On Tuesday evening of Nisan 14, 31 A.D., Jesus sat down with His disciples to observe the Passover. “When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:14-16).
One part of the Passover service is found in John 13. There we find a most meaningful ceremony established. “And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. . . . Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:2-7, 12-17).
We might ask, “Why did Jesus wash the feet of His disciples on Passover evening? Why did He take the opportunity to give them an example of service?”
Luke recounts an incident of human nature on display even at the Passover itself. “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:24-27).
Christ settled the question of who is the greatest by showing them what a servant is all about. Surely those who were to become the Apostles of Christ were mortified when Christ, their teacher and master, washed their feet and explained that the greatest in the kingdom of God will be the one who serves.
We, who are members, participated in the footwashing ceremony on Thursday evening, and one of the great reminders of that ceremony is that we are to follow Christ’s example of service to all. Christ’s example of service reminds us we don’t need more lords who exercise authority over others. Our world needs servants who will follow Christ’s example and show what true greatness is all about.
Have most pleasant Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread,
Gary Smith
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