Washing Where We Cannot Reach!

 

WE TRADITIONALLY read a portion of witness for Maunday Thursday that describes a holy event not recorded elsewhere in scripture. Within the precious scene, we find described an instruction the author specifically intended to hold up as example before the whole Church. The Church, as an existing entity descended from the disciples into the last decade of the first century, needed to hear the call of unity. From John we read,

  

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”  Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “You are not all clean.”  

 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

                                                             (John 13:1-17, 31b=35) 

 

Our gospel writer told us of a wonderful scene in this witness. It is unique in the Bible. His description is found nowhere else in Holy Scripture. In the account our Lord Jesus was revealed as teaching a standard of behavior to be met by the whole Church. The place where the action occurred was in the upper room of a Jerusalem home, the site of what is often called the “Last Supper”. The disciples gathered there with Jesus, and as they ate Jesus told of the miraculous nature of the food which he was providing. As soon as they finished the meal, Jesus got up from the reclining position at the low table and began preparing for another very special event.  The Lord of lords, Jesus… their teacher… performed a task commonly performed by house servants when a dinner guest came in from the dirty streets and first entered the door. Jesus took on that lowly role. He rose and washed the feet of his disciples. If we pay respectful attention, we see great depth of meaning that was given to the early Church.

 By the power of the Holy Spirit, the scene also carries great importance for the modern Church as we go through a challenging time. I say that the message is meant primarily for the Church because evidence seems in scripture that only the disciples were present at the Passover dinner. Consequently, we may rightly conclude that the event was meant predominantly for them and their descendants who follow in the faith.

 We need to remember the flow here as God had appointed Jesus’ arrest and death. We should not lessen the importance of the deed.

 Too often we liturgically ignore the Maunday Thursday worship tradition by skipping this foot washing experience…  and more gladly move directly to a more comfortable Good Friday worship…, claiming that not enough people show up for the Thursday service. Maybe as congregation members, we toss observing this night as a worship experience simply because we don’t want to hear the heaviness of the command. We also might feel a little uncomfortable washing another person’s feet, or having our feet washed in public.

 I’ve also wondered, because of sparse attendance… how many church leaders figure that not enough offering is collected to pay the church light bill, so they skip the whole thing. This I note as a Lutheran pastor, but I see that this gross error is evidenced in many denominations, by pastors and churches. Many in ignorance do not observe a Maunday Thursday worship experience. Therefore I argue, as said previously by Martin Luther... “when love and mercy prompted the Lord to action, his deeds cannot have been insignificant.” I tell you now that we RIGHTLY should ALWAYS mark this burden that Jesus laid upon the Church… this heavy but wonderful command.

 In the foot washing we immediately find that our Lord reversed the order of human status and priority. Instead of Jesus leading the occasion as the rabbi, he rose and served them as servants. as guests… by washing their feet. This action we can see as one of divine self denial. This washing thus laid the basis for our own ministry into the future.

 To understand the importance we must dispel thoughts that the description merely illustrated an ancient Judaic custom, It called the church of John and we ourselves to think more deeply about the true meaning of being a Christian... and knowing that we are called to serve.

We need to read the account with great caution. For Luther, as with many in the Reformation era, believed that in their imitation of the washing act during the liturgy, the Church often loses the true meaning. If a worship leader washes a participant’s feet to make a phony display of self-righteousness, being a humble servant is then tossed aside in favor of undue glory before the world. Great corruption has historically happened within the Church because of the selfishness and pride of such clergy, who prefer ostentatious show. We are continuously in danger of this outward display, acting more like the apostle Judas. Consequently, we can take the event far too lightly and ignore the calling of God. 

 We need to be aware that our own agenda may cause misunderstanding.

 For example, Peter missed the meaning of our Lord’s humility. He was described by John as balking at participation. He refused to accept that Jesus was born upon the earth to serve in such manner.

 When Peter refused to be washed, Jesus answered, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.”

 Simon Peter then said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 

 Peter’s reaction to the offer of washing is taken by most interpreters as acceptance of the gift. However, I offer the possibility that this may not be wholly so. The words may reveal an attitude of "going along with-ness", kind of like a church member who will suffer the foot washing just to appease the nutty pastor. We need to remember that Peter’s agenda was that Jesus was to be the triumphant Messiah who was to take over governance of Israel and toss the Romans from the land.

