April 21, 2011
Maundy Thursday
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
He knew, and yet, he washed.
He performed an act reserved only for servants, and act of humility, even though he knew. As he got up from the table, took of his outer robe and wrapped a towel around himself he knew, but he did it any way. He washed the twelve pairs of feet that sat with him at the table that night, twelve pairs of feet that had walked with him for three year, who had given up their lives and professions to follow him, who had sacrificed what they had…and he knew that one pair of feet was about to betray him…one pair of feet was about to deny him three times…all twelve pairs of feet that he washed were about the desert him in the garden as he was arrested, leaving him to walk the rest of the road to the cross alone, surrounded by those who would mock and beat him on the road…he knew all this about his disciples…and yet he washed their feet anyway.
At the table that night, during supper, he washed calloused feet made hard by the journey of life and of the last three years. He saw the imperfections, the misshapen toes, the scars, that these feet carried. He knew where those feet had been because his feet walked along side of their feet. He also knew where those feet were going…and, at least for the next day or so, he knew that those twelve pair of feet would be simultaneously longing to be next to his feet and, at the same time, longing to be no where near where his feet were about to go…and yet he washed their feet anyway.
He did it as an act and an example of love, an act of servant hood for those who had been the closest to him for the last three years. And yet, not all of them wanted to be washed…not all of them truly got it. Peter, the rock on which Christ was to build his church, Christ’s right hand man, resisted. “You will never wash my feet,” he said. As he was one to do, Peter was looking at things from a human perspective instead of God’s perspective. Instead of seeing an act of love and generosity, a leveling of the playing field between teacher and student, an encounter with living water and a form of baptismal grace, Peter saw his teacher and Lord committing a scandalous act by lowering himself to the level of student and slave by washing the disciple’s feet…feet that had probably already been washed when they entered the upper room before the meal had even begun…and yet he washed their feet anyway.
“Unless I wash you,” Jesus replied, “you have no share with me.” Jesus knew that this pair of feet would be the pair of feet that would deny him three times before the cock crowed and he would do it out of fear, wanting to save his own skin, and yet Jesus wanted Peter to remain in his love and his care. And, as Jesus had said to Peter at the beginning of their conversation…Peter wouldn’t understand until later…for once he heard that if Jesus didn’t wash him, he would have no share with Jesus, Peter goes overboard…not only wanting his feet washed, but the rest of him as well. Makes you wonder what the others thought in that moment. Were the other feet squirming in embarrassment as Peter, the block head, made another dumb move? Or were they scrambling to get in line so that Jesus could wash the rest of them, too, just as Peter had requested?…were the feet that were about to betray Jesus fidgeting nervously as this conversation took place?
They were his inner circle, his most trusted companions and even they didn’t get it…and yet he washed their feet anyway…he loved them anyway, in fact, he loved them to the end.
This evening, we stand as a church some two thousand years after this night and, as our Jewish brothers and sisters asked during the Passover seder this week, so we ask ourselves tonight…why is this night different from the rest? And as people who stand on the other side of the cross and the empty tomb, we know why because we know something that the disciples didn’t know as they sat at the table, shared a final meal with their teacher and watched Jesus commit a great act of love by washing their feet. Unlike the disciples, we know what is going to happen next, who is going to betray, where and why, who is going to deny and who is going to desert…and we know that this story has a happy ending…and yet it seems that even as people who on this night live on the other side of the cross and empty tomb than the disciples did on that last night with Jesus, we don’t always get it either…and sometimes we resist…but Jesus wants to wash our feet anyways.
Jesus knows that sometimes our first instinct is to see things the way that we want to see them, the way that suits us instead of taking the risk of seeing things the way that God sees them...Jesus knows that sometimes we resist being served by him because he knows that for some, letting go and being vulnerable is scary because it means giving up some of the freedom and control that we think that we have. And Jesus knows that sometimes we ignore or just simply forget the new mandatum, the new commandment that Jesus gave the disciples to love one another as he loved them. And yet, Jesus wants to wash our feet anyways…Jesus wants to give us a share with him and show his love for us as an example of the new commandment.
This night is different from all the rest because of this new commandment. Yes, we celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper on this night but it’s the mandatum that Jesus gives to the disciples that gives today its name. And all this new commandment requires of us is that we love…that we love with a fervor so great that it matches the love that Jesus has for us.
