Title: Serving God / John 13:1-17
Contents
Serving God / John 13:1-17
Today is Holy Thursday. Also known as Washing Thursday. It comes from the story of Jesus getting up from the table and washing the feet of his disciples. In the text we read today, the story of the betrayal of Judas Cariot is briefly mentioned, but the story of the washing of his feet is still predominant.
It is from this story that on this day each year, the Roman Catholic Pope brings a beggar from the street to wash his feet, a tradition that has been born and has been practiced to this day.
This story, recorded only in the Gospel of John, contains a very unique episode from the life of Jesus. This can be found in today's text, where Jesus Himself also says, "I have washed your feet, Master and Master" (verse 14). I don't know if a disciple washes his master's feet either then or now, but it's unimaginable for a master to wash his students' feet. So the disciples had no choice but to panic. We can see that today in Peter's initial refusal. He was so embarrassed that he had no choice but to say no.
It's rainless, hot and dusty in the tropics, and so it was, but it was customary to wear shoes like full-toed slippers. Our ancestors wore sandals, although we were not tropical. Slippers and sandals don't just get all your toes out, and that's why, but they get dirty most easily in hot weather and you sweat a lot, and sweat and dust will make a paste and smell bad. As people who live on the ground in the tropics, the tendency to think that the feet are the dirtiest and most filthy parts of the body may have arisen from this.
So, as it should be, it was a Jewish custom to offer foot-washing water to visitors entering the house. So, no matter where you enter the house, the first thing the owner does to greet you is to provide you with water for washing your feet. It was basic.
But it was not unusual for Jesus to wash the smelly feet of his disciples. Why? What was the motive for Jesus, the Master and Lord, to wash the feet of his disciples? With what heart would you do that? And I can't help but wonder.
You can find several reasons in today's text. First, as the text says, it was an expression of Jesus' love for his disciples. Knowing that the time when he had to leave this world was over, Jesus said, “He loved the disciples he loved in this world even more” (verse 1). It can be said that Jesus' extreme love for his disciples was motivated by his desire to show that he loved his disciples by washing their feet before he left.
And it should also be noted that today's text says that the way to have a deep relationship with Jesus is to be washed by Jesus. No, Jesus Himself said so. It is supposed to be addressed to Peter who refused, but he came to say that if people do not wash their feet directly by Jesus, they “have nothing to do with Jesus” (verse 8). Hearing this, Peter hears the words and in a hurry, makes foolish remarks, asking him to even give him a bath.
Next, it can be said that Jesus' washing the disciples' feet was a symbolic act to teach the importance of service. Since Jesus never claimed to be an authoritarian high teacher or Lord, this could be seen as an expression of Jesus' humility, but more than that, as Jesus said, "I set an example for you to do what I did to you" ( 15), he said. Verse 17 says, “Practice it as it is.” Especially, since we know that the disciples were arguing over who is the best among them, it can be said that Jesus is giving a clear message through the act of washing their feet as a teacher.
We need to remember that serving and participating in the Passion are not two different things. What does it mean, especially on the season of Lent, that we remember the Passion of Christ and share in His Passion? It means serving him. It is, of course, not just for Christ that we participate in and serve Christ in His Passion. To participate in Christ's passion and serve Him means to share the misfortunes of our neighbors and unhappy peoples without turning away, and to serve for them.
If it is true that we suffered on the cross for us on this Lent, and it is true that we are trying to keep this Lent meaningfully, just as we cannot turn away from Christ, who is suffering more and more miserable than we are. Can we not turn away from our neighbors who are experiencing hardship and misfortune, such a nation?
We do not think we are talking about God's service on behalf of God's mission. I have to say both, but I am trying to say that speaking of God's mission in words without God's service is ineffective and no longer appropriate in the world to come.
Let's think again about what Jesus said after he washed the sweaty feet of his disciples. “I set an example for you to do what I did to you.” "Practice it as it is."