Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14        Psalm 116:1, 10-17    1 Corinthians 11:23-26           John 13:1-17, 31b-35

                It wasn’t until I sat down to write this sermon that it occurred to me – the first Maundy Thursday must have been on April Fool’s day like this one.  The disciples must have thought, “what kind of joke is this – Jesus washing our feet like a common servant?”  After all, they have been with this man for months, and they understood that to be in his presence was to be in the presence of God!  It would be like having the Bishop Desmond Tutu come to dinner at your house and start bussing the table, washing the dishes. 

                Remember that story about Mary and Martha.  Martha did all the work and then complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping.  Jesus said Mary had her priorities right – she was listening, she was learning.  Mary was not caught up in all that needed to be done, like Martha.  Jesus didn’t seem to value doing the chores – he didn’t even place the importance in the Jewish law that required everyone to wash their hands before eating – he defended his disciples when challenged by the Pharisees and reminded them that even King David broke from tradition when he was hungry.

                Now, the very man who seemed to place so little importance on the purity laws was washing his disciples’ feet.  Any second now, Jesus would stand up laughing his infectious laugh and say it, “April Fools!”  But no, Jesus did not stand up and he told Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”  Once again Jesus was turning the tables on what people, even his disciples, believed.  He was going against societal norms and he was teaching his disciples what God calls each of us to do.

                Just for a moment, let’s look at Peter’s response.  Peter says the Lord will never wash his feet, but upon hearing Jesus’ response – he says, then wash my hands and my head as well.  Jesus had just said, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand,” and clearly Peter does not understand.  Jesus is teaching the disciples what it means to be the Son of Man – what it means to be a disciple.  Peter’s hands and head are already clean – but his feet and the feet of everyone at the table are dirty.  In Jewish tradition, people would bath themselves before going into a home for a feast.  At the entrance into the home, their feet would be washed by servants, cleanse for entry.  Jesus is not only demonstrating humility by becoming a servant to the disciples, he is also preparing the disciple for their entry into the kingdom – for their true service to God. 

                The disciples did not understand, that Jesus was to die that week, and the disciples were entering into a new life of servant hood that none of them understood.  After he washed their feet, Jesus put his robe back on and returned to the table saying:

"Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

Jesus tells the disciples they are to follow his example – they are to wash one another’s feet – they are to prepare each other for entry, entry into God’s kingdom.  We can only do so much by ourselves, we need help and we need to help others.  Being a Christian is just not about our relationship with Christ – it is about our relationship with God and our neighbors.  Remember, we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all soul, with all our strength, and with all our minds, and the second commandment is equal this one – we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

                My friends, we cannot have a truly meaningful relationship with God if we ignore our neighbors.  Jesus humbled himself and washed the feet of the disciples out of love for them.  What he was to do next for them, what he was to do for them when they cowered in fear, was also beyond their immediate understanding. 

                Tonight, all who wish to share in their experience are invited to come forward and have your feet washed by me and by Sue Geery.  Every time I’ve participated in this liturgy, I’ve been uncomfortable having someone else do this for me – it is difficult to imagine what Peter most have felt having Jesus washed his feet.  Still, like our Eucharist, it is a liturgy that can lead us to a new understanding of Christ.

                After the invitation, I ask that those of you who wish to participate, line up in the center aisle.  I will wash Sue’s feet then she will wash mine.  Then as one of the chairs becomes available, please take a seat and let us do as Christ directed and wash your feet. 

Let us pray.

Lord God, in your infinite love you sent your Son to us that he might show us the way to life.  Help us to take to heart his call to serve and be present to each other.  In this week of remembrance, we ask especially that you will lead us through the darkness into the light that we might come to know and love you more deeply – that we might come to know and love and serve others with joy and thanksgiving.   All this we ask in the name of your son, our savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.