Getting Our Hands Dirty

Corey Sharpe

Shaped by the Potter's Hands • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

John 13:1–17

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Lord

Jesus washes his disciples’ feet

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Series Review

Peter = learning on the go; college education is good, but without the hands on education it’s next to useless. (ex. college roommate / student teaching practicum) A book will not give you an attitude; a book will not throw you off your lesson plan; question you; a book will not help you while you’re in the moment; you can’t ask a book to explain itself, to clarify something you’ve just said; a book won’t challenge you if you misunderstand it; (Jesus, best example of discipling others, also training model) ; Peter is undergoing this type of education - he is learning; this series is about Peter’ education;

Sermon Introduction

Corrie ten Boom was a Christian who lived during the Holocaust experience - helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. She was imprisoned for her actions. She was once asked if it was difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?”

Corrie ten Boom was once asked if it was difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?”

She deserved credit and admiration for her courage and for her suffering, but she was quick to deflect it back on to Jesus. Jesus, was God in the flesh. He willingly took on human flesh to live among us. Being God in the flesh he was all powerful, and could easily demonstrate the brightness of his glory, but most of the time he kept this veiled, with a few exceptions. (Healing, Exorcisms, on the Mountain, Resurrection, Ascension). Here in this story we see his humility at an all time low:

John 13:1–17 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, 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, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their 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. Very truly I tell you, 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.

John 13:1–17 NIV

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

This is a learning experience for the disciples. On the surface it looks like a shocking lesson on humility, but remember what I say about Jesus. If you read him once and think you understand him....(read him again) I’m not trying to say that the Bible is too hard to understand, but that Jesus’ words are rich with meaning, and if we don’t stop and reflect, examine and reexamine, then we miss out. When I preach, that’s what I’m trying to do. So what are the disciples learning here? What is Peter learning? What can we learn?

Before we even get to the part about Jesus’ baffling act of service, we read at the beginning about Christ’s enduring love.

Learning from His Love

John 13:1 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

I love you (with a variety of emotions). The love takes on various meanings, and that’s fine. But love can be misunderstood. I remember standing in a long line at the pharmacy, and the couple in front of me were “in love.” How do I know that? Because they kept saying it over and over again. Couldn’t take their eyes off each other. I remember thinking, “This is a long line.” I also remember thinking, “Boy are they in for a surprise.” This is why I don’t watch romantic movies. I’m busy, so I’m not going to devote 2 hours of my time to watch a romantic relationship develop at a rapid and unhealthy pace.

At weddings I almost always read from , which reminds us how hard love is. One phrase that always sticks out - sometimes I emphasize it at weddings, is when Paul writes, “Love endures all things.” I wonder how many of you use that word when you are celebrating your anniversary. It’s true - for better and for worse.

Peter learns, and we learn from Jesus that love endures alot. Jesus is washing the feet of people who have frustrated him, expressed inappropriate attitudes about God, and being the Son of God Jesus is making himself vulnerable to a group of men who will desert him when times get tough. He even washes the feet of the man who will turn in him in to the authorities who want to kill him. He loved them to the end. Love endureth all things. Jesus loved them to the end. He loves us to the end. We can all learn from that. We see this love in Jesus labor.

Learning from His Labor

John 13:4 NIV

so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

One of the fearful moments as a pastor is looking out in the congregation and seeing your boss - our district superintendent. Yes, pastors primary concern is delivering the Word, but you also hope you have put together an awesome sermon that Sunday. Every once in a while a retired African American pastor visits the traditional service, and I am deeply honored by that. I have a deep respect for our retired African American clergy. They’ve faced prejudice and hatred that I likely never will. That experience has made them strong leaders, and when they share their experiences, I listen carefully. I learn from their labor. It inspires me, it teaches me. It sets the standard for me.

Jesus faced extreme hatred and cruelty, and we should pay close attention to that. How he responded. How he turned adversity into teaching moments for Peter, his followers and for us.

When we’re looking for the messages that Jesus teaches us through is works, we have to be careful not to skim over the stories. “Read it again.” When we read about Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, there are often multiple meanings. I think the easy lesson to learn is a lesson in humility.

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Humility

I was at Annual Conference one year and I had the opportunity to her a sermon by a former pastor, who was now a professor at a prominent seminary. When he moved to the area he began attending a United Methodist Church and he wanted to become a member. The associate pastor left a message at his home phone and invited him to a new member class. The seminary professor was put off by this. He wanted to say to this young pastor, “I became a pastor while you were in elementary school, I train men and women to be pastors, and now you want me to come to your class? He ignored the phone call, and every week the young associate left a message. Out of the blue God spoke to this veteran pastor in a way that was very clear: “You are going to take this class.” He took the class, and he learned a powerful lesson in humility.

