Passionate 1 – Foot Washing is the first lesson in our new Lenten series. We’re walking through the passion accounts from the Gospel of John this year. In place of reading the accounts we will use the visual gospel. Please click HERE to watch the video.
Stinky Feet
Did you have someone wash your feet last night after you got home? Probably not. With the advent of paved roads, quality footwear, and cars, we don’t walk very far. In the ancient world, everyone walked everywhere. The roads were most likely not paved. By the end of a day a traveler’s feet were gross. The first thing the lowest servant in the house did was wash your feet. This was a gross job, but a necessary one. As Jesus and his disciples sat down to eat the Passover feast, no one had washed everyone’s feet! Jesus shocks everyone in the room and did the dirty work.
Greater Than
Why would Jesus lower himself to do this task? A person in the ancient world couldn’t get any lower. Jesus wanted to show his disciples what real service looked like. After he completed this work he told them, 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Jesus is God. There is no one greater than him. He wanted them to see that the joy of ministry, yes the essence of ministry, is service.
A New Command
The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. Growing up I always thought it has to do with sadness. That’s how the word kind of sounded. Maybe the word meant Lord’s Supper – that was and still is the focus of Maundy Thursday, after all… The title Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin word mandatum which means command. The command that we focus on is a new one. Are you ready – Love one another. That might not sound like a new idea to you, but remember there are two meaning for the word new. There is a new command that is new today that you just said – new in time. And then there is new in kind. This love was different. Love has a new meaning when it is considered in the light of God’s incredible mercy for a sinful world.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s lesson from our new Lenten series, Passionate 1 – Foot Washing.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.