Sermon by Pastor Glenn Zimbelman
Maricopa Lutheran Church, Maricopa, Arizona – February 25, 2018
As we journey through the Gospel of John we discover how different this book is compared to the other Gospels. This is especially true for the normal texts we use for Holy Week. Normally on Maundy Thursday the preacher has choices to make. Do we do the foot washing or the Lord’s Supper? Interestingly enough, the Lord ’s Supper does not happen in John. For the next 4 weeks we are going to cover material that will prepare us for Holy Week.
I once had a mother who was dying of inoperable brain cancer. It was not a matter of if, but when. She had months to live. She was leaving behind a husband and a five year old daughter. The mother was only in her thirties. Do you know what she did? She made a bunch of videos. They could be entitled Wise Words from Your Mom. She made the video’s to be played at significant points in her child’s life: Her Sixteen birthday, High School Graduation, her marriage and so forth. She wanted to leave behind a legacy of sorts for her daughter’s future life.
John 13:1 is a very interesting verse,
“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.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Jesus was like that young mother. He wanted to prepare his disciples for his death and departure. What did Jesus think was the most important thing? Simply this, he wanted the disciples to know that they were loved.
There is an old Oly and Lena Jokes. I am well aware that Oly and Lena jokes are essentially a Minnesota thing and it helps if you are Norwegian. But keep with me for a moment. Lena says to Oly? You never tell me that you love me. Oly replies to Lena, Look, I told you once, I will let you know if it changes.
The words I love you carry with it great joy, wonder, risk and a whole lot of baggage. The words, I love you, can also do great damage. One person says it without really meaning it. The other person takes those words as fact and clings to them. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard in couple counseling, he or she, told me that they loved me. Well love without action is not much love at all. In fact, while it is nice to hear the words, and it is very important to hear them, actions speak much louder, don’t they.
Think back the first time you said I love you to your significant other. Those words come with a risk. What happens if they don’t love me back? What happens if deep down I don’t really mean it. What happens if I am rejected? What happens if that love changes? So those words come with great reward and also great risk.
Now when it comes to Jesus we sing that song, Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. We sing that and usually link that in our minds with the cross. Jesus dies on the cross for me. That certainly is an act of love. But consider this, Jesus does love each and every one of you. He loves your quirky behavior. He loves all of your endearing qualities plus those that are not so good. He, Jesus, Savior of the World, Loves You.
He wants the disciples to know they are loved. Now Jesus has some options. He could say the word. He could write a poem. He could send flowers. He could get each of them a promise ring. Instead, do you know what he does? He washes feet.
Picture of Foot Washing
Now people reclined around a square table. It was normal for most people to wash their own feet. You would be placed at a table based on positions of Honor. Jesus would be number 1 of course. If you were wealthy enough to have some money, you would have a slave do the foot washing. The slaves were usually women. So Foot washing was a menial task reserved for slaves. Jesus takes their place. This is why Peter freaks out. This goes against all social norm. But Jesus says, if I don’t wash you Peter you will have no part of me. What Jesus means by that, is you won’t understand and get how much I love you. Imagine, the Lord of the Universe, gently, washing the disciples feet. Imagine watching Jesus and Jesus would also be watching them. All you could do is to glaze into his eyes and see the care, the compassion the love if you will. Now you will also note that in John, Jesus also washes Judas’ feet. Judas will leave the fellowship, he will leave the love relationship with Jesus and betray Jesus. We often think the betrayal is about turning Jesus over with a kiss. The real betrayal here, is a betrayal of love. Jesus loves, but Judas chooses to not return that love. We will touch on that again as we head to the cross.
Now Jesus sets up the disciples for a simple mission. What kind of community, what kind of people are they going to be? How are they going to represent Jesus in the world? The only way they can truly represent Christ, to become like Christ, means they become people of Love.
Again we are reminded of John 3:16. God loves the whole world. A story is told about Leo Tolstoy, who reached into his pocket for some change for a begger. He was broke and his pockets were empty. Leo said to the begger, I am sorry brother, for I have no money. The begger replied, you have given me a gift more precious than money. For you have called me brother.
This is why being a servant of all means that we are all on equal ground. No person is greater than anyone else in the kingdom of God. It means for us to lay aside our ego for the sake of the other. You will see this love theme carried through John and into First John. Recall these words on John 13:34
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
Let’s look at these words again,
Jesus Love Me This I know for the Bible tells me So.
It is one thing to say them. It is another thing to own those words. It is another thing to say those words back. This is what faith, love, hope and trust is all about. For you see, there are those moments when we are grasped by the love of God and we are at peace in the arms of the Savior. It might happen with a song, in the middle of people, or in the quiet moment of prayer. Look for it, claim it, believe it, for the Savior does indeed love us.
Let us pray,
