ASH WEDNESDAY March 5, 2014 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 13:1-17 “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?” FOLLOW HIM!

ASH WEDNESDAY

March 5, 2014

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 13:1-17

“WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?”

FOLLOW HIM!

John 13:1-17 (NIV 1984) “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. ² The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” ¹⁰ Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

          It has to be one of the all time most ironic questions. I’m talking about the question raised by Pontius Pilate as he addressed the mob who had gathered to demand the death of Jesus. If you recall, Pilate had tried to get out of the situation by offering them the choice of releasing the prisoner Barabbas or Jesus. The crowd chose Barabbas. That’s when Pilate said, “What shall I do then with Jesus?” As though he had any power. That question takes on new meaning for us Christians though as we review the Passion history of Jesus this Lenten season. What will we do in response to what He has done? Our first answer is to follow Him.

          As we follow Him we see Him serving.  “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. ² The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” We join Jesus in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, the night before He dies. Jesus takes the time to do those things He wants to do before He dies. He prays for His disciples and all believers. He gives the Church the ongoing blessing of the Lord’s Supper. And what else do we find on Jesus’ bucket list? He grabs a bucket/basin and washes feet. Why does He do that? It’s a lesson on serving. People who live in dusty climates and wear sandals get dirty feet. Jesus served one of the needs of the disciples by washing their feet for them. Not exactly a pleasant task in anyone’s eyes. But one that needed to be done. One that they would remember when they would see Jesus serve them the next day recalling His words, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” As we follow Jesus we see Him serving.

          As we follow Jesus then we’ll serve too. That was the point of the lesson. “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” There are some churches that practice ritual foot washing today. If you belonged to that church you would be expected in some service to wash each other’s feet. Now that might sound kind of yucky. But that’s a relatively easy thing to do. But it’s not what Jesus was teaching.  Jesus’ lesson here was on a way of life for His followers that puts needs of others above self. That’s not easy at all. Peter shows us that. “He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” How easy it is to tell Jesus “NO!” That comes from sin and ignorance. How easy it is to make things all about me. “Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” As soon as Peter learned this was something good he wanted it all—for himself. Here’s the reason Christ-like service is so hard. We have sinful natures that don’t like God’s ways and are selfish. So we don’t always like God’s ways. We are selfish.

          Here’s how it played out for the disciples. They assemble in the Upper Room for the Passover meal. As they enter the room they notice there is no servant, but there is a basin and a pitcher of water. “I’m not doing. You do it. Not my job.” So Jesus did it. Service. A servant is not above His master. Now what are the basins and pitchers of water in your life? What are the needs you see and your sinful nature arrogantly says, “Not my job!” Kids? “Toilet’s dirty. “Mom! Someone’s paper drops on the floor. Pick it up or walk over it? Trash is overflowing. Snow is on the sidewalk. We can go on. Baby’s diaper smells. Someone with a walker having trouble with the door. A sad classmate who’s being left out. Not my job. But it can be your service as you follow Jesus.

          Follow Jesus and you will serve. We don’t just have a sinful nature. We have a Savior who served us by giving his life on the cross to free us from that sinful nature so that we will live our lives guided by love. Jesus’ love enables us to put other’s needs ahead of our own without fear. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” The way that God built us to find true happiness is to be united with Him and be like Him in serving others. Forgiveness of sins unites us with God. Forgiveness won by Jesus. What shall I do with Jesus? Each one of us needs to answer Pilate’s question for ourselves. I know what I’m going to do. Follow Him. You too? Amen.