John 13:15. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Oh Friends, it’s Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, when Jesus was offered up as a living sacrifice for our disgusting sins. And all God’s people gratefully cried out: ‘Thank you Lord for sending Jesus to die for us! And thank you Jesus for dying for us!’ Please remember my brethren that Jesus didn’t have to do it. He could have refused, don’t know how that would have sat with the Father, but because He was so LOVING and obedient, even unto death, He did the Father’s will and saved our sorry souls. Now today is called Maundy Thursday to commemorate the day Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. The Good Book says: ‘He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.’ (John 13:4-5) But when He came to Peter, as usual, he had to cause a hassle, asking if Jesus was also going to wash his feet. Here’s how the Good Book puts it: ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest (understandeth) not now; but thou shalt hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed (bathed) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is (completely) clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.’ (John 13:7-10) Ah Friends, Jesus’ words here are of great significance, for the washing of the feet was a symbolic spiritual cleansing, hence, if Jesus didn’t wash Peter’s feet, then he couldn’t be His disciple. The first washing applies to our original salvation. Once we’re saved, we’re washed clean of all sin. But we can only be saved once, however we’re still sinful, so for any further wrongdoing we only need to repent and God will cleanse us. Thus the foot washing relates to any cleansing after becoming a believer. We don’t need to bathe again, just do a cowboy wash up. (smile) But please note my people that Jesus’ act of foot washing was more than just a symbol of spiritual cleansing. Listen to His words after He finished washing their feet, dressed and sat down with them again. ‘Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master (Teacher) and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord (master); neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’ (John 13:12-17) Yuh see mih breddren, foot washing in the Hebrew culture was amongst the lowest of the low tasks, a slave’s job, and no self-respecting Jew would stoop so low as to wash someone else’s feet. But our Saviour did it, with pride and grace too, to set and example for us of the ultimate humility. Just imagine the Son of God washing sinner’s feet nuh! You couldn’t get any more humble than that mih Friends! And as He says in our Bit, we ought to follow His example and do to others as He has done to us, which He specified in His golden rule: ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.’ (Matt.7:12) Oh my people, though the lord and master is greater than the servant, in Jesus’ outfit, humility must abound. Now when there was strife amongst the disciples as to who should betray Jesus and also who should be considered the greatest amongst them, Jesus rebuked them saying: ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief (leader), as he that doth serve. For whether (who) is greater, he that sitteth at meat (at the table), or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.’ (Luke 22:25-27) Yes Friends, that’s the basic motto, the guiding principle of Jesus’ work: TO SERVE! And if we are to be His true followers, then we must also be willing to get down and dirty, to serve in the most humble capacity necessary. I know sometimes it’s hard to swallow one’s pride and do menial work since our social status dictates otherwise, but if God’s Son could do it, so can we. And keep in mind what He also did for us on Good Friday. That selfless sacrifice has never been, and will never be equalled. So let’s consider our sinful selves extremely lucky and be very thankful for a triune Godhead that LOVES us so much. Furthermore, let’s do our best to gratefully return that LOVE, cause it’s what makes the world go round. Much LOVE my brethren!…Jesus’ earthly sojourn…should teach us…to be selfless, obedient and humble…
SCRIP-BITS 