THE ORDINANCE OF SERVANTHOOD

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had comefor him to leave this world and go to the Father, Having loved his own who were in the world, he know showed the full extent of his love ... he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet ..." - John 13:1,4b-5a New International Version

My church belongs to the stream of Christianity that practices the Ordinance of Feet Washing. Maundy Thursday (the night of the Last Supper) is the primary time that we practice it. It is a simple service where we humbly and prayerfully wash one another's feet in remembrance and obedient to this act of Jesus towards his disciples. Verse 14 carries that particular admonition, "Now that I, your Lord andd Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."

All rituals serve the purpose of anchoring us to the key truths of our faith. Feet Washing is that ritual which connects us--in fact, grips us--with a key core value in Christianity. We are called to be servants. Jesus himself was teaching and modeling servantood. It is at the heart of his ministry to us and for us. "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28).

Philippians 2 describes what some call "the humiliation of Christ," "he took the form of a servant and humbled himself even unto death on a cross."

The Lord's Supper is the ritual that reminds us that God has forgiven our sins, reconciling us to Himself through Christ. Feet Washing is the ritual that reminds us how Christ accomplished that--and also, how we are to respond to his act of service.

Want to talk more? Post a comment or email at sdunnpastor@coglandisville.org. (Never seen a Feet Washing Service? Join us tonight at the Landisville Church of God, 171 Church Street in Landisville at 7.)