TITLE: WASH YOUR DIRTY FEET
SCRIPTURE: ST. JOHN 13:1-17
Have you ever had that uncomfortable moment when someone asks you to help them? You really don’t want to help, but you’re stuck. You’re not sure what to say to get out of helping. Maybe they are moving, and you know they won’t be ready. It’ll be throwing things in garbage bags at the last second. Or they need a ride or they need something fixed. You know what it’s like.
• You really don’t want to help
• You don’t want to put yourself in that position
• They always call on you to help when they mess up
Wouldn’t it be cool if there were an APP for that. An APP we could use to get out of helping. You could go right to your phone and click the APP and there would be a ready made excuse not to help one another.
• Excuses when we ask, “Hey, who can help serve?”
• You can go to this app, and tell me you have a ‘meeting on that day’
• You can go to this app, and tell me you have already made plans to be out of town on that date
• You can go to this app, and tell me you have already scheduled an appointment for that date and time
• Yet, as Christ followers, is this how we are to live our lives?
• Are we to say yes to Christ, but no to the rest of the world?
• Are we to say yes to Heaven, but no to our brothers/sisters when they have a need?
Let’s run to the text and allow it to speak to us this morning. Let’s examine the image of Jesus washing feet; the picture of Him serving those around Him. Let’s set the context for the image of loving like Jesus. How do we do it? One of the ways is, we wash feet. The setting takes place the day before His crucifixion and you can imagine the emotion Jesus must be feeling. Yet, I love what John tells us -- “JESUS LOVED THE DISCIPLES TO THE END.”
Jesus knew the disciples still didn’t get who He was.
• They argued about who was the Greatest
• They argued about how many times they need to Forgive
• At times they seemed Faithless and mostly Clueless
• So, Jesus looked around the room at His closest friends and what does He see
• He sees Proud Hearts and Dirty Feet
Let’s make sure we understand the narrative here because it is one of the most memorable events in Bible. It was the night before Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion.
• It was an intense time in Jesus’ life
• His public ministry was quickly coming to an earthly end
• Jesus now turns his full attention to his disciples
I want you to imagine this situation with me for a moment. In that culture the most demeaning task around was to wash the guest’s feet. Foot-washing was needed in Palestine. The streets were dusty and people wore sandals without socks or stockings. It was a mark of honor for a host to provide a servant to wash a guest’s feet; it was a breach of hospitality not to provide for it. This was a job done by lowest slaves or servants. It was necessary because people wore sandals and did most of their travel by foot. They walked along trails that we not only dusty but also cluttered with camel and donkey -- well you get the idea.
• I’m sure guests arrived with more than dust on their feet
• It was a common courtesy for the host to have his servant wash the guest’s feet as they entered the house
Jesus had originally sent Peter and John to prepare for their meal together.
• The food had been cooked
• The table had been set
• And I’m sure the disciples thought this matter would be taken care of as well
• But, it wasn’t!
As Jesus and the disciples enter the room they see towel and water basin in the corner. They do not see a servant to wash their feet. Perhaps some of them pause as they enter the room, wondering where the servant was—maybe wondering why Peter and John had not taken care of this important detail. As they recline at the table, each disciple feels a little uncomfortable. “SOMEBODY OUGHT TO AT LEAST WASH JESUS FEET.”
• But—if I do that, where will that put me on the social pecking order?
• I would be at the Bottom of the heap
• If I volunteer I’ll get stuck with that job from now on
• Maybe if I just wait—somebody else will do it
If you’ve been in church more than week, you know that kind of thinking does occur at times.
• Somebody needs to take care of the nursery - but that’s not my ministry
• Somebody needs to clean those bathrooms - who dropped the ball on that?”
• Somebody needs to vacuum the carpet in the Sanctuary - well it’s not my job
• I think maybe each disciple was hoping one of others would volunteer
It's important to understand the dynamics of what was going on here. The host would never wash the feet of the guest; that would have been too humiliating. There would always be a servant who would come and wash the feet, the host wouldn’t do it, because, let's be honest – FEET CAN BE KIND OF SWEATY AND SMELLY AT TIMES.
• Imagine if I came to your house. "Hey, Pastor. We're glad you're here. Could I get you something to drink?”
