|
News for the Pews |
Home
28th March 2024
ThursdayReflection
************************
'Elisabeth Johnson' shares
Foot-washing
************************
"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end"
John 13:1
So begins the second half of John's Gospel.
The public teaching of Jesus has been completed, and now for several chapters Jesus focuses exclusively on teaching "his own" - his disciples - and trying to prepare them for what is to come.
Jesus loved his disciples to the very end of his earthly life and ministry, and he loved them fully and completely, without condition or reservation, for this was the fulfillment of his mission.
Jesus' act of service recalls what Mary of Bethany had done for Jesus just a few days earlier, washing his feet with expensive perfume and drying them with her hair.
Jesus interprets her extravagant act of love and service as an anointing for his burial.
In washing his disciples' feet, Jesus simply uses water and a towel, yet the extravagance is no less.
Indeed, it is nothing short of scandalous that the one who comes from God and is going to God should take on the menial task of a slave.
This act points to the even greater scandal to come in the dark hours ahead, when Jesus will lay down his life, crucified on a Roman cross - the form of execution reserved for rebels and slaves.
Peter gives voice to the scandal of Jesus' actions.
"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus' next response to Peter is a bit cryptic, and perhaps makes use of a traditional proverb.
"One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean".
His statement seems to suggest that one's relationship to Jesus has cleansing power that lasts.
It is astonishing enough that Jesus takes the role of a slave and washes the dirty feet of his disciples, but even more astounding is the fact that he does so knowing full well that they will all fail him miserably in his hour of greatest need.
Jesus insists on washing the feet of Peter, knowing full well that Peter will deny him to save his own skin.
What is more, Jesus stoops to wash the feet of Judas, knowing full well that Judas has already conspired to betray him to those seeking his life.
John tells us in 13:2 that "the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus."
Yet even with Judas - cold, calculating, back-stabbing Judas - Jesus' love remains unwavering.
Jesus washes Judas' dirty feet along with all the others.
Jesus then tells his disciples that they are to serve one another in same way that he has served them.
This specific example parallels the broader "new commandment" Jesus gives "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
Jesus' example suggests that loving, as he has loved, means taking the role of a servant, caring for the needs of others without expecting anything in return.
His example suggests that it is to do this not only for those who treat us well, but even for those who disappoint and hurt and betray us.
Can Jesus really expect us to do this, to love and serve even those who fail us or stab us in the back?
Are we not allowed even a few exceptions to the love commandment?
Jesus' commandment to love one another is not a commandment to feel affection, but a commandment to act in a loving way, even when we would rather do otherwise.
Of course we always fall short of God's perfect love, but that cannot be an excuse to nurse grudges and wallow in unloving behaviour.
As we are washed by Jesus in God's deep and generous love, our hearts are stretched to love more completely, fully, unwaveringly.
Left to our human resources, this kind of love and forgiveness would be inconceivable.
But it is possible because of the one who loves us fully and completely, the one who loves us to the end, even to the cross and grave and back.
><(((°>
'Working Preacher'
The Working Preacher team has enlisted more than 500 hundred friends -- biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching -- to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content.
Elisabeth Johnson is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently doing interim ministry in the Twin Cities area.
She holds degrees from Luther College (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.Div.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D. in Biblical Studies - New Testament).
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|