This is part of the worship series
"Picture Jesus"
Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5
Palm Sunday | Good Friday | Easter
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Foot Washer
Service of Confession
Call to Confession
In this season in which we remember our Savior’s suffering, let us confess our sinfulness to him.
Our Prayer of Confession
Most holy and merciful Father, we confess to you and to one another that we have sinned against you by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways, by forgetting your love. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father, and free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Pardon
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest but was appointed by[a] the one who said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have begotten you”;
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
—Hebrews 5:5–10 NRSVUE
Hymn:
“Christ, the Life of All the Living” (st. 1) Homeburg et al.
A Commitment to Holy Living
Since we have been saved by grace, how shall we live in obedience to Him who saved us?
We will love the Lord our God with all our heart, our mind and our strength; and we will love our neighbors as ourselves.
And how will it be clear that your Lord has first place in your life?
We will have no other gods before God; we will not make for ourselves any substitute gods; we will not abuse the name of the Lord but speak it only in reverence and love; we will honor the Lord’s day through worship, witness, and fellowship with God’s people.
And how will it be clear that you love others as yourself?
We will honor our parents and hold the family in high esteem; we will not abuse, hate, or injure our friends or neighbors by word, gesture or deed; we will live sexually holy and disciplined lives; we will not steal; we will not lie; we will not grasp for what we do not have, nor reject others for having it.
Will you commit yourselves to this obedience?
Yes, by God’s grace we will do it!
The Word
Scripture
Psalm 51:1–12; Hebrews 5:5–10
Text:
John 13:1–17
Sermon Notes
About the time that I was preparing this message, I saw a full-page seminary ad in Christianity Today. Across the page in boldface letters were the words “Want to be World Class? Grab a Towel!” What an excellent lead-in for this sermon!
To fully understand the impact of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, our congregation needed to enter the mind and heart of Jesus as he approached this task. Jesus knew that when he made arrangements for this Passover feast, he was also making arrangements for the great personal crisis that was looming before him. He was also well aware of the difficult task he faced in confronting Judas about his betrayal contract and confronting Peter about his approaching denials.
For a number of good reasons, the footwashing should never have happened. For one thing, it went against social custom. Servants and slaves washed feet, not leaders like Jesus. Also, the pain and hurt Jesus was feeling as he contemplated the coming hours must have made it almost unbearable to wash feet around the circle with both Judas and Peter sitting there. So why did he do it? Was it just a matter of protocol? Was it a matter of dirty feet? Of ceremonial fulfillment?
According to verses 12–17, the footwashing was a teaching session for Jesus. And the lesson was about leadership. The disciples were somewhat polarized over two kinds of leadership—power leadership and service leadership. The same polarization has been present ever since in the church.
More than a simple teaching session, the towel on Thursday evening was also a prophecy of the ultimate washing Jesus would provide on Friday through his crucifixion.
Perhaps grabbing a towel is a much better symbol of Christian discipleship than we’ve been willing to admit.
Other Service Elements
Congregational Song
“Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God” Bonar and Wittenberg
“All Praise to You, My God, This Night” Ken and Tallis
“Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” Bayly et al.
“The Servant Song” Gillard
“What Wondrous Love” Mead's et al.
“O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” Kempis, trans. Webb
“May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” Wilkinson et al.
Choral Suggestions
“Christ’s Own Body,” Margaret Tucker (Choristers Guild CGA801, unison/two-part anthem with keyboard, opt. congregation, and handbells)
Instrumental Suggestions
“What Wondrous Love,” Lloyd Larson (Beckenhorst HB150, a bell anthem)
“Wondrous Love,” Samuel Barber (Schrimer 44477)
“Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service,” Charles Callahan (Six Meditations on American Folk Hymns; pleading savior; Concordia 97-6140)
“All Praise to You, My God, This Night,” Richard Purvis (Seven Chorale Preludes; tallis canon; Fischer 0 3450)
Liturgy Notes
- Because of the emphasis on humble service toward others, we found this service to be an ideal time to focus on some of the mission and outreach efforts of our congregation.
- Both the service music and the congregational songs of the service reflected the calling of humble service as an expression of the mind of Christ.
Revised Common Lectionary
Year B: Lent—Fifth Sunday in Lent
