 |
| from pixabay.com/images/search/lastsupper/ |
It is used for this day to recall the command Jesus gave his disciples, then and now, to love one another. He demonstrates humility and service by washing the feet of his disciples.
Most of us would recoil if someone offered to wash our feet. In the 21st century feet may not smell great wearing socks and inside shoes for whatever task the wearer is undertaking but in the first century folks went barefoot or might wear sandals. In the best of circumstances people had dusty or muddy feet. At the worst, who knows what people might have stepped in!
Another command from that evening was to eat what Christians call Communion or the Lord's Supper. It's a meal given to the disciples, then and now, to remember Jesus Christ by eating his body and blood through bread and wine.
John 13: 3 - 17 (The Message from Biblegateway.com)
Jesus knew that the Father had put Him in complete charge of everything, that He came from god and was on His way back to God. So He got up from the supper table, set aside His robe, and put on an apron. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His apron. When He got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet - ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"
Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying Him. That's why He said, "Not every one of you.") After He had finished washing their feet, He took His robe, put it back on, and went back to His place at the table.
Then He said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life.
Mark 14: 22-26 (The Message from Biblegateway.com)
In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, He (Jesus) broke it and gave it to them.
Then He said,
"Take, this is my body."
Taking the chalice, He gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said,
This is my blood, God's new covenant, poured out for many people.
"I'll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God."
They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.
Comments
Post a Comment