Sounds of the Passion: Sloshing Water :: John 13:1-15 (34-35)

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[Out of sight, behind the pulpit, pour water into a bowl.] 

[Introduction]

Did you hear that? It’s the sound of water being poured from a pitcher into a bowl. 

[Show the bowl, set it down, and pour more.]

That was a common sound in the days before running water. It was common in every bedroom to have a pitcher and basin to wash in before beginning the new day. And the sound of sloshing water had a special significance in the Passion of our Lord. The sound signified a special cleaning ... By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus made the disciples clean. 

Jesus also gave us a washing. He washed us in Baptism. Through the washing of water and the Word of God, he made us clean. So tonight, therefore, listen ...

WE HEAR THE SOUND OF SLOSHING WATER TO REMIND US OF OUR CLEANSING

1. To understand the importance of sloshing water, we need to remember the customs in Jesus’ day. 

First, anything dealing with the feet was considered dirty and disgusting. Cleaning feet was fit ONLY for the LOWEST slaves. In fact, Jewish masters couldn’t force Jewish slaves to clean their feet ... only Gentile slaves could be required to do such a thing. So when John the Baptizer said he wasn’t fit to untie Jesus’ sandals, he expressed just how deeply he was abasing himself.

Another thing to remember is the Passover was a formal and festive meal ... one of the most important ones of the year. Everyone would wear their finest clothing, like we used to do in church. They would look their best. They would eat Roman style, reclining on couches. 

There was only one problem. After getting cleaned up, you then had to walk on dusty roads. So the host kept a basin of water near the door to wash feet. 

Now it wasn’t your job to do that. Again, washing feet was a tradition for the lowest of the low. It was the chore of slaves. Of course, there were no slaves in the upper room on the night of his betrayal ... at least none identified by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. The Passover supper on this night had been arranged rather hastily that day by Peter and John (Lk 22:7-13). Then when evening came, Jesus and the disciples walked two miles from Bethany to the upper room and began to eat the Passover meal. Since this important meal was entirely private, the servants likely weren’t present to untie the sandals of their guests and slosh water on their feet. Yet the water pot, the basin, and the towel were in place. 

So sometime during supper, when the devil had already cast into the heart of Judas Iscariot ... that he should deliver him up ... Jesus ... rose from supper and set aside his garments and, having taken a towel, tied it around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him (vv 2-5).

We don’t know the exact order of whom Jesus served first in this menial task. Perhaps he went first to Matthew, then to John and James. In any case, he knelt behind each man as their feet dangled over the edge of the couch. He removed their sandals, then he sloshed fresh water over their feet and wiped them clean. Jesus didn’t say a word as he did this. 

3. The only sound in the room is that of sloshing water ... until Jesus came to Peter.

Peter was filled with shame as he watched Jesus, his Lord and Master, wash the disciples’ feet. Lord, he said, do you wash my feet? So Jesus replied: You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but later you will understand (vv 6–7).

Peter’s protest seemed to be modest. His protest seemed to honor Christ. But it was just vanity. Peter wasn’t willing to admit that Jesus had to do everything for him ... literally, wash him, feed him, clothe him, give him faith, and save him. Peter wanted to believe that he could do something for Jesus. 

No, Lord, he said, pulling back ... you will never wash my feet!

Peter, Jesus replied, unless I wash you, you have no part with me (v 8).

Then Peter relented, only with typical overstatement. Then, Lord, not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well! (v 9). 

Peter didn’t want things done halfway ... he wanted it all. He wanted it done in tradition. Peter thought it was only through full submersion that he would be clean. Peter thought that then he would follow Jesus ... and love Jesus. 

4. But hear the sound of sloshing water.

Our Lord has come to wash his disciples once again! Our Lord comes in the clothes of a slave. He comes in baptism. He comes to absolve. He comes in the Supper. He comes to save. He comes to give you new life. 

The water of Baptism is not just water. Baptism is the Word of God in and with the water. So Jesus washes us in Baptism. He makes us clean. He cleanses us from the sin and death that sticks to us. He prepares us to receive life and salvation in the Lord’s Supper. These two means of grace ... Baptism and the Lord’s Supper ... do all these things because they connect us to the death and resurrection of Jesus. We died in baptism and were raised into new life. Jesus’ blood was poured out on the cross. And those who eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus have eternal life. 

[Conclusion]

Now that you have that eternal life, what will you do with it? 

After Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he told them that they were to wash each other’s feet. A new command I give you, he told them. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (13:34–35). We are indeed called to do this with the same humble, caring love that Jesus shared with his disciples. So do that. 

Amen, Amen, I say to you: A slave is not greater than his Lord, nor is an apostle greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them ... in Jesus’ name.

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