As broken people living in a sinful world, we have a tendency to get so caught up in the me’s and the my’s and the mine’s that sometimes we either forget about this new commandment to love…sometimes we either resist or we just don’t get it and our feet end up going the same way the disciples went…deserting, betraying and denying Jesus through our actions and our words…and yet Jesus still wants to wash our feet, to give us a share with him in hope that maybe one day our feet won’t desert or deny or betray, but will instead walk with him on the rest of the journey to the cross, showing his love to all those that we pass by.
Eventually, the words that Jesus spoke to Peter came true…eventually Peter did get what Jesus was doing for him by washing his feet. As Peter stood on the other side of the cross and empty tomb, he knew that Jesus had prepared him for what was to lie ahead for him and the other disciples. Jesus knew what was going to happen after the last supper when he was in the garden…and yet, by washing them, he prepared them for what they would face by giving them a taste of baptismal grace, an encounter with the living water which sustained them through the three days from that night until Easter morning. Tonight we will show each other a small act of love by washing one another’s feet. Don’t be ashamed if your feet aren’t pretty, or if they are scarred or if they smell…come and look for the love of Jesus coming from the person washing your feet…and if you feel so moved, let the love of Jesus flow through you as you wash someone else’s feet. Think of it as Jesus preparing us for the rest of the journey through these three Holy Days. Amen.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Faith of the Israelites...faithfulness of God
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. ~HEBREWS 11:1, 29-40
During this season of Lent, we decided to use the Faith series suggested by Sundays and Seasons. It's been a great series talking about the faith of Noah, Abraham, Moses and, this week, the Israelites.
Looking at the writing from this chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, there are some interesting themes. First, is that the writer of this letter depends heavily on the Old Testament tradition, specifically, the fathers of the faith. And the second is that seems to view the lives of these father of the faith (he does speak of Rahab, also) through the lens of the Christ event, claiming, for example, that Moses did what he did because of Christ.
What I find interesting about the passage for tonight, however is that when the writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the faith of the Israelites, he does so within the context of the leaders (specifically the judges and kings) that save the Israelites from themselves.
God sent Moses to free the Israelites from the slavery they were under in Egypt...the people griped and moaned...but God worked through Moses and led them through the Red Sea.
The people questioned Joshua about the plan that God had given him for the destruction of Jericho...but God worked through Joshua, the people lived out the plan and the walls came a tumblin' down. God worked through Rahab to keep the spies of the Israelites safe when they snuck into Jericho.
Gideon was chosen by God to free the Israelites from themselves and the idolatry they had gotten themselves in to, he destroyed the statues of Baal and Asherah and challenged the people to turn back to God.
Barak was chosen to lead Deborah's army against the Canaanites, who had oppressed the Israelites. He was victorious.
Jephthah was chosen to lead the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites, who had rules over them, scripture says, because God had handed the Israelites over to the Philistines and Ammonites when the Israelites had turned their back on God.
Samson was a Nazarite, chosen to lead the Israelites against the Philistines. A messenger of the Lord when to Samson's mother and told her about the son that she was going to have, that Samson was going to be a Nazarite...this meant that his mother could drink no alcohol while she was pregnant and that during Samson's life, he would never be able to drink alcohol or cut his hair (there were other stipulations as well, but these were the most well known of them). God used Samson to defeat the Philistines, he killed many single handedly.
(Check out Samson's story in the book of Judges...it's really good)
Then we have Samuel, who was on the cusp of the transition of the era of the Judges and the era of the Prophets (Samuel was the last judge and first prophet). Samuel led the Israelites against the Philistines and defeated them 20 years after the Israelites had been defeated by the Philistines and the ark of the covenant was taken.
Finally, we have David, second King of Israel. He was the youngest and the smallest of the sons of Jesse, but God had plans for him and he was a great king. He did have his weak spots (Bathsheba) but God stayed by his side, showing him, through Nathan, where he had sinned and helping him to repent.
The writer speaks of the prophets as well, doesn't name any more of them specifically.
Here's what I've noticed, though..the writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the faith of these individuals, of Noah and Moses and Abraham and the Israelites (and their judges and prophets and kings) but the thing that sticks out here is how God's faithfulness plays in. God never abandoned the people that God chose...God let them live out the consequences of their sinful actions, but God never left them.
Adam and Eve were forced to leave the garden, but God provided clothing for them. Cain was forced to wander and be alone after killing Abel, but God protected him from those who would want to avenge Abel.
Noah never spoke out on behalf of his neighbors (he never speaks, actually), which, depending on how you want to interpret it, is or is not a big deal as Noah never questioned the instructions the God had for him.
