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Maundy
Thursday Sermon
by Rev. Jonathan Gale
21 April
2011 – Holy Trinity Devonport
Readings:
John 13: 1 – 17, 31b – 35
Jesus
Washes the Disciples’ Feet
13Now
before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to
depart
from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the
world, he loved them to the end.
2The
devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to
betray him. And during supper
3Jesus,
knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had
come from God and was going to God,
4got
up from the table,*
took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
5Then
he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to
wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
6He
came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’
7Jesus
answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will
understand.’
8Peter
said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash
you, you have no share with me.’
9Simon
Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’
10Jesus
said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,*
but is entirely clean. And you*
are clean, though not all of you.’
11For
he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are
clean.’
12 After
he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the
table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?
13You
call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.
14So
if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash
one another’s feet.
15For
I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
16Very
truly, I tell you, servants*
are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one
who sent them.
17If
you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been
glorified in him.
32If
God has been glorified in him,*
God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
33Little
children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I
said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”
34I
give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved
you, you also should love one another.
35By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.’
I look up and there is this
man, annoying smile, aimed at me.
What the heck is he so happy
about all the time?!
I sit up. The so-and-so has
a towel in his hand and behind him is his Mate with a bowl of water.
Dread fills me. What in
heaven’s name do they have in mind – here in a church service? O Lord! This
is that foot-washing thing! I knew I shouldn’t get mixed up with these
Christians. I feel like throwing up. He kneels before me. This is getting
weird. I don’t need my feet washed!!
6He
came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’
7Jesus
answered, ‘You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
8Peter
said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’
He looks up
at me and says, “Is it okay if I wash your feet?”
“Umm … yeah.
Ahem! I’ve actually …”
“Thank you.
I’ll just slip your shoes and socks off then. “
“Aaaaa …” If
I puke now he’ll be the one having a wash. How unbelievably
embarrassing!
5Then
he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to
wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
The water is warm and his hands are strong and gentle. Well I guess they
would be. I’ve never had a man wash my feet before. My mother when I was a
kid, yes, but not a man. Why are they doing this?
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’
Actually I could get used to this! Huh! Whose grinning now? I’m not the only
one having the foot treatment. There are about six other washing stations.
The woman across the way smiles at me. Crumbs! I’m smiling back!
9Simon
Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’
I thought these Christians believed in being washed in the blood of Jesus,
not warm water.
10Jesus
said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,*
but is entirely clean.
“Why this
foot-washing, Mate? I mean, what’s it for?” He picks up my foot and reaches
for his towel. My foot feels all tingly and clean.
12 After
he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the
table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?
“It’s kind
of like this: we can be washed of our sin by the blood of Christ. That sorts
the problem forever. But we pick up the dust of the hassles of life every
day. I’m washing your feet because … well, it’s like I’m saying to you I’m
there for you. In whatever way I can be.”
Okay.
Awkward! But not really. His hands are towelling my foot and the crown of
his head is prematurely balding. Now he’s slipping my socks back on. I
almost reach down to help but he’s handling it. Now he’s tying up my shoe
laces.
He looks up
and I put my hand out. “I’m James,” I find my self saying.
“Glad to
meet you James. I’m Barry.”
“Hey, thanks
Barry.”
“No worries,
Mate.” That grin again. But this time I’m thinking of Jesus and what he’s
done for us, and I wonder if Jesus thinks of me.
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