Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday
April 21, 2011

It's All About Cleansing
John 13:1-15

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear friends,

Only two disciples are mentioned by name in our Gospel account of the Last Supper: Judas and Peter.

Jesus knew was Judas was about to betray Him. But He still washed Judas' feet along with all the rest of the disciples. Why did He wash Judas' feet? Why didn't He just have Peter, James, and John kick Judas out of the upper room? Or better yet, why had Jesus called Judas to be one of His disciples in the first place?

Because of His great mercy. He wanted Judas to go to heaven. So He allowed this sinner to hear His Word of forgiveness countless times. Jesus washed his feet, but in the end Judas tragically rejected forgiveness.

On the other hand, Peter rejected the foot washing. Perhaps the other disciples felt akward or even ashamed that Jesus was having to the perform the lowliest dirtiest of all jobs. But no one said anything. And then Peter spoke up and told Jesus that He'd never wash his feet.

But at least this time Peter listening when Jesus answered.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.”
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!” 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.” For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not every one was clean. (John 13:6-11)

What was it that Peter would later understand? That because of Jesus' sacrifice, by His making Himself nothing, the lowest of the low, the most shameful sin-carrier of mankind, Peter was clean in God's eyes.

This foot washing pictured the love that sacrifcies our get-our-own-way attitude and clings to our Father's will so that another person's best interests are looked after. And getting clean is in everyone's best interest, because everyone is filthy because of sin.

Everything that Jesus did for us is about getting us clean. Hours before He gives up His body and sheds His blood on the cross, He gave His church His true body and blood to eat and to drink for the cleansing of sin.

As we join Peter in eating and drinking this Holy Supper, let us rejoice that it's all about cleansing.

Praise be to Christ, our Savior who washes us clean!

Amen.