• Here take your shoes off, I’ll give you a foot massage!"
• But, I don’t think anyone in here would ever say that
• I am pretty sure, You're not going to touch my feet
• This was a job reserved for the servant
I can only imagine what the disciples must be thinking. PETER IS PROBALY SILENT FOR ONCE, AND FOR HIM THAT IS RARE, HE IS PROBABLY THINKING –
• Why are these fellows looking at me?
• Don’t these turkeys know and recognize the call of God on my life?
• Don’t they see the leadership giftings in me?
• I just wish they would remember that I’m the one who answered Jesus’ Question: “Who do you say that I am?”
• I got the revelation—‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God’
• I’m moving in the Spirit—don’t disturb that anointing operating in my life
• Don’t you remember the prophecy Jesus gave me on that occasion?
• I wish these people would pay attention to what God’s doing in me
• If they had, they would be over here right now washing mine and Jesus’ feet
We don’t know all the specifics, and I’m taking some liberties--but we do know nobody rose to the occasion. So, Jesus is at the final meal. The night before He's going to die an excruciating death. He looks around the room and HE SEES PROUD HEARTS AND DIRTY FEET. What does he do? He gets up and puts on a servants apron. He fills a bucket with water and while everybody’s gasping and shocked - - They're like, "No, no way!" Picture the President or the Presidential Candidates coming to your home and asking, not for your vote, but "May I wash your toilets?" It's lower than that.
You need to understand who this is. We're talking about Jesus –
• The Son of God
• The Lamb of God
• The Prince of Peace
• The Living Water
• The Bread of Life
• He’s our Redeemer
• Our Righteousness
• He IS the Light of the World
• He IS the Alpha and the Omega
• The Beginning and the End
• The First and the Last
• The King of Kings
• The Lord of Lords
And He stoops down and does something that’s reserved for the lowest of the low in the society. And Jesus says I’ll Wash You Dirty Feet - I’LL SERVE!! SERVING AND MINISTRY GO HAND IN HAND. You can’t do Ministry without Serving.
• Too much of Ministry today resembles being Served instead of Serving
• Armor Bearers serving the Pastor
• Pastors have to purchase and occupy the best
• Jesus said check your Feet
• “Your Feet Are Dirty”
I’ve learned something about Ministry - Hear me Leaders -- People would much rather see you and me show them how than to tell them what they’re doing wrong. If they can see us do it, they will listen to what we’ve got to say. But if we can’t do it or won’t do it—they won’t pay much attention to us telling them what they need to do it or how to do it.
• There was a Need
• Everybody saw the need
• It’s not hard to see what’s wrong
• I suspect all the disciples knew something was wrong
• But Jesus did something about it
• Jesus met the need
• He did not just take action
• He took the appropriate Action!
We all have a call upon our lives for Ministry and Serving. We must stay open to the movement of the Lord. When we partner Ministry and Serving, we should not be broadcasting. We don’t need to talk about how we served and POST ON FACEBOOK – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – SOCIAL MEDIA. Just serve with no strings attached.
• When you're serving with the right heart - it's not about you
• When you're serving with the right heart - it's not about your gift
• When you're serving with the right heart - it's not about your recognition
• It's about serving God for His glory
SERVING MUST BE MODELED AND LIVED. It's not a religious function. We Serve not because we have to, but because we want to. We understand the privilege of serving.
• We're privileged to serve and we’re passionate about serving
• It becomes a way of living
• When people see you serving outside of yourself, people are struck by that
• People want Authenticity
• They want to see who you are, not just on a Sunday, but Monday and Tuesday, as well as Friday and Saturday
• When we get plugged in and serve, and use our gifts - we become the church
• We then begin to look for opportunities to Wash You Dirty Feet
So, if we are in the Church today, but not serving in the church, then there's something God wants to be done that is not being done. Something’s missing, something’s lacking. When you serve others, God changes lives and the first life which is changed is yours! The question is “WHAT THEN DO WE GET OUT OF SERVING?” We get the excitement of being used by God. It could come in a hundred different ways.
