Pastor Paul Page April 2020 Salt Creek Bulletin

John 13:1-17 ¹³ Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.² And supper being ended, the devil having now put 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 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.⁶ Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?⁷ Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.⁸ Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.⁹ Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.¹⁰ Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.¹¹ For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.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.¹⁶ Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.¹⁷ If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 

Jesus was trying to show the true meaning of His ministry, and of ours. I believe that foot washing has to do with our willingness to love others.  This doesn’t mean we need to literally go around washing people’s feet, but loving them, putting others first. He says right there in verse 15 that He has given us an example and we should do as he has done.

 

Galatians 5:13-14 ¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:27 ²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

A traveler was passing through a large, thick wood when he saw part of a huge oak tree which seemed misshapen and spoiled the scenery. “If I was the owner, I would cut down that tree”, he thought to himself. But when he had climbed the hill, he was able to see  the whole forest, and this same tree was the most beautiful part of the landscape. One day we will have a clearer vision of Jesus’s mysteries.

Right now we need to know the Christian ministry isn’t about us. We have to look at things differently. In these passages, Jesus was trying to get the disciples into the right attitude. Do you have the right attitude?

-Paul Brow, Haven of Rest