Imitating the Foot-Washing Attitude of Christ

Well, once again, brethren, we're here. We're quickly approaching Passover, the days of 11 bread, with the Passover being just a little over one week away. We'll keep that service one week from tomorrow in the evening, Sunday, April the 21st. And, you know, as we approach this event, and as we've been walking through in the sermons leading up to this time frame, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and what that means to us, is so central to these days. The love of the Father that was extended to give his only begotten Son, and the love of the Son that was extended to willingly lay his life down in sacrifice for us. Again, it is our focus very front and center. Today, I'd like for us to actually reflect on some elements of Jesus Christ's life as well, as it pertains to the Passover. And that might sound a little different. You know, we come to the Passover as a memorial to his death, but let's understand there's a connection to his life as well, because how Jesus lived his life as a living sacrifice was very much how he kept the fulfillment and filled as the fulfillment of that day, to be the Lamb of God, to lay his life down in sacrifice. Okay, he died just as he lived. And so as we approach the Passover, I believe it's important for us to remember the life that he lived, a number of examples from that life, and to keep those things in remembrance as we commemorate the events of his sacrifice. So today, I want to consider certain elements as are reflected through the foot-washing ceremony that we'll participate in at the Passover. Okay, we have the symbols of the bread and the wine, but prior to that, as a congregation, we wash one another's feet in that service. And again, that's something that Jesus Christ brought and gave for us to do. It's full of meaning, it's full of significance, and this is where I want to tie together the example of his life and the foot-washing attitude that he illustrated through that service. So the title for today's message is, Imitating the Foot-washing Attitude of Christ. Imitating the Foot-washing Attitude of Christ. Indeed, brethren, it's what we've been called to do each and every day, not just the five minutes that were knelt down before one another washing each other's feet. This is a lifetime focus and attitude. It was how Jesus Christ lived his life, and it is the manner in which you and I are called to walk each and every day as well. Let's begin today in the book of John, chapter 13, at least lay the groundwork for where we're going and the institution of this event, such as we keep it today.

John chapter 13, and beginning in verse 1, it says, Now before the feast of the Passover, and we understand, as is illustrated, in a number of places in the New Testament, the feast of the Passover, this term is used interchangeably as well with the days of Unleavened Bread. So we have the Passover, which is on the 14th, which the Bible tags it to that date every time, and the days of Unleavened Bread, which begin on the 15th, they're two separate events, but here they have the run-up now to the feast that is coming, and His disciples are preparing to keep the Passover. And it is indeed what Jesus kept with them.

It's not the focus of my sermon today, but I will remind us of Matthew chapter 26 and verse 18, where Jesus said, I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples. He said, I will keep this service. It was not only a desire, if you could, it was His intent, and He said, I will.

And He did. Luke 22 verse 15 says, with fervent desire, I have desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Very important evening to Jesus Christ as He came together with His disciples in the upper room on that night, and He instituted, again, this symbolism of the foot washing that we'll walk through today. So again, John chapter 13 and verse 1, before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come and that He should depart from the world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, and Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, that He had come from God and was going to God. He rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to Him, Lord, are You washing my feet? You know, it's presented like a question, but it's kind of like, probably an exclamation, You're washing my feet?

Jesus answered. He said to him, What I'm doing, you do not understand now, but you will know after this. Peter said to him, You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered, If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. You have no part with me, Jesus said to Peter, If I don't wash you.

