He Washed Feet!

Maundy Thursday

Year C

17 April 2025

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-17. 31b-35

O God,

on the night he was betrayed

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples

and gave himself in a meal of bread and wine. 

May we who celebrate these signs of his love,

serve and give ourselves to others

in his name and to your glory;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

__________________________________

I saw a Facebook post, recently, and it fit the meaning of Maundy Thursday perfectly. It said “Sometimes I joke about what I’d do if I had one day left to live. Eat junk, go crazy, etc. Today it hit me. Jesus knew and he washed feet. He. Washed. Feet.”

And really, this goes to the heart of our ministry, here and in the world.

Tonight’s gospel tells us: “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.” (Jn 13:3-5)

And John’s gospel is clear: Jesus knows time is running short.

He knows Judas will betray him.

He knows that what’s to come will strive to physically and emotionally tear apart all that he has tried to model, teach, and build over the past three years.

So, he leaves the role of host.

He steps away from being the head of the table, in the Passover tradition, and he takes on the role of one who serves.

And this is huge for each one of us, here, tonight. It’s huge because we are also gathered at Jesus’ table, and tonight Jesus washes our feet, as well.

Jesus washes our feet to demonstrate to those whom he loves that we are all capable of not just being worthy to be served, but that are equally worthy of serving.

“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.” (Jn 13:12-17)

Konstantin Stanislavski, a twentieth century playwright once said: “There are no small parts, only small actors.”

We’ve all heard this. I’ve heard it so often I actually thought it was attributed to Shakespeare, but it applies to what Jesus does tonight. It applies to all that Jesus asks of us within our lives

Now looking at today’s gospel through this ideal, then it means that Jesus’ words, as he resumes his place at the table are correct.

“‘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.” (Jn 13:12b-15)

This also means that we all need to be ready to shift roles to be ready to pick up something that will invite, include, and will gently lead us all before God’s throne.

We are able to see this because without asking another to do this, without putting someone, anyone on the spot, Jesus does what needs to be done to include us all in what’s to come.

“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.’ (Jn 13:6-8)

But the key to it all is love.

God’s love for all of creation brings Jesus into being, through Mary.

Mary’s love for God and for her firstborn means that Jesus grew strong and capable for the tasks to come.

Jesus’ love, like God’s love, is for all of creation, but more specifically it’s for all of us who believe and who follow, and who belong to the body of Christ in the world.

The key is found in love.

Turning to Paul’s words to the Corinthians, he gives us the words of institution for the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, the Communion, given to us in love.

Paul expresses our inclusion in the love of God when he tells us: “23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, … Do this in remembrance of me.’ … 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor 11:23-26)

Paul gives us the means of inclusion for all of creation in the love of God when he reminds us: “26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor 11:26)

So, today, how do we live into God’s love in the world? How do we bring this essence of the divine into a world that has all of the appearances of trying to pull itself apart?

Well, first of all we participate as citizens of the world, but we do so carrying God’s love, Jesus’ example of love and inclusion into the world.

Through God’s love, through Jesus’ injunction to love we provide the example of love that is the key to absolutely everything and we do this especially when we are unable to see the outcome, as we see from the perspective of the disciples and the apostles in the upper room, tonight.

“13:1Now 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.” (Jn 13:1)

Jesus knows what’s to come, and so he washes our feet.

He does this, not because we need a bath, but instead he sets us the example that we serve one another and we serve those we need.

“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.” (Jn 13:14-17)

In the world of Jesus’ day, the violence was threatening to spill over in all directions, and in the face of this impending flood of hatred Jesus gives us an anchor and ministry.

Today we are able to look around and see the same levels of fear, of rumour mongering, and of anxiety, but our anchor, our ministry remains all the same.

We’re told: “‘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.’” (Jn 31:7b-8) 

And then “31b 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.” (Jn 13:31b-33)

Jesus knows this isn’t the end of the story. This isn’t the end of God’s aspiration to be in a direct relationship with us who follow.

Rather, we find ourselves baffled and we wonder what’s coming.

In one way, we’re canoeing down the river and we hear the faster water ahead, but we don’t know if it’s a rapids or is it a waterfall.

So, we paddle.

And as we do, we look around us. We look out for those who maybe aren’t as strong and confident as we are in the boat, and we help without being asked because this is what Jesus teaches us, and what he has continually taught from the beginning.

Jesus reminds us: “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.’” (Jn 13:34-35)

The world outside has the ability to be a pretty scary place, but what it needs and what we bring is the love of God, the teachings of Jesus, and the urging of the Holy Spirit.

We do this by getting up from the table, taking off our outer robe, wrapping the towel around us, and washing the feet of those who are here, who are there, and who need to know of the love of God for all of creation.

We do this because we love.

We do this because we are loved.

We do this because Jesus first loved us, so we, in turn love one another.

Amen.