For all

Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

When I was a child, we had one TV, it was in the living room, and we watched it together. There were 3 channels to choose from, ABC, CBS, NBC. Then FOX came on and now there are more channels than we can ever watch. And more ways to watch them than ever. There is something for everyone, children, women, sports enthusiasts, just music with notes about the artist, and so forth. And for those who still can’t make a choice, there is the power button. Something for everyone.  

… By the time the story of the Exodus was written down, some parts of it had already become ritualized, made easy to memorize. This passage is one such story. It’s familiar to us because it forms the basis of the Jewish Passover meal, at which the story of the first meal and its importance of the event have been celebrated for 3,000 years.

I assume you know the story, so I want to focus on one aspect of it: the animal which is slaughtered and consumed. The instructions are to have no leftovers; the animal must be totally consumed at this meal. Families are instructed to sacrifice a lamb for the household. If the family is small, two families can join to share in eating the meal. And if the family is poor, the animal can be a goat kid instead of a sheep lamb. Apparently, a kid is less expensive than a lamb.

In this way, the observance of the Passover is made as inclusive as possible. It’s suitable for large or small families, and for wealthy and poor families. And as the observance took shape over the centuries, it’s designed to include all ages. Since the 200’s CE, the youngest child able to do so asks the four questions that invite the storytelling.  In this way, all are included in the celebration of the Passover.

… Our Monday night Bible study class has been reading and discussing 1 Corinthians, and we just got to the portion leading up to tonight’s text. Paul writes in response to some letters he has received, and some stories he has heard, about practices in the church.

It’s a good news, bad news situation. It’s good news that some of the folks are wealthy with large homes, and are able to host the weekly gatherings for worship. It’s good news that the congregations were having holy communion as part of their worship. It’s good news that the Corinthians were gathering for a meal before worship.

But it’s bad news that there were economic divisions in this meal. It’s bad news to learn that the wealthy folks had sumptuous meals in lavish settings, while the poorer folks had simple meals in simple settings.

Paul writes to the church that status is meaningless in God’s eyes, and the communion meal is intended for everyone, regardless of wealth or status. The easy solution, Paul instructs, is to not include a dinner with worship. Those who are hungry should eat before coming to the house for worship.

… The holy communion meal is of course based on the last supper Jesus had with the disciples. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke it’s a Passover meal. But in John, there is no mention of the Passover at the last supper. As John writes the story, he shifts the timeline, so that Jesus is on the cross, a final sacrifice, just as the lambs and kids are being slaughtered for the Passover meal. In this way, Jesus is the Lamb, slain and offered for us.

Instead of the Passover, John tells us that Jesus used this meal together to get the disciples ready for his death and resurrection. I am leaving you, he says, and here’s how I want you to carry on when I am gone.

He demonstrates this by inviting them all to let him wash their feet. Probably their feet are clean, because a servant would have washed them when they entered the house. But Jesus wants to make the point. He is no better than the lowest servant in the household. And he wants them all to think of themselves that way, too.

Peter, of course, represents us. No, Lord, I am not worthy of having you wash my feet. I don’t want you to smell them, or see them in all their brokenness and imperfections. It’s been a long time since they looked brand new. It’s humiliating for someone as grand as you to stoop to see and touch the shamefulness of my feet.

We know Jesus persists, and Peter succumbs. Jesus’ point is that we are all equal in God’s eyes. Whether we get foot massages and pedicures and our feet are pretty good looking, they are no better than the feet of those who don’t even have water for bathing. If he were here today, Jesus would wash all our feet.

But since he’s not, you will have an opportunity to wash each other’s feet, or allow me to do so. Because we want all to be included, in recent years, the option of washing hands has been added.

… It’s clear from the Bible stories that God intends for all to be included in the blessings. In Genesis 12, God tells Abram that the whole world will be blessed through him. Moses and the Prophets regularly proclaim, announce, that all should be welcome and treated kindly.

Tonight, Jesus teaches the disciples that they are sent out as servants, humble enough to wash the feet of anyone they are trying to reach with Jesus’ love. We, too, are Jesus’ disciples, sent out to proclaim, announce, Jesus’ love through our own humble efforts. In this way, all are blessed by God through us. Amen