In other words, He says, there's actually a relationship here that's connected through this activity of foot washing. And Jesus said, I'm doing something here that Peter, if I don't wash you, you won't have a part of this. So again, this is something that as He got down, as He humbled Himself in this way, it was a relationship with Peter and the rest of the disciples that they would be a part of Him and He of them. And what it was He was about to do, again, laying His life down as a sacrifice. This was so important to that relationship. If I don't wash you, Jesus said, You have no part with me. Verse 9, Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. You know, Peter was all in, you know, either way, you're never gonna wash me. Okay, fine, wash all of me. It's, you know, He's just that personality and a lot of good lessons we can learn from Peter. Jesus said to him, verse 10, He who is bathed only needs to wash His feet, but is completely clean, and you are clean, but not all of you, for He knew who would betray Him. Therefore, He said, You're not all clean. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garment, 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, He says, You also ought to wash one another's feet. There's no example of them having done that on that night. Maybe they did, but the point was moving forward from this. This is to be a practice. You ought to do as I have done to you. Verse 15, He says, 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, if you know them, Jesus Christ said, if you know them, blessed are you if you do them. And so we do. This is something we all engage in on the night of the Passover as a congregation when we come together. Before we partake of the bread and the wine, we have the foot washing service, again, as illustrated by Jesus Christ, and given us as an example if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Now, we understand that the washing of someone's feet was typically performed by the lowliest servants of the household. You know, in my mind, I kind of imagine like if you're this is your first day on the job and a guest to the house shows up and everybody else in the pecking order says, they're yours, and you get that responsibility. You know, for us, we I would assume we have our pedicure. We do whatever we do before we come to the Passover for the foot washing service, right? We're conscious of that, probably the cleanest feet of any time of the year, but if you're trekking the roads of the Middle East, or I can give you, in my experience, trekking the roads of West Africa, I wear sandals when I go over there, and it's hot, and your feet sweat, and it's dirty and dusty, and sticks to your feet, and your shoes. I discovered that the best use for hand sanitizer during COVID was for my sandals when I traveled, just because, you know, your feet sweat and things get grimy. So, that's what got washed when you showed up at someone's house.

And Jesus Christ here is doing something that the Master didn't typically do, but, you know, he didn't consider himself above this action. He washed his own disciples' feet on this night. Why? Well, Jesus came to show he had come humbly, he had come willingly, he performed the service, the show, his life was given in service to them. And earlier in his ministry, he'd said he did not come to be served, but to serve. So, on that night, these disciples, who were rather shocked by what was taking place, saw their Master, their teacher, okay, their rabbi, getting down and loosening the sandal strap on their feet, their shoes, and washing their feet. And by doing so, he set the example of humility and service that we must follow after in our relationships with one another today. He says, I've given you an example that you ought to do to one another as I've done to you. It's a life laid down in humble service to each other.

And so, brethren, as a church of God, we follow in this practice among ourselves as we observe the Passover each year. We wash one another's feet, and it should be a reminder to us that, just as he came to serve, we are here to serve one another as well. And, you know, there's an attitude of submission before one another that comes through this action, isn't there? There's a submitting one to another. There's a yielding one to another in this way when we do this, and brotherly and sisterly love, and in a way that's intended to be very intimate, I think we would say, in that experience. This isn't a part of our culture. This isn't what we do every day. Maybe it's uncomfortable, but it's personal, and it's intimate, and it's one another in the body of Christ yielding to each other. This action, brethren, even though we do it only once a year, reminds us we must maintain and live in a foot-washing attitude, a foot-washing frame of mind each and every day of the year, functioning properly together as the body of Jesus Christ. That's what it takes, the foot-washing attitude, if we're going to be that well-oiled machine, right, as a body, oiled by God's Holy Spirit, that we work well together, that we function in the way God intends. We can never afford to live in a foot-washing attitude for just the five minutes that takes place during this service, but our attitude must be ongoing each and every day, an attitude and a heart for service, just as it was for Jesus Christ, and we imitate Him. Indeed, that's the significance in the experience on this night.

