Wash Whose Feet?
John 13
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,
and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel,
and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was
girded.
John 13
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and
was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done
to you.
These verses give rise to the practice of foot-washing. Many of you
have possibly been in an old-fashioned foot-washing service. This
practice can be a very positive experience if it is done in the right
spirit, that is, one of deep humility and selflessness.
When Jesus washed the disciple�s feet, he condescended to the station
of a servant - for in those days a servant would wash the feet of
visitors to a home when they entered. It was a common courtesy, but
one relegated to the servants, not the masters of a home.
We are told that Jesus humbled himself and took on the form of a
servant and that we should follow his example and do the same. Here
we have a perfect illustration of how we might do that.
If we are going to come together in unity and be one body, we are
going to have to learn to serve one another. Satan wants to fight
the body of Christ and keep us from revival. The best way he can do
that is by causing division. But when the devil moves in one
direction, we should move in the opposite direction.
I believe the occasion of Jesus washing the disciples feet came right
after the disciples argued over who was the greatest.
Lu 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should
be accounted the greatest.
In response, Jesus taught them how to be disciples. Possibly, every
church problem could be resolved through a foot-washing service and
communion. I think that today it would be a good preventive measure.
Take note of these passages in light of the body of Christ - the church:
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
In another place, Jesus said that He came� �not to be ministered to
but to minister��
Gal 5 tells us to� �by love, serve one another�� If Jesus made himself
a servant, what, then should we be?
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love;
4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling;
You see, the purpose of all this is unity - that we learn to be one
with each other. Three times in the 17th chapter of John, Jesus prays
for the church with the words, ��that they may be one��
Joh 17:11 ... Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom
thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me.
17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they
may be one, even as we are one:
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
In order to be one, or to live at peace with one another, we are going
to have to learn to be patient - longsuffering.
We will have to show mercy. Did it ever occur to you that Judas was
in that group when Jesus washed their feet? He washed the feet of the
enemy! He truly practiced what He preached.
Ro 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in
the sight of all men.
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Like I said earlier, we must go the opposite way the devil is pushing.
Mt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Mr 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against
any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.
Now, is there anybody mad at me? If so, I want to wash your feet.
Is anybody mad at anybody? Maybe we need to wash some feet?
In fact, I have a better idea. Let�s do it in a way that is
meaningful to the person in today�s culture.
11 years ago, I was pastoring in a small community, and a man in the
church developed a grudge against me. It troubled me, and I prayed
about the matter. A couple of weeks later I noticed the man�s lawn
was getting a little out of shape. I had heard that he was not feeling
well, so I took my lawn mower over to his house and mowed his lawn.
His wife came out and asked why I was mowing their lawn. I said,
�Because I love you.� The next Sunday they were back in church and
our relationship remains strong even today.
Do you know what I did to that man? I washed his feet.
Let�s beat the devil at his own game. Where he sows seeds of division,
we�ll sow seeds of unity.
Don�t hate your enemy - love your enemy. Of course, your enemy doesn�t
deserve kindness. But he needs it, and you need to give it.
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
