Walking the Palm Sunday Path Lent midweek 4
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
John 13:1–9, 33–35
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. 2 The devil had already decided[a] that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”… 3 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”
It’s the kind of love to which we can only aspire.
It’s the kind of love that can change the world.
It’s the kind of love we are called to embody.
Humble. Self-giving. Unconditional. Radical
The night before Jesus dies, during the last moments with his disciples, he chooses to wash feet. An onerous task today, even more distasteful back then. Sandaled feet that have walked dusty roads, through mud and animal waste and all the debris left from other travelers on the road. Feet that would have been washed by the lowest ranked slave in a household that had slaves. Feet that the disciples should have washed themselves, if they hadn’t been in such a hurry to grab the best seats at the table.
Of all the things Jesus could have done in those precious last few hours, washing his disciples feet was on no one list. The scandal of the teacher assuming the job himself, instead of appointing a disciple to do it. An example of humility.
He washed all their feet. Judas who had already set the machinations in place to betray him. Peter who would deny he even knew Jesus. The other disciples who would flee when he got arrested. The women who followed him to the cross. Every. Single. Person in the room. No exceptions. No one was too flawed, no one unworthy. Unconditional love, amazing grace.
He poured water into the bowl, poured it over their feet, just as he would pour out his life blood on the cross. After washing their feet, he teaches them that this is love – to lay down one’s live for one’s friends. He has washed their feet, expecting them to serve each other and the world in the same way, giving of themselves.
The message for us is clear, even if we don’t want to hear it. No one is outside God’s love. No one is unworthy of grace. The message is clear, even if there are those who we wish we could exclude. But that’s the radical nature of love incarnate. In Jesus, love shared our human life, lived in difficult times, served both friend and foe. Love incarnate that stands in the face of evil proclaiming another way, the way of love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Love that heals the sick, feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger, washes the feet of those who will betray, deny, and abandon it.
Perhaps the most scandalous thing about this radical love: it is the only force in the world that can stand against oppression, violence, hatred, and evil. The truth revealed as Jesus washed the dirt from their feet: love wins in the end.
Radical love incarnate through servant leadership.
It’s the kind of love to which we can only aspire.
It’s the kind of love that can change the world.
It’s the kind of love we are called to embody.