John 13:1-17, 31b-35
March 24, 2016
Some of them must have been calloused and rough; the skin leathery and weathered from the sea and sand.
They were different shapes and sizes; some long and narrow, others short and wide.
Some of them were achy from long days standing, and weary from long days walking. Surely they wore the dust from the roads they traveled.
Yet regardless of their condition, he still knelt before them.
No matter how grimy or coated in dust, he took their feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
With a cloth wrapped around his waist, Jesus stooped low, he took their feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
The disciples recoiled at the Teacher becoming the servant. They flinched at the indignity of their Rabbi kneeling before them. But without hesitation or pause, without grimace or complaint, he took their feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
Jesus became their servant because he loved them. Jesus loved them even though soon those feet he washed would run to betray him. Soon those feet he dipped in the water would hurry to deny him. Soon those feet he wiped with that towel would flee from him even as his body exhaled its final breath.
He knew. Jesus knew the hearts of those who professed their undying love and loyalty. Jesus knew how they would fail him. Jesus knew their hearts. He knew the frailty of their wills. He knew their hearts and their minds, but that changed nothing. Jesus took their feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
Jesus loved them. He wanted them to love in return; to love others as he loved them. He embodied humility so they too would be humble. Jesus loved them, and he wanted them to understand that Loving as he loved is difficult.
Loving as he loved demands courage. Loving as he loved means doing the unexpected. It means giving more than is given. It requires doing more than is required.
Jesus loved them, these fickle and foolish disciples. He loved them even though they feared more than they trusted, even though they could not or would not understand what he would endure. Jesus loved them in spite of themselves. Jesus loved them, and he took their feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
Jesus loved them and commanded them to love as he loved, to do as he did, to live as he lived -- and to be willing to die as he would die. Jesus Loved them. Jesus loves us; in spite of our brokenness, our sinfulness, our selfishness. Jesus loves us in spite of ourselves.
On this night we remember that night when Jesus, God's incarnation, showed us how to Love.
Jesus loved, not by being strong, but by choosing weakness.
Jesus loved, not by overpowering, but by embracing powerlessness.
Jesus loved, not by demanding to be served, but by serving.
Jesus loved. He humbled himself. He stooped low. Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist. He took his disciples' feet - those feet that would run to betray him; those feet that would hurry to deny him; those feet that would flee from him even as he exhaled his last breath-- he took those feet into his hands, and dipped them in the clear water, and washed them clean.
We dip our feet -- these feet that sometime run to betray him, and these feet that hurry to deny him, and these feet that can easily flee from him even as he exhales his last rasping breath -- we dip these feet in the clear water, and we are washed clean.
Amen.
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