Loving God, may the love that comes to us through Jesus dwell in our hearts this day by the power of your Spirit, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

           Today we hear some reflections from an unnamed disciple – one of those who was present with Jesus in the upper room.  These reflections were written to help remember some of the events that had happened that year in Jerusalem:

         “Not so long ago, we were having supper with Jesus in Jerusalem, when a controversy arose over washing feet.  All of us were well aware that a person of lower status should have washed our feet as we entered.  However, none of us wanted to lower ourselves in order to do this – with the result that nobody ended up washing our feet.  It also seemed that nobody wanted to point this out, and so the meal proceeded without any washing of feet.

         Jesus – I should point out – also said nothing about this breach of hospitality.  However, while we were still having supper, Jesus got up, and took a basin and towel, and began, one by one, to wash our feet.  Our hearts sank within us, as this just seemed wrong on so many levels.  I, for one, would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet.  He was, after all, my Lord and Teacher.  It would have been an honour for me to do this for him.  But for Jesus to wash my feet? – I couldn’t bear to see him lowering himself to the level of a servant.  It was downright embarrassing, and I don’t think any of us knew what to say or to do.

         Peter, however, always the bold one, was the first to blurt something out.  In fact, he didn’t want to let Jesus wash his feet.  He knew, just like the rest of us, that it should have been the other way around.  However, when Peter objects, Jesus won’t hear of it.  It is as if Jesus has to do this for any of us to be considered his disciples.  And so, even though Peter can’t see why this would be necessary, he consents, and even asks Jesus to wash his hands and his head as well!  Jesus, however, is going to stick to the feet.

         All of us, then, ended up having our feet washed by Jesus – thoroughly embarrassed – both for him and for us.  It is after this, however, that Jesus tells us that he has just set an example for us.  He seemed to be saying that if he can lower himself to wash our feet, then we should be able to do the same for one another.  He also implied that we would be blessed by doing this.

         It seems that, at least in Jesus’ estimation, status is not as important as service.  In fact, he was teaching us to act differently from the ways in which the world would expect us to act.  He was redefining what it means to be great and lifting up the value of servanthood.  He was turning the honour system on its head and asking us to humble ourselves for one another.  He was giving us a new commandment – to love one another as he had loved us.  “By this,” said Jesus, “everyone will know that you are my disciples” (Jn. 13:35).  He really was trying to teach us a different way.”

         For those of us who reflect on this today, there are two perspectives to consider.  One perspective looks at who we would be willing to serve – or not serve.  I can imagine some of the disciples, who often had little disagreements with one another, not wanting to lower themselves to wash the feet of certain other disciples.  For us, too, perhaps there are people who come to mind who would be very difficult to serve.

         The other perspective, however, imagines Jesus coming and wanting to wash our feet or to serve us in some other way.  We could also imagine any person whom we might imagine to be “higher” or more important than ourselves, coming and wanting to serve us. Would we allow it to happen?  Would we object like Peter?  Would we need to humble ourselves in order to receive such service?

         As followers of Jesus, we are always challenged to be able to see Christ in others, just as Christ is in us.  This idea comes to us in different ways throughout the gospels, and is perhaps most memorable in the parable of the sheep and the goats.  In the parable, we hear the king say, “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40).  In other words, when we are serving others, we serve Jesus.  And, when we maim or kill or inflict suffering on others, it is Jesus who suffers.

         May we continue to be reminded of the love that Jesus has for us and for all people, even as we look to the Holy Spirit to fill us with that same love, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Lent 2 (NL 4)                                    John 13:1-17

March 13, 2022

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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