There was no task to menial for Jesus. He takes humility about as low as you can go. He washes feet. History tells us that this was reserved for slaves. (chores?) They gave this job to slaves because no one wanted to do it. Watching Bible movies can sometimes give us an idea of the culture in which Jesus lived. But by watching these movies you might make the assumption that Jesus had indoor plumbing. Where do you think they did with their waste? A lot of it got thrown out in the streets. Your feet were not just dusty, they were nasty. Peter knows this, is repulsed when he sees his Lord and Teacher washing his feet.

Philippians 2:6 NIV

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

There’s a book titled “A Call to Mercy,” and it’s about Mother Theresa who was a missionary and a nun who worked among the destitute in Calcutta, India. There’s one paragraph that typifies the kind of work she dedicated herself to: The author saw her pick up a man who had deteriorated to the point that his skin had stuck to the street. The stench from the maggots in his body was nauseating, but it did not stop her and her sisters from bringing him to a hospice, bathing him and comforting him for three hours until he died.

The stench from the maggots in his body was nauseating, according to an eyewitness. But it did not deter her and her sisters from bringing him to a hospice, bathing him and comforting him for three hours until he died.

No job too repulsive, too embarrassing, too dirty for us, Jesus says. The disciples are learning from Jesus’ labor. But there’s a spiritual lesson Jesus wanted to teach. “Read it again.”

Mother Teresa

Cleansing

John 13:10 NIV

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

Many scholars believe that this event took place during the Passover Meal, which I think is true. This is no coincidence. (Old Testament background: Moses, death angel killed the first born in Egypt, except for those who put lambs blood on their door post - the death angel passed over your home. You were spared for judgment.

John 13:

We read in John that Jesus’ disciples made preparations for Passover. Part of that was having the passover lamb slaughtered at the temple. (Jesus the Passover lamb who was slain for us; spares us from judgment) But Jews were also required to undergo ritual cleaning - baths, in order to be ready for Passover. They were made ritually clean so they could receive the benefits of celebrating the Passover. Jesus redefines this too.

Jesus changes the meaning of Passover. Peter, you need true cleansing. The washing ritual is important, and makes you ready for Passover, and makes it possible for you to receive the benefits of Passover. But the ritual doesn’t you true cleansing. It wont remove the real stain - sin. The foot washing pointed to Christ’s work on the cross. Foot washing shows us that Christ’s work offers you true cleansing. Through Christ’s cleansing, we receive the benefits of the cross.

The most important lesson: Peter also learns from Christ’s Lordship.

Learning from His Lordship

John 13:16 NIV

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Here’s the hard lesson for Peter and for us.

John 13:

One of the problems we have in relationships is unrealistic expectations. Workplace, Marriage, Friendship, Church. Life is fair. People should like me. People should agree with me. People should be like me. And if these expectations aren’t met - I can change him/her. We may not have all of these expectations at the same time of the same person, but we can point to at least one of these.

We set these high expectations, and are devastated when reality comes crashing in. Unrealistic expectations hurt relationships.

Peter is an excellent example of having unrealistic expectations.

Palm Sunday - Jesus rides into the crowds. People are waving branches, throwing their coats on the road in front of him. Praising him. Hosanna! Save us! It’s Passover, expectations are high. I imagine Peter is excited, and expects Jesus to save them. Deliver them from their enemies. Rule with power and authority, with the disciples at his side.

Reality comes crashing in when this future Messiah removes his outer garment and washes the filth off of their feet. Peter’s not just upset about Jesus performing the job of a slave, but Jesus is not meeting his expectations - he is not acting the part of a Messiah, a Lord.

Jesus redefines Lordship. His Lordship is not just about being a powerful ruler, it’s about serving, even his enemies. “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.”

We like the all powerful Lordship - creator, ruler, all powerful, miracle worker, savior, forgiveness of sins; Jesus doesn’t conform to all of t hat. What about the Lord who serves?

People are addicted to power. You don’t have to have power in order to love it. Just like you don’t have to have lots of money to have an unhealthy love of money. Jesus dismisses his right to power and serves, both by washing feet and by dying a criminal’s death.

Jesus says to Peter, If I, your teacher and Lord can gladly perform these “dirty jobs,” who are you to turn your nose up at these “dirty jobs.”

If I, your teacher and master can gladly perform these “dirty jobs,” who are you to turn your nose up at these “dirty jobs.”

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