We imitate Him. So, brethren, as we go through the message today, I want to look at four characteristics of Jesus Christ's life that are demonstrated in this foot-washing attitude in ongoing action. Again, when He washed their feet, it was showing something very clearly, but this is how He had lived His life continually. He said, you can go do likewise. And let's look at these today, four actions, and there's more you can come up with, but four characteristics of Jesus' life demonstrating the ongoing foot-washing attitude. And for each of us, we should strive for these characteristics every day as well. So, first characteristic, number one, of the foot-washing attitude of Christ is humility. Humility. I think that's clearly demonstrated, and we've touched on that already. Humility is the example He set for us, and it's the same mindset that we must embrace as we walk in His steps. Let's go to Philippians chapter 2.

Philippians 2, as we consider the humility of who this individual was who laid his life down for us.

I don't think we can even comprehend, even though we read the words, the depth of the humility, the sacrifice, the willing love to give for us. Philippians chapter 2, and beginning in verse 3, the apostle Paul writing, and he says, let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but the interests of others. Okay, that's verse 4. Right, so let's start there, actually. That's a good place. Not where I intended to go, but that's the point. Not only about me, but it's about you as well. He's talking to the congregation, and if we back up then to verse 1, Peter says, you know, if there's any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, he's talking about our relationships among each other as the congregation, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love being of one accord and of one mind. That's a challenge sometimes, and I think that's something we at times can struggle with, but the foot washing brings us back into focus with this mindset. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself.

Paul's making here the connection between the mindset of humility you and I must have among ourselves and the mind of Jesus Christ. He's going to launch into that now and says, actually, this is what should be instilled in you. Verse 5, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. In a term, robbery, it's like it wasn't something to be grasp at, to be clung to.

You know, he willingly stepped away from his glorified existence to come humbly in the flesh, but made himself, verse 7, of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. So the mind of Jesus Christ should be the mind that's in us. And he set the ultimate example, one who was God with God, okay, in eternity and glorified existence with the Father, laid his life down in terms of that glory, coming in the likeness of men, being willing to be in the flesh, in the weakness of the flesh, the greatest of reputations becoming of the least of reputations. Indeed, he was despised and rejected, even of his own. But he laid it all down and came in the form of a weak flesh and blood, human being. And in the flesh, you know what, he hungered just like we do. He got tired after a long day's journey, just like we do. He thirsted. Recall one of his final words on the stake as he's preparing to die. He says, I thirst. You know, he was very much as you and I in this flesh.

You know, naturally, the carnal nature is a self-focused nature. You know, you and I, would we make that call? Would we make that decision? You know, we care about us. And certainly the self-focused carnal nature in us will sacrifice for us. You know, I'll lay my life down for me, my needs, my wants, my desires, right, any day of the week. But it takes a little something extra to say, I lay my life down completely for you and for your benefit, not necessarily for mine. Ultimately, the father and the son benefit through this because they're bringing many sons to glory. It's the long term, as Mr. Wilson spoke about. You know, they're preparing and they've made preparations now for a future with a family that God is bringing into existence, but it starts here. And Paul said, let this mind be in you and let it be in me.

That's willing to do such a thing, not for my good and benefit, but for the benefit of others, for the love of others. This is the humility of Jesus Christ that came forth indeed at the foot washing and beyond and before. Every day he walked the earth. Matthew chapter 20, Matthew 20, I think it's interesting that here in Philippians, Paul said, you have to let this mind be in you. Let it. As in, God's not just going to overrun us with his spirit as opposed to our will.

And our carnal nature, if we allow it, will overrun. But you have to let allow, yield yourself up to this mind. And actually it takes an investment on our part. Matthew chapter 20 and verse 24, the context here is a contention which had arisen among the disciples because the mother of Zebedee's son said, Lord, grant me the blessing of being the mother of those who would sit on your right hand and one on your left hand. I kind of ad-libbed that a little bit, but you know, she was a good mother, right? What mother wouldn't ask the best for her children? Number one and number two. One on your right, one on your left. Matthew chapter 20 verse 24, again the concept of this humility, getting the right chapter. Matthew 20 verse 24 says, then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons, yelling down, asking him something. Verse 24 says, and when the ten heard it, okay, the other disciples that are there, the other ten, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers, greatly displeased. Why would they be displeased? I mean, hey, if our good friends could be number one and number two on right and left hand of the Lord, wouldn't we all be happy? Greatly displeased. Well, they're probably thinking, why do they get that position? I want that for myself. Actually, maybe I think I'm a little more deserving than they would be, and this conversation comes forth, and yet notice Jesus' response. Verse 25, but Jesus called them to himself, and he said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them, you know, top-down lordship and dominion, authoritative leadership. He says, that's what you get from the nations around. He says, yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave, just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. Understand, Jesus Christ was a teacher who came to serve his disciples, and I was kind of flipped around backwards from the mindset of their time and our time today.

