John 13:1-17, 31b-35
April 1, 2010
Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco.
We know that to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, we are told to wash our hands frequently. When I visit someone in the hospital, I go first to the lobby restroom to wash my hands before going to see a patient. During the visit, I never put my hands up to my face and after I have said my prayer, I return to the lobby restroom to wash again before leaving the hospital. With the current H1N1 flu, we are advised to wash our hands frequently and use anti-bacterial lotions that are now found in almost every public space. We have those anti-bacterial lotions in the pump bottle in the back of the room. Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of disease.
Last weekend, we babysat our granddaughters. While they know how to use their forks and spoons, they rather use their fingers to satisfy their tactile needs. After their 20 fingers and two mouths are sticky and gooey, I carry them to the sink and wash them down. I always need to tell our almost 2 year-old granddaughter to close her mouth while I use soap to get off the spaghetti sauce or ice cream. Hanging them over the sink and soaping them down is the best way to clean up grandkids.
If hand washing prevents the spread of disease and clean up grandkids, what does good old-fashioned foot washing prevent?
In a compelling image of service found in John’s gospel, Jesus “got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself” and started to wash his disciples’ feet. While foot washing was a common practice of ancient hospitality, we as disciples today find this practice repugnant and uncomfortable.
At the heart of the meaning of foot washing is preventing us from pride, self- of centeredness, and our human need to always be in control. Peter has a bigger vision of himself than what is good for him. When Jesus “came to Simon,” Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Knowing that Peter couldn’t comprehend what was about to take place, Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter, however, refused to accept Jesus’ teaching to wait. He clung even more tightly to his overly self-confidence. Refusing to entrust himself to Jesus and relinquish his own point of view, Peter rebuked Jesus: “You will never wash my feet.” To which Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”
Peter’s prideful heart and shortsighted vision manifested itself again when he immediately replied, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” As he has done the first time when Jesus attempted to wash his feet, Peter was still trying to set his own agenda around an uncertain future. Instead of abiding by Jesus’ words, Peter sought to maintain control over a situation he couldn’t possibly grasp; and as Jesus’ response indicates, Peter simply didn’t get it. Jesus had to admonish Peter a second time: “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
The part that Peter needs washing is his feet because it symbolized for him the reality that he believed that he can “stand up” on his own two feet and not submit to Jesus’ leadership. Foot washing is a powerful image of humility and servant leadership that Jesus was teaching his disciples to do if they are to follow him. Our tendency to promote ourselves and rely upon our own understanding is never entirely extinguished.
After Jesus had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” Jesus reminded them that they called him Teacher and Lord—“and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” He was explaining why Peter had gotten it all wrong.
They needed to realize that if they were to be his disciples, they were to imitate him and not the world. They were to follow his example, to do as he has done and to see themselves as servants, messengers of good news rather than masters in their own rights. And although knowing Jesus’ commands is useful, to receive God’s full blessing, his followers must do them.
Jesus remained resolute about his expectations for those who wanted to follow him: They were to “love one another” just as he had loved them. For by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of disease, what might a good old-fashioned foot washing prevent? The idea of washing one another’s feet prevents us from our pride and self-centeredness that gets in the way of fully and completely following Jesus Christ as our Teacher, Lord, and finally Savior on the cross. By serving each other, by loving each other, the whole world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples.