Holy Week MT09– “God’s Truth vs. Satan’s Lies.”  John 13:1- 17

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.  The text for our sermon meditation is taken from the, the Chapter:

 

      “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.  The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

      Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

      "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

      "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

      Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 

      For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.  When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.  "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.””

 

So far the reading.

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

      What is the meaning of this meal we celebrate?  What is its significance for our lives?  What truth of God is revealed in this meal that overcomes the lie of Satan revealed in the actions of the disciples?  The truth of God is that we are glorified through humble service to the will of God.  The lie of Satan is that you receive glory because you deserve it.

 

      Such may have been the case when Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria went to Sarajevo in 1914.  Worrying about his appearance, he had himself sewn into his uniform.  There would not be any wrinkle of crease to mar his appearance or detract from his image when he rode in procession before the public.

 

      However, during his parade, an assassin fatally shot the Archduke.  When attendants tried to see to his wound, they found they could not unbutton his tunic.  The buttons were mere decorations, as he was sewn into his uniform.  While waiting for a pair of scissors to cut the uniform away from his body, the Archduke died of blood loss.  Was the Archduke that important?  Yes he was.  For, his death was the catalyst which began the First World War.

 

      There is nothing new under the sun as Ecclesiastes teaches.  Image problems have plagued sinful men for centuries before, and will plague sinful men for centuries after the Archduke.  We see this image problem even among the disciples of the Lord Jesus.  John records the image problem exemplified by Peter who eats with our Lord on the night in which Jesus was betrayed.

 

      Our Lord Jesus is sitting with the Twelve enjoying the Passover Meal.  They are at the point in the meal when the Head of the Meal usually washed the hands of all present.  The First Cup has been shared and the Second Cup and recounting of Deuteronomy 26, is about to begin.  The hands are washed to signify removing the impurities of heart and mind, in preparation for this recounting.

 

      The Lord Jesus, however, does something different.  While it appears he is preparing to wash his disciples’ hands, Jesus transforms this ritual into something new and different.  There is no more a symbolic cleansing of unclean hands.  No, there is total transformation of heart and mind demanded. 

 

      Self-image is quite important.  What you think of yourself will often determine where you go in life. A person who is self-confident might be a leader.  A person who is down on himself or herself might be hesitant to try anything new.  A person who is worried about his or her outward image will build a shell around himself or herself and look good even if they do not feel that way.  They might even be concerned about how others look.

 

      Perhaps Peter is one of the latter.  He is watching Jesus remove his outer garments and transform himself into the image of a servant.  This is fine with Peter and the other disciples until Jesus reveals he is not washing their hands, but that he fully intends to wash their feet.  Peter is shocked to see what Jesus intends to do.  He withdraws his feet and declares that his Lord and teacher will never do such a thing.  Washing feet was the work of the servant in the house.  Washing feet is a lowly job not fit for one so important, as is Jesus.

 

      What of you?  What do you think of yourself?  How highly to you think of yourself?  What service will you not give, because it is not something you want to do?  What will you gladly let others do because you refuse to give the time and energy to do it yourself?

 

      When we have a work day here at the congregation, sometimes it is sparsely attended.  There are many able bodied members who seldom assist in this effort to care for their Lord’s House.  Can we not strip ourselves of our attitudes for a few hours to honor our Lord by caring for his house? 

 

      Let the visitor sit in your pew seat, your name is not embroidered in the cushion.  The Word of God is just as effective in other parts of the sanctuary as it is where you would normally take your seat.  When you are asked to serve on a board or committee, it is with good reason.  Consider it the Lord who is asking you to serve him.  Like the colt the disciples untied and brought to Jesus, the Lord has need of you.

 

      Consider your own families for a moment.  What is the response you hear when you ask your children to clean up a mess in one room or the other?  Many times, you will hear them say, “I didn’t make the mess.” Or “Why can’t so and so clean it up. It’s their mess.”  And if they do attempt to clean it up, maybe they pick up some of the mess and vacuum around the rest.

 

      We are truly blessed, because Jesus did not vacuum around the mess.  No, Jesus actually stepped into the mess, and he did this eagerly.  He knew what he would have to do to clean us up.  Jesus received glory in being a servant.  He willingly took on the form of a servant and became subject to all creation.  He not only took the form of a servant, he stooped to the lowest level of servant-hood, and performed the most menial of tasks, and he did those tasks without an ounce of complaint.

 

      After Jesus washed these disciples’ feet, he continued with the Passover Meal.  The second cup is passed and the meal is prepared to be served.  The bread is broken and a portion is reserved for later on when Jesus would speak the words telling of his greatest service to the disciples and to the world.  The second cup is prepared and passed around the group.  The meal is served and eaten.

 

A third cup is prepared, the cup of blessing, as St Paul names it.  Jesus shows the twelve that he is about to fulfill the words of John the Baptizer who said to Israel, “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  For, before the meal is complete, Jesus speaks those precious words of institution which establish the New Covenant in His holy body and innocent blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

 

      Unlike Archduke Ferdinand, Jesus will have no problem having his clothing removed.  For, after this meal, Jesus will go to the dark Garden of Gethsemane for a period of prayer and supplication to His Father in heaven.  His prayers will be for his disciples and for the Church that they remain faithful servants unto death.  His prayers will be for himself, that if it is possible, His Father would remove the cup of suffering from his lips.  His prayer was for His Father, that in all cases His Father’s is done on earth as it is done in heaven.

 

      Shortly after these prayers, Jesus receives a twofold answer.  The Father shows Jesus that His will would be done.  The Father sends an angel to stand with Jesus and encourage him.  The Father stands aside as Judas the Betrayer comes with the Temple Guard to arrest Jesus and take him to the High Priest.  In few short hours, the disciples will see the Father’s will accomplished.  They will watch as the New Covenant is cut.

 

      Our Lord will be portrayed not as a King or and Archduke, but as an arch criminal worthy of death.  The servant of all will perform his last and greatest service to the world.  Jesus, under sentence of death, will march not in royal procession, but will trudge in vulgar throng to the place where the blood of the New Covenant would be poured out for many.  The blood of beasts will be overshadowed by the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  This blood will cover all sin once for all time and for all people.

 

      Such is the message of this meal you will celebrate this evening.  You see in this holy supper the full extent of Jesus love for sinners.  Through this means of grace, God feeds you with the world’s Passover Lamb.  You eat the bread of the new covenant and receive the Body of Christ given for you.  You drink the cup of blessing and receive the blood of Jesus Christ shed for you.  You receive the same body and the same blood given and shed for you upon the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

 

      You are offered this precious meal not because you deserve it, but because you need what this meal gives.  You need the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  You need the bread of heaven who gives his life for the world.  You need water of life whose blood revives the sin parched soul.  You need the forgiveness of sins that strips away the sewn on clothing of our sinful pride and arrogance and clothes us anew in the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

 

      As Jesus washes the disciples’ feet to give them fellowship in his sacrifice, so Jesus also washes us with his word to give us this same fellowship.  You have been washed, cleansed and redressed in Christ.  May our Lord guard and keep you as his own now and in the world to come.  Amen.