Maundy Thursday 2009
Peter really does have a rough deal in the Bible – he was one of the closest followers of Jesus, and yet, so often, we hear of him getting things wrong. There was the transfiguration, later there would be the denial of even knowing Jesus – and tonight is another of those occasions. Gathered together for what we know to be the Last Supper, Jesus, we are told, showed the full extent of his love.
He did this by washing the disciples’ feet. Peter is horrified by this – he waited until it was his turn and then protested ‘you will never wash my feet !’ He would never let the master be his servant.
Then in language that has long reminded the church of baptism, Jesus says, “But if I don’t wash you, then you won’t belong to me.” This changes everything for Peter. If foot washing is a sign of being part of Jesus, then he wants to be drenched – soaked from head to foot.
Peter doesn’t perhaps understand properly, but he’s getting there – he knew something special was happening as Jesus washed his feet. Of course, we know, although the disciples didn’t, that this was the night before Jesus was to die.
And Jesus is using his last evening to get across his most important lessons one more time. In case they missed the significance of his washing their feet, Jesus points out that he has done this to give them an example to follow, saying, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus was offering a supreme example of service - It might not have been easy to get across, the disciples may still have been wondering what it was about completely… But everything would change in a few hours. The next night they would be gathered in mourning at the death of Jesus. Much later, sometime after the shock of Good Friday and the joy of Easter, this foot washing lesson sank in. We know the point got through because with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples really came to understand their call to ministry and were empowered to act on it.
Later, when remembering that night before he died, Peter and the others would have seen this foot washing in a different way... Having seen how complete was their teacher’s love and commitment, those words of Jesus, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” must have sounded so different. Then even Peter knew that the life of service to which Jesus called him would involve much more than washing the feet of those he might have considered beneath him. After washing their feet, Jesus came to the real heart of his message, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
Jesus’ example was much more life changing than the humble act of washing feet. Jesus had been obedient unto death, even death on a cross. He had loved as God loves, and in the process, so upset the status quo that various groups who couldn’t agree about anything agreed that Jesus must die. Jesus was restoring outcasts to community. Jesus was breaking down the dividing walls between those who were “in” and those who were “out.”
Those in control, Jews and Romans alike, knew they had to stop this new movement before it got out of hand. In this, those who opposed Jesus were no different from those in power in all times and places, working to keep their influence and authority. Yet Jesus would not give up on his revolutionary love, even when the price of that love was torture and death.
The disciples did come to understand Jesus’ actions fully. Seeing the foot washing anew in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they came to understand that the only real power and authority belongs to God. Those people who spend their lives trying to build up that sense of control for themselves chase an illusion. And here, all the paradoxes Jesus had been teaching could be heard again: the last shall be first; those who love their life lose it; the master comes among us as a servant. These paradoxes spoke of the deeper truth and meaning of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Jesus did not call his followers to lead in the same way that others led, by lording over them. He called those who would come after him to lead through their service to others. Jesus called those who would follow him to love as he had loved, with more concern for the other person than for ones’ self.
Simon Peter would come to live following Jesus’ example of loving others. He didn’t always get it right, just as we won’t, but Peter was part of that first band of disciples who turned the world upside down with a revolutionary way of loving. The disciples followed Jesus in working from the bottom up to help the world see outcasts and victims not as those cursed by God, but those in need of God’s love and healing and redemption. They came to serve others, even the gentiles, who at first seemed well outside the bounds of their mission.
Perhaps it’s surprising that the early church never seemed to take up foot washing as a sacrament alongside baptism and communion. While the act of washing feet was preserved, it was never in quite the same way. To this day, some groups practice foot washing, others do not. But all Christians must hold on to the essential truth that in serving others in need, we are living to Jesus’ command to love one another as he loves us.
Later, we are told by the historian, Eusebius, that Peter went to his death boldly, not giving up on the love we are to have for others that Jesus taught that night before he died in the humble act of washing feet. In response to that self-giving love of Jesus, Peter gave up his own life willingly. Peter served others by giving an example of faithfulness even to death.
It’s perhaps not surprising that on the night before his death Jesus spent his time actually teaching his disciples how to live – seeking to serve with an undying, self sacrificing love, which knows no limits. The life of Jesus on earth was about teaching people to live lives filled with peace and hope, confidence and courage, and always ready to display love and compassion.
