In light of this tragedy it was hard to determine what to preach on for this Sunday at the Topsfield Fair. I struggled to come to grips with a next step. I had a general plan of a text, but the more I prayed about it the less it made sense for this particular Sunday. The current text I feel led to preach on is still very much in development, but I do sense a prompting from the Holy Spirit to preach on  John 13. I did preach on John 13 in the Spring, but will approach it from a different angle this Sunday. John 13 is the text in which our Lord washes the feet of the disciples.

The time of this event was right before the Passover Festival (v. 1). So everyone was descending on Jerusalem for this huge event in the life of the Jewish people. Jesus knew that it was time to go back to the Father. (v. 1). And as a side note, the disciples didn’t know this. This is the hard part of walking by faith. There are so many things we don’t understand. In the minds of the disciples, Jesus was about to go way too early. But Jesus knew that it was His time. Jesus had loved His own and would love them to the end. (v.1). Jesus was about to demonstrate His everlasting love for His disciples.

The backdrop of the meal is then described. This would have been a meal of fellowship and warmth, but darkness is about to break in. How often in Florida is there a sunny day and then a black cloud descends and thunder and lightning suddenly strike. How often are there moments of laughter and joy and all of a sudden something unexpected and tragic occurs. This is one of these moments. What is unfolding is not unexpected by Jesus, but the pain and heartache is very real to the disciples. Jesus Christ is about to be betrayed. Satan is real and the cosmic battle wages. He is bent on taking Jesus and His followers out. That is his mission. Simultaneously, Jesus knew that all things were placed under His feet (v. 3). The sovereignty of God is clear in this. Not some things. All things are under the feet of Jesus, including Satan. Jesus is on the throne and will rule and reign for eternity. In moments of great chaos and sadness and our lives and in our nation, may this reality be a true comfort and source of healing and power.

Then the One who has all things under His feet, wraps a towel around His waist and pours water into a basin and begins to watch the feet of His disciples. Unreal. The One whose feet rule over all, stoops low to wash dirty, grimy feet of sinners. You and I can’t make this up. Peter can’t believe it and incredulously asks,

“Lord, are you going to watch my feet?” (v. 6).

Jesus then replies,

“you do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (v. 7).

At the time Peter was not able to comprehend what Jesus was doing. He could not grasp the depth of what was going on, nor the deeper purpose in it.

How often does this happen in our own walk of faith? So many times things happen around us and the Lord’s purposes are not at all clear. Heartache, tragedy, confusion and the other vicissitudes of life are very hard to comprehend. Couple that with our desire to know the “why” behind everything. It is so hard to deal with not being able to grasp it all.

Yet, we trust as believers His good grace, leading and love and He teaches us as we go. This combination of the living with the unknown and the reality of our day to day is called faith and trust. Faith in our good and loving God and trusting in His redemptive purposes even if they don’t seem to add up or make sense. Peter is trying to make sense of this and he is struggling as to why the Lord would stoop down to wash his feet. Yet, the Lord is encouraging Peter to receive and to truly walk by faith. But Peter responds with a no to the Lord….

Imagine that…saying no to Jesus…right to His face nonetheless. Wow, that is audacious! Perhaps part of Peter’s response is that he cannot comprehend why the Lord would stoop down like this. But also perhaps part of his response is pride in that he will not humble himself to receive. We often think that serving others is a humbling act, which it is. But so is receiving love and care from others. Jesus needs Peter to receive this love. This is foreshadowing what is to come with the death of Jesus on the cross.

All who would hope to inherit eternal life must be born again.

All must be washed by the blood of Christ so sin is washed away.

Otherwise, we stand before the Lord trying to justify ourselves. We cannot save ourselves. Only by the grace and power of Jesus is this possible. What and where in our lives are we withholding from Jesus? Where are we attempting to “save ourselves” by working so hard for Jesus instead of learning to follow Jesus and then pouring out from that outflow? Take some time to process and pray about your deep down attitudes in this for a bit and ask the Lord to be gracious and show His ways!

So then Peter sways all the way to the other direction and said,

But Jesus reminds Peter that he is already clean v. 10 (by his belief). Peter will just need a good old-fashioned foot washing. Everything else is taken care of. Believers accumulate “dirt” over time, for example bad habits, bitterness, the need to control, etc. This is the “foot washing” in our lives as believers. We have been justified and forgiven by His grace- thanks be to God. We just need to learn to walk in that newness of life and let the Lord sanctify us day by day!

In the midst of this moment, Jesus is also about to go through the tremendous agony of betrayal by Judas. Yet, the Lord is not surprised by this. He is sovereign. In this time of great trial in His own life, He demonstrates His love to others and cares for us intimately. In the time of great trials in our own lives, we see how He does the same. In a lost and hurting world, there is no greater hope than this.

The passage concludes in v. 12-17 by the Lord reminding the disciples of His authority and His service to them. Because of this demonstration, those who are around Him are to pour out their lives and “wash the feet” of others. Lord, give us wisdom into these matters!

I hope to see many of you Sunday at the Fair! Speaking of the Fair thanks to Pastor Rolan who did a great job preaching their last week. Continue to invite friends for this week and let me know if you need some tickets as I still have a few! And if you can’t make the Fair, I hope come to FCCB and hear Pastor Tom bring the Word. May the Lord bless and guide these simultaneous services for His glory and renown!

Blessings,

Pastor Andrew