You know, a position of authority, a respectable individual, right? People kind of want to serve him, but he says, no, I came to serve you. And it was a reversal of what the day and age would seem to have indicated by the leadership on the ground at his time. But understand, it was what Jesus Christ said so different from the gentile lordship and dominion that they had experienced and seen, even among, as it creeped in, among their own people. He's the example, okay, of what humility in action looks like. And he said the example that whatever position we may have, okay, because in life sometimes we may have positions of authority, positions of advancement in the church, outside the church, but whatever your position may be, use it for the service of others. That's the example he set, and that's the life that he laid down. And looking out not only for your own interests, but also the interests of others. It's using your influence, your power, your authority, in a way that opens the door for others so that they may be edified to bring them to a point that perhaps even they would not have been on their own. But understand, this is a joint effort among all of us as we work together, and that's the attitude of a true servant washing the feet of others.

When do you think about that when you come to the Passover and you're washing your brother or your sister's feet, that I didn't come here just for me? I'm here for you as well.

God called me. He called me into a direct relationship with him, but you know what? In that calling, he placed me in the body with you. So it's not just about me, and it's not just about you. It is about us, but it's about what God is doing in this body called the church, and it's about what we can do to lift one another up as well in this common calling towards the kingdom. I didn't come to the foot washing, and I didn't come to the Passover just for me. We're there for each other as well. The Bible shows that was Jesus Christ's attitude right up to the very end of his physical life. Wherever he went, whatever he did, he was always looking out for the interest of others and serving them with humility. I came to lay my life down, and he did so indeed at the very last breath he took. But it was the same with every breath he took throughout the entirety of his life. It was a sacrifice of humility and love for others, and again, that's the example he left for us to follow. Second characteristic of the foot washing attitude of Jesus Christ is a willingness to put others' needs before your own. Again, this ties in with—and they all tie in, but this is something he did so clearly and so well—a willingness to put others' needs before your own.

We all have needs, brethren. I all have time where we say, you know, I'm just—I'm spent. I'm given everything I have to give, and you know what? I just need some time for me. You need to shut the door, lock the door, lock the world out, and just leave me alone. This is for me. And I'll admit there's times where it's coming up on Friday afternoon, and I'll just say maybe I'm in desperation mode for the sermon preparation, and I'll tell Darla, I'll say, you know, unless the house is on fire, I'm locking myself in my office, you know. If emergency comes in, it comes in, but there's times it's like, all right, I just need to shut everything out for a time and focus on what's important to me right now. Well, that's normal, okay? We face that in life, but is that the exception to the rule, or is that the way we function all the time? You know, Jesus Christ lived his life, outgoing concern in service to others, and you know what? His example was one of putting the needs of others before his own, even when it wasn't convenient, even maybe when it was a time of great personal difficulty, even for him. Notice Matthew chapter 14.

Back a few pages, Matthew chapter 14.

Context here is surrounding the death of John the Baptist. Recall Herod had John beheaded in prison at the request of Herodias' daughter on a birthday, so John's killed, okay? Head brought on the platter, and the word comes then to the disciples and to Jesus Christ. Matthew chapter 14 and verse 12, it says, then his disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus. You recall who John the Baptist was. This was the cousin of Jesus Christ, right?

