Maundy Thursday is when Christians remember the night Jesus gathered his twelve
disciples for the supper. It was the passover day festival for the Jews. This gathering would
later come to be known as the Last Supper. It was the last time Jesus and his disciples broke
bread together before his death on the cross. It was during this meal that Jesus took the first
communion with the disciples and also identified Judas as his betrayer. Before the supper, we
read that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.
An Example to Follow By washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus demonstrated the way we should live by serving
others in the name of the Lord. Jesus truly embodied humility and love for His neighbors as
we should aim to emulate His example. According to the International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, it was common courtesy for a host to present a travel-weary guest with water
with which they would wash their own feet. The only time a guest did not perform the task
themselves was when the host owned a slave, in which case it would be the slave’s job. There
is no job that is beneath the level of any human. We ought to take up do any work as needed
that will bless our community and the world and would bring comfort and peace to others. In other words, during this sacred event, Jesus, the Son of Man, knelt and completed the
work of a slave. It’s no wonder his disciples were shocked and initially appalled at the idea of
their master descending so low and performing a service for them for which they did not feel
worthy. Israel can be a dusty place, and sandaled feet get filthy walking to and fro. In ancient times,
a person entering a home removed his sandals and cleaned his feet. Or if the homeowners
were wealthy, servants would do the washing. This distasteful but necessary task fell to the
worker of lowest position in the household. Imagine the disciples’ surprise when the Son of God
put Himself in the role of a lowly servant and knelt to wash their feet. The need for such a
service was great, as they had been traveling for some time. But not one of them offered to do
it.
Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not
conceive of washing each other’s feet. This was because in the society of the time footwashing
was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except
very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out that they were arguing about who was
the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to
wash their feet, they were shocked. (The MacArthur Study Bible, note on John 13:4,5.)
John 13:6, 8-9 .
Jesus did more than fill a need; He offered an object lesson. As He explained, “I have given
you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15, NLT). Some churches have
incorrectly interpreted this as a command to make foot washing an ordinance. Washing feet is
not a sacrament or ordinance. It is not a ticket to heaven. We don't get to heaven by washing
someone else’s feet. But it’s possible to clean someone else’s skin without understanding the
significance of Christ’s actions. In fact, the act itself is not the main point; attitude is what counts.
Jesus desires that we be willing to humble ourselves to serve others. He is looking for men and
women who will ignore pride, position, and power in order to do whatever must be done,
wherever it needs doing, and for whoever requires assistance. An example of Humility In today's time, we don't see a lot of people washing feet, but the concept here is that He's
serving. He was showing them an act of service to them. It was something a servant would
have done. It wasn't something that the creator of the world would do, or a king would do.
But Jesus as the leader got down and did a dirty job because He was showing love for them
and service for them. Being a leader, one of the most important things we can do is to also serve. Instead of
giving orders, it is to be down there with the people and serving. And we are to serve each
other, and I believe through that act of service. Certainly, the disciples saw that Jesus was
serving them, but we also transfer that into the little things that we do, and we serve Christ
by living out who He is in our lives by little bitty acts of service." Prior to this encounter, the disciples had been fighting amongst themselves trying to determine
who was the “greatest” among them (Luke 22:24). Jesus was in a very hands-on way showing
them that in his Kingdom the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Matthew 20:16).
Jesus even prompts his disciples to show the same heart of service for each other (John 13:15)
He is clear that servanthood is essential to what it means to be his follower. Matthew 18:4 says, “Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven.” Humility, trust, simplicity, joy, full of wonder, and playfulness are all
words that could be used to characterize children. In Jesus’ Kingdom what seems logical to
adults oftentimes goes against the way God works. Jesus calls the last to be first
(Matthew 20:16). His Word prompts us to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).
The Bible teaches us to humble ourselves before the Lord (James 4:10).
In Matthew 5:38-40, Jesus teaches that when we are wronged not to fight back but to offer
our offenders more of ourselves!
Jesus performed His greatest and most humble acts of service within 24 hours of each other.
He washed dirty feet using two hands that would be pierced by nails in less than a day.
The message here is that every task God gives us is important.
We live in a world where pride, greed, and ambition rule our systems. Money talks,
looking out for yourself is prized, and caring for those who are hurt so you can get ahead is
not often considered. Jesus intentionally sets an example of how we are to live as his
followers through his actions at the Last Supper. He makes it clear that we are called to
be the feet washers of our community. Our mission as Believers is to be those who love
beyond reason every chance we get. An example of love and forgiveness In the Bible, we read of a humble woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried
them with her hair. The woman remains unnamed, but her identity is well-known to the
disciples and others present. Her reputation appears to precede her as a sinner and, as
a result, a misfit. Yet, as always, Jesus saw beyond her outward appearance and saw
her heart. He understood the depth of sorrow that her mistakes had brought her and could
sense that, at her core, she “loved much” (Luke 7:47). Mary anoints Jesus’ feet as an acknowledgment of His coming death. Her act displays
immense gratitude for and understanding of His mission as the Messiah. Jesus did not
come to save the people from political freedom, as many had thought. Rather, He came to
save them from something much more lasting: sin and death. The troubles and trials we
face in this life are brutal, but in the grand scheme of eternity, they are but a moment. The story of Jesus kneeling to the floor and gently washing his disciples feet so they could
comfortably dine together is one of the most profound pictures of our Savior’s heart of love for
us! Jesus cared so very much about the details of his followers' lives! He was willing to get
messy to reach, teach, and show undeserved love to his ragtag group of disciples. This is still
true today! Jesus cares about even the most minute details of your life and is willing to get
messy to show you that you are loved. None of your fears are too small, needs too silly, or
stresses too insignificant that God does not care about them. He cares about it all… even our
dirty and dusty feet! This washing also is symbolic of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus to wash away our
sins. Peter objects to Jesus' actions but then Jesus rebukes him by saying that unless he
washed him, Peter had no part in him (John 13:8). Peter then in a display of passion for the
Lord asks him to then wash him from head to toe! Jesus explains that Peter does not need to
be washed from head to toe because his actions were symbolic of the cleansing power that
being a Christ-follower has in our lives (John 13:10). Once washed by the blood of a lamb
you are free from the stains of sin! No repeat washing necessary. We don’t know the mind of Peter, necessarily, but his objection probably stems from pride
and embarrassment. He was indignant that Jesus would stoop so low as to perform the
task of a slave. He failed to see beyond the humble service to the symbolism of spiritual
cleansing involved. The reality for the Christian is that we continually need to confess our
sins and follow the example of Jesus. He is washing their feet as a symbol of cleanliness
of their bodies as well as their souls. He would shed his blood soon through the blood that
can wash away all our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Comments
Post a Comment