( John 13,1-15, 34-35 ) - [ Deutsch ]
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Dear congregation,
There is a longing deep within us. We can feel it, and we sing about it.
And I believe there is a specific longing in each of us: to be loved and to love, to belong, and to be allowed to be who we are.
Sometimes, this longing is so deep inside us that it's difficult to access it...while we have to go about our everyday life. And then we are often influenced to believe that we should long for something different. To be pretty and slim and successful and young. Who has never experienced the longing to be or have been the one to represent something, to make it big, to be acknowledged or recognized by others.
One thing is clear, I think. No one wants to have to bow to others. To humiliate oneself. Yet this is what happens in the story of Jesus today, on Maundy Thursday, and it seems a little strange.
John 13,1-15, 34-35:
1 It was now the day before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end.
2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus.
3Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God.
4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist.
5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?”
7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.”
8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!”
“If I do not wash your feet,” Jesus answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.”
9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”
10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one.”
(11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”)
12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked.
13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am.
14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet.
15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
Dear congregation, Jesus, the Son of God, puts on his apron and washes the feet of his disciples. And that's definitely not fun. Back then, people walked barefoot, perhaps even in open sandals - over dusty streets, through the dirt and excrement found on village streets and caravan routes.
You can imagine what the feet look like. And how they smell.
Jesus bends down and washes his friends' feet.
Jesus lends a hand himself – even in the dirtiest places. Why?
Because he loves his friends.
This is extremely embarrassing for Peter. Not because he had the dirtiest feet. No, his perception of Jesus is now muddled up.
Jesus was just about to make it big. After he entered Jerusalem, everyone shouted Hosanna to the Son of David. Peter expected that Jesus would assume control, do things differently, change social conditions. People would change for the better, love and justice would prevail. Jesus would satisfy the longing for peace because he was the Messiah, the Son of God.
And now – the Son of God stoops and does the work of a servant. The Son of God should stand and walk upright, not bow down like a servant.
We expect great things from God, surely not foot care. Big miracles, not small acts of love.
Jesus never bent his knees - not to the powerful and not to the rich. But here in front of his friends he falls to his knees to do this so lowly service.
That makes him implausible.
The big God – very small.
That's simply not possible - it contradicts all the ideas we have about God.
That's why Peter is embarrassed and indignant. He doesn’t want Jesus to wash his feet.
Jesus tries to explain to him: “You don’t understand what I’m doing now. But later you will understand it. Only when I wash your feet will you have a share in me and in what I offer.” And that’s where Peter goes overboard. “Ok, if washing is so important, then do it right. Then please also hands and head, full bath please – not just foot bath.
But Jesus refuses: anyone who has bathed is already clean and only needs to wash his feet.
You will notice: Jesus is actually concerned with something completely different than dirty feet. When he washes the feet of his disciples, he does this as an example. He wants to show them something important.
Washing someone’s feet was pretty pointless back then in Israel. Like any repetitive work, cleaning windows, cooking food, washing up, making beds. Because as soon as one left the house one’s feet got dirty again.
Foot washing is actually a parable: your feet get dirty, so they have to be washed; as soon as they are clean, they get dirty again; and so, they have to be washed again. Again and again, we become guilty, hurt others, cause damage, and need forgiveness - from our fellow human beings and from God.
And no sooner have we been forgiven than we become guilty again. Like dirt in the street, guilt is part of our human lives - we just can't get rid of it.
By washing his disciples’ feet Jesus sets an example: We can come to God again and again and be forgiven when we have become guilty.
And then this Jesus comes and bends down really low and washes the dirt of guilt away from me. All the trapped dirt disappears and the dirty sludge seeps away under the cross, never to be seen again. What a blessing.
The Son of God makes himself very small in order to wash away the dirt from his friends - to forgive their guilt.
Others are at the top successfully making their mark. But he makes himself very small so that his friends may be clean; because he loves them, because he loves me. He wants to still my yearning in his special way...
Norms are changing, those who were first will be last. If you want to be great, you should serve.
14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet.
15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
Jesus asks nothing of us that he has not already done for us in his life and through his death.
He invites us to his table and gives himself as nourishment to us.
He wants to strengthen us and then lead our steps back into the world. Step by step.
And we can always come back to the place where Jesus is waiting for us to serve us, so that we can serve one another.
Amen