Moses had doubts about the mission that God had for him, but God provided the resources for him to use and was with him all along the way from Egypt to the edge of the promised land (the consequence of his mistrust of God at the end of his life was that he never got to see the promised land).
The Israelites doubted God, questioned God, turned from God again and again, but God never turned away from them. God delivered them through the Red Sea, provided for them in the desert, brought them (despite the years of wandering) into the promised land, and provided for them leaders that would bring them back to a focus on God instead of on themselves and other deities.
This is all about God's faithfulness towards us and the result of God's enduring faithfulness is that we have been given the ability to trust in and be faithful to God in return. And that, my friends, is pretty cool.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. ~HEBREWS 11:1, 29-40
During this season of Lent, we decided to use the Faith series suggested by Sundays and Seasons. It's been a great series talking about the faith of Noah, Abraham, Moses and, this week, the Israelites.
Looking at the writing from this chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, there are some interesting themes. First, is that the writer of this letter depends heavily on the Old Testament tradition, specifically, the fathers of the faith. And the second is that seems to view the lives of these father of the faith (he does speak of Rahab, also) through the lens of the Christ event, claiming, for example, that Moses did what he did because of Christ.
What I find interesting about the passage for tonight, however is that when the writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the faith of the Israelites, he does so within the context of the leaders (specifically the judges and kings) that save the Israelites from themselves.
God sent Moses to free the Israelites from the slavery they were under in Egypt...the people griped and moaned...but God worked through Moses and led them through the Red Sea.
The people questioned Joshua about the plan that God had given him for the destruction of Jericho...but God worked through Joshua, the people lived out the plan and the walls came a tumblin' down. God worked through Rahab to keep the spies of the Israelites safe when they snuck into Jericho.
Gideon was chosen by God to free the Israelites from themselves and the idolatry they had gotten themselves in to, he destroyed the statues of Baal and Asherah and challenged the people to turn back to God.
Barak was chosen to lead Deborah's army against the Canaanites, who had oppressed the Israelites. He was victorious.
Jephthah was chosen to lead the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites, who had rules over them, scripture says, because God had handed the Israelites over to the Philistines and Ammonites when the Israelites had turned their back on God.
Samson was a Nazarite, chosen to lead the Israelites against the Philistines. A messenger of the Lord when to Samson's mother and told her about the son that she was going to have, that Samson was going to be a Nazarite...this meant that his mother could drink no alcohol while she was pregnant and that during Samson's life, he would never be able to drink alcohol or cut his hair (there were other stipulations as well, but these were the most well known of them). God used Samson to defeat the Philistines, he killed many single handedly.
(Check out Samson's story in the book of Judges...it's really good)
Then we have Samuel, who was on the cusp of the transition of the era of the Judges and the era of the Prophets (Samuel was the last judge and first prophet). Samuel led the Israelites against the Philistines and defeated them 20 years after the Israelites had been defeated by the Philistines and the ark of the covenant was taken.
Finally, we have David, second King of Israel. He was the youngest and the smallest of the sons of Jesse, but God had plans for him and he was a great king. He did have his weak spots (Bathsheba) but God stayed by his side, showing him, through Nathan, where he had sinned and helping him to repent.
The writer speaks of the prophets as well, doesn't name any more of them specifically.
Here's what I've noticed, though..the writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the faith of these individuals, of Noah and Moses and Abraham and the Israelites (and their judges and prophets and kings) but the thing that sticks out here is how God's faithfulness plays in. God never abandoned the people that God chose...God let them live out the consequences of their sinful actions, but God never left them.
Adam and Eve were forced to leave the garden, but God provided clothing for them. Cain was forced to wander and be alone after killing Abel, but God protected him from those who would want to avenge Abel.
Noah never spoke out on behalf of his neighbors (he never speaks, actually), which, depending on how you want to interpret it, is or is not a big deal as Noah never questioned the instructions the God had for him.
Moses had doubts about the mission that God had for him, but God provided the resources for him to use and was with him all along the way from Egypt to the edge of the promised land (the consequence of his mistrust of God at the end of his life was that he never got to see the promised land).
The Israelites doubted God, questioned God, turned from God again and again, but God never turned away from them. God delivered them through the Red Sea, provided for them in the desert, brought them (despite the years of wandering) into the promised land, and provided for them leaders that would bring them back to a focus on God instead of on themselves and other deities.
This is all about God's faithfulness towards us and the result of God's enduring faithfulness is that we have been given the ability to trust in and be faithful to God in return. And that, my friends, is pretty cool.
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