintances?
· How do you wash the feet of those whose life is an affront to your sensibilities?
· How do you wash the feet of the fools in your life?
How will we engage the people around us at their dirtiest place?
When we learn how to answer that question…and get down on our knees…and wash their feet…maybe then they’ll start to pay attention…and listen…and hear…and be saved.
The world will be saved by an army of servants who know how to love.