28 March 2024 Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-4, 11-1; Psalm 116:1-2, 11-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

“Unless I wash you, you have no share with me”.  An innocent enough statement, but it is one which leaves me with concerns.  You see, I don’t like people touching my feet, I jump when they do; in fact if I become aware of your hand getting even close enough that you might touch my feet, I may still jump.  And that is why I often do not have my feet washed, preferring for the ‘alternate’ option of hand washing.  But this statement from Jesus leaves me questioning whether I should just ‘put up with it’ and ‘steel myself’ and allow my feet to be washed.

Peter’s objection is not really about the fact that Jesus tries to wash his feet, but that Jesus tries to wash his feet.  You see this task, necessary for guests after a long journey so that the dust from their journey can be washed off and they are ‘relaxed’ for their meal, is usually performed by servants (in wealthier households) or the guest themselves in more meagre homes.  It was also common for students to wash the feet of their teacher, but not for a master or teacher to wash the feet of the student, or in this case, the disciple.  So Peter’s objection is about the violation of protocol in Jesus’ washing of his feet, and also, maybe, that he sees himself, and the others, as unworthy of such a great outpouring of love from this one they all regarded as Lord.

And Jesus’ response to Peter reveals the significance of the ritual Jesus is performing.  In saying he would have no ‘share’ with Jesus if he did not allow him to wash his feet, Jesus is reminding Peter that he, and the others, are co-sharers with Jesus and with one another.  And although Jesus chides Peter for ‘going overboard’ when he suggests that he wash not just his feet but his hands and head, Jesus knows that Peter has finally understood.

And Jesus invites us to understand this also.  He is reminding us that having a share with him includes following his example of sustained love for one another and all those we encounter in our life journey.  This idea of being co-sharers with Jesus is also amplified further on in this passage.  Jesus has revealed himself as God’s emissary on earth, and he made evident God’s presence among us.  And now as he is nearing the end of his earthly journey, Jesus invites his co-sharers to live as an expression of his presence on the earth.  He invites us to embody his ministerial vision as our own and do all that is necessary to bring that vision to a reality.

Tonight, we receive Jesus’ commandment anew: “just as I have loved you, you also should love one another”.  May we permit Jesus to lovingly wash our feet and, as co-sharers with Jesus, preserve one another’s physical, psychic, soulish, and material well-being – wash one another’s feet.