Fifth Sunday of Easter – John 13:31-35
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN

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There’s a famous Danish author, Karen Blixen, who wrote a story about a boy named Kitau. One day, Kitau shows up at a wealthy woman’s door, and asks for a job as a domestic servant. She hires him. A few months go by. Then Kitau surprises her by asking for a letter of recommendation to Sheik Ali bin Salim, a Muslim who lived in a nearby town. She offers to raise Kitau’s pay in order to get Kitau to stay. But money wasn’t what he wanted. Kitau tells her that he’s decided to become either a Christian or a Muslim. The reason he came to her in the first place was to see, up close, how a Christian lived. Now that he’s worked for her and seen the ways of Christians, he wants to go and observe Sheik Ali to see how Muslims behave, so he can decide. So the woman wishes that Kitau had told her that before he came to live with her.

Wouldn’t that be a horrible feeling? To find out that folks have been watching us and making up their minds about what Christians are like. Though it’s happening a lot right now. A lot of Christians are yelling really lowdly and pushing the government hard about changing legislation. Whether Roe vs. Wade, transgender folks, LGBTQ rights, critical race theory, public prayer, social assistance – it’s a long and controverisal list. Of course, Christianity is a big tent. We’re not all agreed on these big issues. People of faith always sit on both sides of the aisle. And we often don’t get along very well with each other. But it feels like a lot of pressure. Like we have to pick the right side or we’re not true Christians.

So, our gospel reading couldn’t be more relevant right now. Jesus tells his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” That’s some bold truth. Jesus is saying how folks recognize someone who’s truly Christian. Not because they know a bunch of bible stories, or because of what they say they believe, or because they do a few good works. Definitely not because they’re got the right legislative agenda. He’s saying they’ll know we’re Christians by our love.

But we get sidetracked, don’t we? Those first disciples did too. Jesus is talking with them at the last supper, right after Judas went out to betray him. Jesus knows he’s going to be arrested in a couple hours. This is his last chance to say what needs to be said, but there’s too much to unpack. All the healings, casting out demons, arguing with Pharisees, eating with tax collectors and sex workers, causing scandals. It all matters, but it’s too much for the time he’s got left. So Jesus cuts to the chase. What’s the most important thing of all. So he says, “I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I’ve loved you.” Now, it’s not really a new commandment. Way back in Leviticus, God tells the Israelites, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (19:18) But Jesus says “new commanndment” to get their full attention. To make clear that this is the most important thing.

And Jesus just showed them what it looks like. It looks like him tying a towel around his waist and washing feet. Love is practical. It does what needs to be done. Feet need to be washed. Folks didn’t have Dr. Scholl’s and padded insoles. They had rough sandals, calluses, walking everywhere. It’s a recipe for injuries and sores. Some folks with diabetes really struggle with this. But, this kind of love isn’t just about being practical. It’s also about humility. It’s hard to lord over another person when you’re on your knees. And boy, wouldn’t that totally change all these political arguments? Now of course, washing feet makes a lot of folks squeamish. Giving or receiving. So don’t freak out. It doesn’t have to be literal foot washing. There are lots of ways to serve. But whatever it is, it HAS to be reciprocal, for checks and balances. We can’t just serve. We must also be served, to help other folks heed Jesus’ call too. [I CAN RELATE]

However, the disciples don’t realize how far Jesus’ love is about to go. They don’t know that Judas just went to get the authorities. That Jesus is going to be arrested and killed. Jesus says, “where I’m going, you can’t come.” Peter’s going to say, “why can’t I follow you now? I’ll lay down my life for you.” And Jesus says, “Will you really? Before the cock crows, you’ll deny me three times.”

Here’s the thing. When Jesus talks about loving others the way he loves us, we get really nervous, becuase Jesus gives his life for the world. Not a sacrifice, but by not resisting when they unjustly condemn him. He could have stopped it all, but he didn’t. He let them brutalize him. To reveal the truth about power. And to show that there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for us. But if that’s what it means to love like Jesus loves, to put ourselves in harm’s way for the sake of others, well, we’re not ready for that. Sure, we might swear like Peter that we’d do it. But Jesus knows the truth. We say a lot of things we don’t really mean. And even though we know that Jesus rises after three days, we’re still afraid. We’re afraid of Jesus’ call.

So here’s the good news. Jesus knows all this and does it all for us anyway. Because even if we don’t have that kind of love in us, Jesus is determined that we will know what that kind of love feels like. Because it’s powerful. It changes us. It draws stuff out of us that we never would have expected. And there’s a lot of hope in that. It means don’t short change ourselves. Jesus gives us faith, so that when the rubber meets the road, something compels us to not turn away. To get our hands dirty. So that when trouble comes, and sooner or later it always does, we will do the loving deed, whatever it is. I mean, what’s the point of hoping in something if it’s not a real possibility?

And here’s another thing. Jesus doesn’t ask us to make big promises that we can’t keep. Peter opened his big mouth and pretty much guaranteed that he was going to stick his foot in it. Who hasn’t done that? But here’s what faith promises – “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor 13:7) When we fall down, Jesus meets us. He lifts us back to our feet. And he sends us onward. Because our lives will go on. Our stories aren’t done. The last word belongs to Jesus, and we know what it is. “I forgive you. You are mine.” After all, faith isn’t a test. But faith is the thing that holds us together when the world tries to tear us apart. The thing that actually lets us love our enemies.

Of course, love isn’t blind. Jesus knew what Judas would do, yet he still washed his feet and broke bread with him. Did it change Judas’ trajectory? No. But what would have been better? To condemn him before the rest of the disciples, or to just have the meal together, and defy the powers of evil? Love doesn’t mean we stop telling the truth about oppression. Love doesn’t mean we stop fighting for justice. But sometimes we’ve just got to eat. Maybe even with our enemies. Because it’s a lot harder for them to hate the one who shares a little bread and wine. And they’ll know that we’re Christians by our love.