We often attend Churches that serve the "holy sacrament", or the interpretation of the Last Supper that Christ commanded us to do in rememberence of Him. But how often the church neglects and important lesson that was taught here.Christ was not only beaten and spilled out for our transgressions, but became a lowly servant who washed the dust from the feet of those who followed Him.
John 13:1-17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
I love this verse, it shows that what Christ is about to do is out of LOVE.
2 And supper being ended,[a] the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 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. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
I love how adamantly Peter at first won't allow the Savior to humble Himself, but in the revelation of the meaning he wants it ALL.
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
So many want the experience of the Lord's supper, the image that it represents, but none seem wiling to perform the tasks that Christ has called us to humble ourselves to do. What an image it would be to find a Church that honors each other by washing the feet of not only the members, but of the visitors first on the day communion is taken. We would definitely have the time to ponder our own hearts prior to entering into so sacred an act as communion.
Christ states that He has given and example and if we know them, nothing happens, but if we follow His example and do them, we will be blessed.
