Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl - Friday, June 10, 2022: John 13:1-20

Friday, June 10, 2022

Daily Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 8:22-36; John 13:1-20; (1 Maccabees 11:38-72)

John 13:1–20

[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. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (ESV)

I find it hard to believe that after a three-year vicarage and having been ordained now for over three years, I don't think I have ever preached on this text. Why? I don't know. I tend to focus on the Lord's Supper text, or Jesus' prayer in the garden and arrest, Judas' betrayal, plus the fact that as a circuit, we all use the same series for Lent, so it's "whatever text" the series has for Maundy Thursday. But the real answer is probably that I avoid it. Why? Because Jesus washes His disciples' feet, and not only is that gross, it's just not right to our mortal, sinful natures. Which is, of course, part of the point. Plus, there is some law in here that we as pastors don't want to hear because we are also sinners.

But we should preach on this text because there is all manner of misinterpretation of this text out there in Evangelical America, which takes Jesus' humility and turns it into a foot-washing works-righteousness show for one night a year, with a long-winded sermon that says absolutely nothing of substance, or if it does it's all law with no Gospel. Come on. The Gospel – Jesus – is right here! So let's look at this.

It has been only a little while since the disciples argued about who is the greatest among them (Matthew 20:20-28), and Jesus is about to lustrate what being the greatest looks like. In the background lies Judas’ betrayal. That's the first part of the lesson – betrayers may go through the motion, but beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. After supper – which includes the institution of the Lord's Supper, the medicine of eternal life, though John does not record this, we know from the other evangelists that this has occurred - Jesus strips down to His loin covering and wraps a towel about His waist. This is scandalous. This is how a slave attires himself for what comes next. Then Jesus commences washing His disciples' feet.

There can be no confusion about who is "working the verbs" – doing the action – in this text. It is Jesus. Peter doesn't get it, questions Jesus, and tells Him He will not wash his feet. Peter tries to take control. Jesus sternly rebukes him: "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Then Peter takes it to the other extreme – "Lord, then wash me all over!"

But the one who has been bathed – Baptized into Christ – doesn't need to be baptized again. The whole body has not become dirty, only their feet. We are washed and renewed, "born from above" in Christ in Baptism, and need only confession and Holy Absolution and the regular reception of the Lord's Supper to be clean, to remove the sins we have committed since last we gathered in the Divine Service.

Jesus tells them they do not understand this now, but they will when the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost. Now comes the lesson. If the teacher does this slave's task for the students, and the teacher is the greatest, then to be great, the student must take on the role of a servant. They must wash each other's feet. Not literally. Although sure, they may do so, that is a service. But what Jesus is driving home is that they must bear each other up, forgive each other, and love each other as Jesus has loved them. They must clothe themselves not with a towel but with Christ's righteousness, which Peter will eventually understand and teach himself: “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 ESV).

This is pure Gospel. God forgives us and strengthens and preserves us. These future pastors are to follow Christ’s example and forgive and sustain one another in Christ. Get along with one another. Study the Bible together. Forgive each other. Be united in doctrine and practice. Then, like all pastors, they are prepared, sins forgiven, to serve their congregations just as Jesus has taught them. They will baptize in the name of our Triune God, teach their people to hear and understand the words of Jesus, and deliver to them the same medicine of immortality in the body and blood of Christ. These pastors will live as servants by example in all the ways we have just talked about, so the people understand how to live as the body of Christ in the place that pastor has been called. Jesus said those who receive such a man receive Christ and all the benefits that reception of Christ offers them in this world and the life of the world to come.