Thy rage, implacable! Too well I knew:
The Furies that relentless breast have steel’d.
And cursed thee with a heart that cannot yield.
Yet think, a day will come, when fate’s decree
And angry gods shall wreak this wrong on thee;
Phoebus and Paris shall avenge my fate,
And stretch thee here before the Scaean gate.
These, the last words…the dying Hector spoke to Achilles in the Illiad.
Maybe I should have said… “Spoiler Alert – Achilles kills Hector in the Illiad.”
Sorry…I just assumed no one here this evening is just chomping at the bit to get home and find out what happens next in the Illiad.
There’s something that happens quite often in Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean literature. It’s a kind of device occurring when certain characters are nearing or even sensing their approaching death. It’s not a “my life is flashing before my eyes…I now understand the meaning of my own existence” kind of device that we often see in contemporary American literature or film. You know like the “Roooosebuuuud” moment in Citizen Cain. No…in the ancient Mediterranean stories, the dying person receives and shares a unique insight into the lives of other people. It is a moment in which, not the dying – but the living, receive wisdom, direction, and instruction.
Which is why…Hector, the prince of Troy, says at his end… “Yes, I knew you’d be the victor…but watch out Achilles…death is breathing down your own neck.”
You see…he’s speaking last words, for the living.
Tonight, this Maundy Thursday, we are in the gospel of John. A gospel that emerged from this ancient Mediterranean world – this Greco-Roman culture; in which we listen to Jesus – knowing death is on the horizon, speak some of his last words to his disciples. No life flashing before his eye’s scenario, no moment of personal enlightenment or existential fulfilment, none of that – true to the form of the time, he is offering a unique insight into the lives of those closest to him.
But…in a very different way indeed.
Now, I think we often try to put ourselves in the story – we try to imagine what it was like being one of the disciples (and that’s a wonderful thing to do). But…let’s try something else…try to imagine what it was like being the community that compiled and wrote the Gospel of John…and even more what it was like to read and hear it, maybe for the first time, this story in their day and age. And even if many of them weren’t, necessarily, raised on the Iliad - or heard the epic tales of the Greco-Roman world sitting around the dinner table, the people of Israel had epic tales of their own. Raised on the stories of what we call the Old Testament - there’s no shortage of heroes, daring deeds, violence, struggle, and victory. Especially for, shall we say, the Messianic “Warrior King” image that many anticipated, “Gird your sword on your side,” Psalm 45 says, “ride forth victoriously…let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of your enemies…let the nations fall beneath your feet.” So all these images, whether they be Greek, Roman, or Jewish mixed together, crisscrossed, and found their way into the imaginations of the people.
So, the disciples and Jesus are all gathered in this room…it’s Passover, it’s Jerusalem, people have flooded into the city, it’s a politically tumultuous time, and Rome knows it – that’s one reason Pontious Pilate is there, extra soldiers and guards scattered around the streets…and Jesus certainly has already caused quite a stir, disturbed the peace…death is on the horizon…so what brave words will be spoken to his disciples? What parting wisdom or warning will they receive that will fill their hearts with courage and daring, so they can carry out the epic mission of victory they all think they’re part of?!?
And the gospel says…
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…
What??
He washed their feet…the act of not only a servant, but the task given to the servant on the lowest rung. AND it was usually done at the very beginning…right after the guests had arrived, not during supper. No one would interrupt the supper for this…
What kind of person…what kind of teacher, sage…what kind of leader would do such a thing.
Of course the disciples don’t understand! And anyone hearing this story or reading it for the first time wouldn’t understand it either.
I can see them scratching their head and asking….
“He washed all their feet?” Yes.
“Even the women’s?” Yes.
“The children, you think?” Sure.
“What about this Judas, the betrayer?” Yes.
“Everyone’s?” Everyone’s.
“But…why??...” Listen to what he says.
You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right…and if I’ve washed your feet, so you must wash one another’s feet. I’ve set an example…servants aren’t better than their masters, nor messengers greater than the one who sent them…
Isn’t that something?? Can you see Achilles washing Hector’s feet? How about Odysseus stooping down to wash the feet of the betrayer Melanthius? Did Jacob ever once exercise such humility before Esau? Or did David ever do such a thing to his pursuer Saul?
No! But, here, in the gospel of John…we have Jesus, God enfleshed, wiping the dirt, the dung, and dust from everyone’s feet. This isn’t just a nice, humble thing Jesus is doing! Nor is it Jesus saying, “I’m the only who gets to do this because, being God, I’m the only one who can pull it off.” No!
This is Jesus…dismantling the disciples’ notions of authority, leadership, and belonging.
This is the Gospel of John being subversive in a culture hell-bent on hierarchy, and honor, and position, and privilege.
And these words Jesus leaves with them…when everyone in this Mediterranean World knows when to lean into the story, tuning their ears to hear the words from the man who’s about to die, listening for his last words for the living - listening for words of condemnation, or revenge, or rebuke…. they hear him say….
Love one another. Love one another, as I have loved you.
By this…by this love….everyone will know you are my disciples.
If. You. Love.
Amen.