• You could be a Prayer Warrior, and really pray for people
• You could be Volunteering in the church or in some other organization, serving people
• I could make a Meal and deliver to sick and shut in
• That’s a servant
• You can Cut Grass or Rake Leaves for the Elderly
• That’s a Servant
• There are people who send cards, visit, make phone calls
• Don’t always look for the easy things
• The things that smell good
• Look for opportunities to Wash Some Dirty Feet
• I could go on and on, there are so many different ways to serve
In the text Peter thought he had a better idea than Jesus. Jesus wants to wash his feet—Peter doesn’t want him to do it.
• Next thing you know Peter wants a full bath
• It took Peter awhile to learn that none of us have a better idea than Jesus
• The best thing we can possibly do is to simply hear him and obey him
Peter eventually learned to simply obey the Lord rather than offer better ideas. That’s something we all have to learn. Notice how John describes Jesus’ behavior at end of VS. 1, “HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHO WERE IN THE WORLD, HE NOW SHOWED THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS LOVE.” In this interaction with Peter and the others, Jesus was expressing His love for them. He was taking time to prepare them for what was ahead. Then on the Cross, he offered the ultimate expression of His love for all of us - ST. JOHN 15:13 “GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” That’s what Jesus has done for you and me.
When you spend every day on yourself, you will be empty for the rest of your life. You invest your life in others just as Jesus had done and you will be filled, THE GREATEST IS THE ONE WHO IS A SERVANT. If you are not using your gifts, you are robbing yourself of the blessing of making a difference in somebody else's life and being used by God. I'm telling you what. I don't use this as a plea, like "Hey, come and help." I'm saying, "You do this and it will change your life."
• It will change you and it will change those around you
• You want to change your Marriage? - Serve your Spouse
• You want to change your Friendships? -- Serve your Friends
• You want to change your Community? -- Serve your Community
• You want to change your Church? -- Serve the Membership
• You want to change your Relationship with God? -- Serve People in the Church and be the Church
• You want to see your Life Change? -- Serve other people because when you serve others
• God changes lives, starting with you
Oftentimes we look around the Church and wonder why there are empty pews around us. We wonder where are our – CHILDREN – GRANDCHILDREN – NIECES – NEPHEWS – SIBLINGS. Do you want to see them become passionate about Jesus?
• You become Passionate
• Serve God outside of yourself
• Get them engaged using their Gifts so they are not consumes of the Church
• You become a Servant for Christ
• Jesus did not come to be served
• He came to Serve
• He could have had everybody He encountered serve Him
• He humbled Himself and became a Servant
Let me hurry to a close this morning -- Jesus had just performed an act of humble selflessness - that of washing the disciples’ feet. Although this act of loving service was performed hours before the agony of GETHSEMANE AND THE CRUELTY OF THE CROSS - Yet the Savior still humbled Himself and to attend to the needs of His disciples.
When we serve, like Jesus served, we become the hands and feet of Christ – we become His likeness to those in need.
• When we Feed the Hungry
• When we Clothe the Naked
• When we House the Homeless
• When we Encourage the Brokenhearted
• When we Give Hope to the Hopeless
• When we Become a Friend to the Friendless
• We take on the attributes of God
• We become – in essence – Christ-like ambassadors for God
• Rather than hindering God’s work in the world, we become active participants within the Kingdom of God
• We cannot serve without getting our Feet Dirty Along the Way
--How easy it is to be taken up with our own sufferings or successes and so become self-centered or indifferent to the needs of others
--As far as our Lord was concerned, however, His love was complete
--Jesus knew He would be betrayed by one of His disciples
--Jesus knew He would be disowned by another
--Jesus knew He would be deserted by all of them for a time
--Still He showed them the extent of His love
--God knows us completely, just as Jesus knew His disciples
--He knows the sins we have committed and the ones we will yet commit
--Still He loves us
--Every Night when we lay down to sleep - God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we disobey and disappoint our Lord - God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we fall into sin and the Lord does not Cut us Off – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we act Ugly toward one another – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we Gossip or carry a Tale – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we Refuse to Love – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we Refuse to Go – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we Refuse to Say a Kind Word – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--Every time we Fall Short of God’s Glory – God will Wash You Dirty Feet
--God will continue to Love Us
--Stopped by this morning to tell you – Wash You Dirty Feet
--Let’s Continue to Serve
--Serve God and one another in Spirit and in Truth