 Consider this, Jesus accomplished not only the external washing of the disciple’s feet, but some biblical authorities believe this was the actual Baptism of his disciples. In this way our Lord gave hint of what was to come by the power of the Holy Spirit. Martin Luther believed he further accomplished the head-to-toe washing for his people by his blood shed upon the cross, which is still in effect for us by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. When water is used and the Baptism is accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, the one who bore the sins of the world accomplishes a great sacramental task for us. Whether partial or full immersion of the sinful subject occurs is absolutely irrelevant and also is the age of the recipient of grace. No… a baby can’t understand what is happening, but neither did Peter!

 Finally, Jesus delivers the command that we in the Church love one another... and calls us to do to others what our Lord has done for us. According to John, we are told to love one another just as our Lord loved us. We are first to be united in the tasks of radical servitude, and then work in unity toward the baptizing others in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This mandate remains for all of us in the modern Church ministering to persons of any age, whether they are adults like Peter or infants sitting in their pew.

 Remember… our human understanding is not what makes Holy Baptism effective unto salvation! By doing this Sacrament as commanded even though not understanding, we as his followers are brought to more fully comprehend the grace that our Lord has shown. Thanks be to God.

Offering Your Palm?

 FOR THE Procession of the Palms, we offer to you an examination of the procession of Jesus according to Saint John. Read often, the discourse instructs the Church concerning its proper role in the world.

Riding Rough

 

 

Disciple Training

FOR THE Third Sunday after Pentecost, we consider a transitional reading likely presented before the ancient Church to assist their focus during the change of ecclesial seasons. We hear from this Matthean witness concerning the empowerment of our Lord's disciples. In this reading, we first find our author presented the ending of Jesus' individual ministry, followng with a chapter presenting us with the commissioning of his disciples. They were sent out to do Spirit-empowered ministry throughout ancient Israel. We read...

 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.
 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 
 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

                                                                               (Matthew 9:35–10:23)


 For Lives Unaware!
Initially in our gospel reading, the stage is set in the divine contest between good and evil. The creative process will be held over an extended period of time and is described by our author using the agricultural setting known by the faithful Jews in Israel. The scene opens with Israel's remaining sheep being endangered by ravenous wolves, which are devouring the flock within sight of the shepherds. Using the metaphor, our author then introduced the initial empowerment of our Lord's disciples, notably naming each apostle given the commission.

 Many biblical authorities question why these names are so mentioned since they are presented elsewhere. I contend that these familiar names were placed firmly and repeatedly in the script of this gospel in order to link the later Church in Syria and elsewhere with the original, historic apostolic sending. This joining the later believers to apostolic succession become paramount for the Church.

  First, the apostles were being lost by the Church over subsequent decades. These losses occurred during persecutions historically recorded now by many authorities. These arise from the date of the ministry, crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord to the time of apparent writing of this gospel (circa 85a.d.)

 During these decades the infant Church lost its original leadership and had been driven from Jerusalem by harsh condemnations and severe persecutions from both religious and secular powers. These predatory powers pursued Christians throughout the Roman Empire, and Christians were used as scapegoats by the Hebrews. Such persecution is well known to us, through the witness of Saint Paul.

 Pressure was surely felt by those who inherited this original apostolic mission to the Jews ... persons like Ignatius of Antioch in Syria. Soon, the persecutions suffered by the apostles were being visited upon Jewish Christians in all reaches of society across the diaspora.

Click Here For Pastor's Personal Videos!

 However, as persons in the Church today who hold to the traditions passed along to us, we find that the warnings to those first witnesses carry over in our own calendar. The message of Church history clearly states that societal wolves plot to yet devour some of our Lord's sheep. This is true for us therefore from the manger to the harvest... by mean of abortion, dissolution of marriages, persecution and euthanasia.. each a methodical power attempting to nullify the influence of righteous shepherds.
Consequently we of the Church need to pay very close attention to the message passed along here by the church of Matthew. We shall be delivered up by many in this modern world's societies, but during the trials shall be given the Word to speak in the midst of the public square. Congregations are subsequently warned, therefore, to heed the words of our Lord given in the last of this week's text.

 You see, as disciples our mission for the whole Church continues in Israel and elsewhere. When we are persecuted in answer to our proclamation, we are told by our Lord to move on unless incarcerated. We are not to stubbornly attempt revivals of the many whited-sepulchers of former times, but are instead called to declare salvation through Jesus Christ to those lost sheep who are found wandering in fields of any societal setting. May our mission be so empowered by the Holy Spirit, thanks be to God!