This week’s sermon is from the book, “Sermons For Seniors” by George Boose, used with
permission of the author.
Audio Sermon
Soul Washing
"After that, He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe
them with the towel with which He was girded" (John 13:5)
One of the most remarkable stories of all
time concerning humbleness and someone willing to assume the attitude of a
servant is the account of Jesus when He stooped to wash the feet of His
disciples. Reading from the Book of John (13:5)… “He
poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe
them with the towel which was wrapped around Him.” In that period of
history the people didn’t wear socks and shoes and walk on clean, paved
sidewalks like we do. Bare feet were enclosed in open sandals. They traveled
dusty, dirty trails. The days were hot. You can imagine the condition of a
person’s feet at the close of the day. That was what Jesus was willing to
tackle.
A very real, physical need existed. The
situation called for a lowly servant to kneel before these men and wash their
feet. But instead, our Lord and Master, the King of Kings, took it upon Himself
to perform this menial act of selfless service. The narrative in John continues,
“When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His
clothes and returned to His place. ‘Do you
understand what I have done for you?’ He asked
them. ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly
so, for that is what I am… I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you’” (John 13:12-15). No
matter how impressive an example Jesus made here of actual humble service to
others, there is also much more to consider. Not only did Jesus wash their dirty
feet with a basin of water and a rag, but in a few days He would wash their
souls clean with His blood upon the cross.
Peter was reluctant to let Jesus wash his
feet. He sputtered, "'No,’ said Peter, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no
part with Me’” (John 13:8). He didn’t physically overpower Peter and wash
him by force, He waited for Peter to offer himself to be cleansed. And he did.
Likewise, the salvation that God offers through His Son, Jesus Christ, will
never be forced upon us. But we must only submit ourselves in obedience to
Christ, and He will do much more than cleanse our feet, He will wash our souls
spotless for eternity. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as they prepared
for a meal, He washed our souls clean from their sins with His precious blood
when He hung in torment upon the cross.
Why would Jesus do such a thing? He did it
because He loves us, and because He considers us His friends. Reading from the
Book of John, “Greater love has no one than this, that he
lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). How true that is; there
can be no greater love than the act of someone laying down his life for his
friends. Continuing with the next verses, “You are My
friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a
servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends,
for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you”
(John 15:14-15). Jesus wants us to be His friend.
How badly we all need friends. Just six
weeks before he died, Elvis Presley was asked by a reporter, “Elvis, when you started playing music, you said you wanted three
things in life: you wanted to be rich, you wanted to be famous, and you wanted
to be happy. You are fabulously famous, you’re rich; are you happy?” And
the rich and famous Elvis Presley sadly replied, “No, I’m
as lonely as hell.” Lonely, sad, not happy. He needed a friend. In
Chicago, a woman jumped out of the 14th floor of her apartment building and
killed herself. She left a suicide note; it said she was going to jump because
she was lonely. She needed a friend. Elvis needed a friend, the woman in Chicago
needed a friend, millions of people in this world need a friend. I think they
all need Jesus, the greatest Friend anyone could ever have.
Not only does Jesus wash souls, He puts
lives back together. That was what Elvis needed. That was what the woman in
Chicago needed. Someone, anyone, a friend, to put their lonely lives back
together into something meaningful.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Millions of souls have sat on that wall.
Millions of souls have had a great fall.
The sin in their lives, without God in their hearts
Has allowed them to fall and break into parts.
Shattered lives all around, seeking answers not found.
Neither doctors nor lawyers nor psychics nor friends
Can put broken lives together again.
But we have the answer for this world of ours;
To heal the fallen of their painful scars.
Whether death or unemployment or illness or divorce,
CHRIST is the answer, the ultimate source.
In Colossians One, down in Verse 17,
We read that Christ holds together all things.
So forget the king’s horses, forget the king’s men,
And let Christ be the glue that puts lives together again.
Just what does verse 17 in the first
Chapter of Colossians say? “He (Jesus)
is before all things, and in Him all things hold together”
(Colossians 1:17). Powerful!
What a friend we have in Jesus. We can find
safe harbor with Jesus in time of need. He’ll wash our souls, He will put our
shattered lives together, He will keep us safe and secure. The Psalmist writes,
“But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock
in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 94:22). Considering all that God will do
for us, it seems like we should have a pretty good outlook on life – and Jesus
can supply that also.
Sometimes we don’t see life as we should.
Life becomes so easy with all our complaining and petty problems that we
overlook our blessings. Sometimes we get like that old Yankee farmer up in the
State of Vermont who was selling his house in the hills. One day the farmer was
down in the city at the real estate office when a prospective buyer asked about
the property. He said, “I’m an artist. I want a good view
to paint. Does your house have a good view?” The farmer thought for a
moment, and then as honestly as possible he replied, “Well,
from the front porch you can see Ed Snow’s barn up the road a piece, but
honestly there ain’t nothing but a bunch of mountains.” The farmer had
lived there for many years, but somehow he never really saw the beauty that
surrounded him.
Jesus once said, “Though
seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand”
(Matthew 13:13). How often do we fail to see and hear and understand the beauty
Jesus has provided for us. He has washed our souls, He has put our lives
together, He stands by our side as our refuge in the time of need. Let us shout
the praise of King David, “Surely goodness and mercy will
follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever” (Psalm 23:6).
Dear Lord, I am lonely and I need You.
Please forgive me for not coming to You sooner. I place my trust in You. Please
be my Friend, now and forever. Thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