As we reflect on the amazing love of Jesus that took him to the cross, may we respond by offering our lives for his service and for his glory. AMEN
He did this by washing the disciples’ feet. Peter is horrified by this – he waited until it was his turn and then protested ‘you will never wash my feet !’ He would never let the master be his servant.
Then in language that has long reminded the church of baptism, Jesus says, “But if I don’t wash you, then you won’t belong to me.” This changes everything for Peter. If foot washing is a sign of being part of Jesus, then he wants to be drenched – soaked from head to foot.
Peter doesn’t perhaps understand properly, but he’s getting there – he knew something special was happening as Jesus washed his feet. Of course, we know, although the disciples didn’t, that this was the night before Jesus was to die.
And Jesus is using his last evening to get across his most important lessons one more time. In case they missed the significance of his washing their feet, Jesus points out that he has done this to give them an example to follow, saying, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus was offering a supreme example of service - It might not have been easy to get across, the disciples may still have been wondering what it was about completely… But everything would change in a few hours. The next night they would be gathered in mourning at the death of Jesus. Much later, sometime after the shock of Good Friday and the joy of Easter, this foot washing lesson sank in. We know the point got through because with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples really came to understand their call to ministry and were empowered to act on it.
Later, when remembering that night before he died, Peter and the others would have seen this foot washing in a different way... Having seen how complete was their teacher’s love and commitment, those words of Jesus, “I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you” must have sounded so different. Then even Peter knew that the life of service to which Jesus called him would involve much more than washing the feet of those he might have considered beneath him. After washing their feet, Jesus came to the real heart of his message, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
Jesus’ example was much more life changing than the humble act of washing feet. Jesus had been obedient unto death, even death on a cross. He had loved as God loves, and in the process, so upset the status quo that various groups who couldn’t agree about anything agreed that Jesus must die. Jesus was restoring outcasts to community. Jesus was breaking down the dividing walls between those who were “in” and those who were “out.”
Those in control, Jews and Romans alike, knew they had to stop this new movement before it got out of hand. In this, those who opposed Jesus were no different from those in power in all times and places, working to keep their influence and authority. Yet Jesus would not give up on his revolutionary love, even when the price of that love was torture and death.
The disciples did come to understand Jesus’ actions fully. Seeing the foot washing anew in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they came to understand that the only real power and authority belongs to God. Those people who spend their lives trying to build up that sense of control for themselves chase an illusion. And here, all the paradoxes Jesus had been teaching could be heard again: the last shall be first; those who love their life lose it; the master comes among us as a servant. These paradoxes spoke of the deeper truth and meaning of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Jesus did not call his followers to lead in the same way that others led, by lording over them. He called those who would come after him to lead through their service to others. Jesus called those who would follow him to love as he had loved, with more concern for the other person than for ones’ self.
Simon Peter would come to live following Jesus’ example of loving others. He didn’t always get it right, just as we won’t, but Peter was part of that first band of disciples who turned the world upside down with a revolutionary way of loving. The disciples followed Jesus in working from the bottom up to help the world see outcasts and victims not as those cursed by God, but those in need of God’s love and healing and redemption. They came to serve others, even the gentiles, who at first seemed well outside the bounds of their mission.
Perhaps it’s surprising that the early church never seemed to take up foot washing as a sacrament alongside baptism and communion. While the act of washing feet was preserved, it was never in quite the same way. To this day, some groups practice foot washing, others do not. But all Christians must hold on to the essential truth that in serving others in need, we are living to Jesus’ command to love one another as he loves us.
Later, we are told by the historian, Eusebius, that Peter went to his death boldly, not giving up on the love we are to have for others that Jesus taught that night before he died in the humble act of washing feet. In response to that self-giving love of Jesus, Peter gave up his own life willingly. Peter served others by giving an example of faithfulness even to death.
It’s perhaps not surprising that on the night before his death Jesus spent his time actually teaching his disciples how to live – seeking to serve with an undying, self sacrificing love, which knows no limits. The life of Jesus on earth was about teaching people to live lives filled with peace and hope, confidence and courage, and always ready to display love and compassion.
As we reflect on the amazing love of Jesus that took him to the cross, may we respond by offering our lives for his service and for his glory. AMEN
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