Doing Feet

I came across a sermon this week whose writer seemed to be claiming that the purpose of the foot-washing was to make everyone “equal”, which seemed to mean that everyone was the “same.”

To me, it made Jesus sound like a present-day politician, arguing that we ought to be “equal” which apparently means to be equally miserable.

That is accomplished by confiscating money or property from some in order to give to others.

This seems to be wandering far afield from what Jesus is saying and doing.

Jesus in washing the disciples feet is not making himself the same as the disciples; he is still very much Lord and Master – but he is demonstrating that he is a very different Lord and Master,

one who gives himself away in order to invite his disciples into a different life.

He invites; he does not compel.

He offers instead of demanding.

He gives instead of foisting something upon the disciples.

And since the foot-washing job was completed for that night, each disciple would need to discover another way in which to respond to Jesus' gift.

They wouldn't be identical; each response would have to fit the gift and opportunities that came before each disciple.

And there would be failures and false starts, and confession, and forgiveness, and fresh starts and foot-washing kinds of activities of all sorts.

It is wonderful news that we have multiple chances;

one of the first servanthood opportunities that the disciples had was to stay awake in the garden, and we know that didn't work out too well.

That is the situation with us today as well.

We are equally in need of his gifts and promises, again and again.

We who have heard the story of Jesus self-offering are all challenged, day after day.

What will each of those who literally have had their feet washed do because this has happened to them?

Jesus is giving us a nudge.

Jesus is making an invitation to those whose feet have been washed ...and to those who have observed from the safety of a yonder pew

What will each if us do because this happens?

No matter which aspect of the passion story one contemplates, these same questions follow us around.

How shall we respond to Jesus self-offering?

How shall we praise God because Jesus says “my Body and Blood, given and shed for you.”?

How shall we deal with a neighbor because Jesus takes our sin in all of its gruesome variety to the cross?

How shall we sing because the story ends with resurrected life instead of the death we would otherwise assume?

How shall we use the talents and opportunities granted to us in the most effective ways?

What does foot-washing look like in your life and in mine?

The answers will be different for each of us, but they all spring from the same self-giving of Jesus to us.

There is a verse from the book of Romans that mentions feet, a verse that may help us here:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.” [R.10:15]

These feet that have been washed, these persons that have been gifted, recognize much more deeply the beauty of what they have received when they begin to give the gift away.

Those who serve as our home-communion visitors have expressed that to me again and again.

I hear it from those who have invited someone closer to Jesus through worship or Bible School or some other activity.

I've heard it from those who carry bread and soup to the ill or shut-in as well as to those who are celebrating a birth or some other joy.

And on it continues.

Feet:

dirty, smelly feet

traveled, impetuous, betraying feet

washed, cleansed, forgiven feet

beautiful, sent feet,

All these feet that Jesus knows better than anyone else could know.

Feet with whom Jesus is patient beyond measure.

Our feet. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.