2022 04 14 Sermon

Sermon for April 14, 2022 Maundy Thursday House of Prayer Lutheran Church

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Rev. Karl-John Stone

When I was a kid, sometimes I’d tell my dad things like: “I want to get this; I want to do that; I want to go there”. He’d respond with a saying that contained a mixture of kindness, regret, acceptance, and admonition, saying “Son, there’s a lot of things I’d like to do that I can’t do”. It wasn’t exactly a “no”, but more of a reminder that as human beings we all have limits that we have to live within. It was an answer born of experience. He didn’t mean that he had none of the things he’s wanted to get or do or go—but that we have to make choices as we go through life; and very often, choosing one thing means letting go of something else.

Even so, that deeper meaning in my dad’s saying didn’t really sink in for me at that age. I took his answer for a “no”—and it was a kind of no. But maybe with more of the sense of “not now”—like, now is not the time. This thing you are asking for is not possible right now, and it may never be, but maybe someday it might be. This thing you are asking for, “you do not know why you can’t in the present moment—only later will you understand.”

This is true of many things in life: “you don’t know why now—but later you will understand.” Later, with more life experience. Later, with the choices and commitments you make. Later, as you grow in faith and trust in the way of God. Later, you will understand.

This is what Jesus told the disciples on that first Maundy Thursday nearly 2,000 years ago, as they sat down to supper, and Jesus knew that now the time was fast approaching for him to depart from his disciples, and fulfill his mission by going to the cross. Now was the right time to tell the things he really wanted us to know. Now was his last chance.

He so often taught using parables—stories that illustrate something about the nature of God’s kingdom. This time, on Maundy Thursday during his Last Supper, Jesus enacted a parable by washing his disciples’ feet. Here he was, their Lord and Teacher, getting up from the table, taking off his outer robe, tying a towel around himself, pouring water into a basin, and washing the disciples’ feet, then drying them with a towel.

The disciples were confused about all of this, because this was the kind of lowly job that was reserved for servants and slaves. Peter doesn’t like it. He questions it, saying “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” That’s when Jesus tells him, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” And it really was not until later, after Jesus’ resurrection, that Peter finally did understand; even though he had just had the benefit of following Jesus’ footsteps for the previous three years and learning everything directly from Jesus. But until later, Peter doesn’t understand—and still, Jesus washes his feet anyway. Because our understanding is not a prerequisite for God to give us his grace.

There’s another disciple sitting at the table and sharing the meal with Jesus, too. It’s Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. He doesn’t understand, either. He doesn’t understand the immense privilege he’d had for the past three years to walk in Jesus’ footsteps and learn directly from him. Judas doesn’t understand the impact he’s made with his fellow disciples on the lives of so many people that they’d ministered to. He doesn’t understand that he just may be the best example of a wasted opportunity in human history. As they share the

Last Supper, Jesus knows what Judas is about to do, that he will betray him—and still, Jesus washes his feet anyway. Because our own goodness or lack thereof is also not a prerequisite for God to give us his grace.

Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is a parable in action, to teach them his final and greatest commandment: “That you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus gave this command to all of his disciples, even to Peter who failed him, and even to Judas who betrayed him. Jesus gave the new commandment to all, because it is never too late for anyone to turn to Christ and find redemption. It’s never too late to realize that Jesus’ promises are even for you.

Peter makes promises to Jesus with all good intentions—he says, “I’ll follow you, Jesus, to the very end! I’ll lay down my life for you!” But despite the best intentions, Peter makes promises he fails to keep. Judas also makes promises—to the soldiers, the temple police, the chief priests, the Pharisees—that he would find a way to hand Jesus over to them; and these promises he actually does keep, but for evil intentions.

Only Jesus is the completely faithful promiser, and his promises lead to redemption and new life, because his promises have death behind them; they last forever. Jesus and his promises are available to us through faith, which animates and empowers us to share Christ’s love with others. The key to keeping this commandment “to love one another” is to open our hearts and minds in faith to Christ working within us, and then to put that faith into action.

If we had been there, at the Last Supper with Jesus and the disciples; if we had been there Jesus would have washed our feet, as well. But why did he choose foot-washing in the first place? Why not some other act of service? Maybe he had the words of the prophet Isaiah [52:7] echoing in his head: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

Like Peter or Judas—if we were at the Last Supper, we probably would not have known why Jesus did the things he was doing, either, but later we would understand. Later we would see that when Jesus gave himself for us in a spirit of love and humble service—all the way to the cross—he was also giving us good news: The way to find true life and purpose, in this life on earth and for eternal life, is by offering ourselves to others in a spirit of love and humble service.

Even if we didn’t know why Jesus was washing our feet, later we would understand how beautiful even our feet are when we join Jesus in bringing the good news of God’s grace and mercy to others. In the act of bringing good news—that’s when “later” arrives. In the act of loving one another, that’s when “later” arrives. In the act of serving in the spirit of Jesus—with grace, generosity, and humble service—that’s when “later” arrives, and you finally do come to understand. Amen.