communion

In John 13:1-20 we see Jesus wash the feet of His disciples. Our Tuesday group discussed this passage this past Tuesday and saw it in new light.

Here are some of the thoughts I had on this subject, which also made it into Sunday’s sermon, sort of.

We are clean if we have trusted in Christ alone for our salvation. We are free from working for God’s favor. We are all sons and inheritors of the promises given to Abraham. We are free from condemnation, guilt, and shame because the blood of Christ cleanses us from these things and gives us real life. He came to save us and by faith we are His. We still live in a fallen world. The stuff of this world sticks to us. We need the touch of the savior’s hands still to remove this stuff that sticks to our feet. It may be the cares of this world I spoke of last week or it may be some patterns of behavior we just have not overcome or some past hurt we have not let go of. Jesus kneels and if we will receive His word as truth, He washes these things away that impede the life He designed us to live.

The tough thing about this is just what Peter dealt with. We feel unworthy to be washed by Him. Be careful of this one for it is really pride hiding behind humility. This is “miserable sinner” Christianity at its worst. The Lord of all things offers us His service and we refuse. Do we think we will become worthy? Or is it really that we are comfortable hanging on to those things that belong to this present world? Who are you to refuse Him?

““I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:15-17, ESV)

You are the temple of God himself on this earth.

Amazingly He has told us to do the same for one another. We are to receive each other as He receives us. When we are hurt, we forgive, and we wash feet. When we speak His truth to each other, we wash feet. When we care for one another’s needs, we wash feet. If fact, He washes feet with our hands. When you grow tired of this, remember Jesus washed Judas’ feet.