Six months apart, they were born, grew up together, very likely interacting, playing. John was the one who went before, right? Called by God to prepare the way of the Lord. John's ministry, the baptism of John, prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus Christ. So these two were close. These two were tied very directly together, and John's been killed. Again, this word comes now to Jesus. Verse 13, and when Jesus heard it, he departed from there by a boat to a deserted place by himself. Why would he want to be alone? Well, this is heavy news, and one he loved.

And he's like, I just need some time with God, right? He's human being. John, whom he loved, John, whom he was very closely tied to, John, who died for the ministry as Jesus Christ himself would die for the ministry. Jesus needed some time alone to mourn John, to pray to his father, right, to draw strength.

So when he heard it, he departed, verse 13, by boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. These crowds. Jesus couldn't get away. The multitudes, as I explained in the sermon about a month ago on the Good Shepherd, again, his leadership and what he provided the people were starving for. So wherever he went, they were pressing upon him. They wanted to touch him.

They needed to be healed. They were crying out to him, and Jesus Christ just needed to get away. Some time for me, right, to regather and regroup. But the multitudes, they found him, verse 14. Notice his response. When Jesus went out, he saw the great multitude, and he was moved with compassion for them. Notice what he did. He healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, this is the deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, buy food for themselves.

But Jesus said to them, they do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. And they said to him, we only have five loaves, two fish. He said, bring them to me. They sat the multitude down, fed them 5,000 men, those women and children. This wasn't a small group following him around. And you recall the miracle then as well. They took up 12 baskets of fragments that remained at the time of Jesus Christ's sorrow. At a time when he could have used some personal space for himself, Jesus' response was to oblige the people, to care for them, to show mercy on them, to feed them, to comfort them.

Now, I do imagine he eventually got time to get time to himself, to pray to his father and to moreon John. But let's just understand, he didn't live a life of convenience for convenience's sake. He was willing to suffer inconvenience for the needs of others. Now, eventually, again, he would get his time to himself. But I want you to think about what he allowed in his life, even when it wasn't convenient, even to the point of the death, right?

On the stake for you and for me. Nothing convenient about that. Certainly, he was in anguish praying to his father, if there's any way this cup can pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done. He was willing to lay it all down for you and me to pay the price, not just what was expedient in his time. Romans 12, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, Romans chapter 12, this is an example he set for you and I today.

Romans chapter 12 and verse 1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Okay, we're not called to lay our life down unto death as he did, but we are called to imitate him in this life. And just as he lived as a living sacrifice and then died as a sacrifice, we're called to live in like manner as well. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

In light of the price that was paid for you and me, this is our reasonable response. How could we not respond in this way? Verse 2, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say through the grace given to me to everyone who is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Paul said, have a little sobriety here, have a little humility here. Okay, living sacrifice is what you and I are called to be. It is our reasonable service. In light that all that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ have done. You and I have been extended incredible mercy by God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, our response needs to be offering ourselves all that we are, all that we have to give in sacrifice, laying it down for one another for the life and the blessing of each and every one of us.

Again, not coming to be served, but to serve, and to give yourself for many. Indeed, it's the example he set.

Watching one another's feet at the Passover service, brethren, reminds us that I'm laying my life down for you. When I watch somebody's feet, I'm telling them, I'm not just here for me, and I'm not just here for my spiritual blessing. I'm here for you, and what it is that God has called you to achieve as well, and as your brother or as your sister, whatever that may be, part of my goal and my energy is put toward helping you to achieve what God has called you to achieve. We're not an island to ourselves. He's given us one another, not as a trial, but as a blessing. The foot washing reminds us of this gift. We're all in this together, and it's not only about me. When you're in Nigeria, I was out at a village congregation.

We were keeping the Passover, and there was a man who came, and he had been a part of the church for decades and decades, going way back in the church's history, but he was gone for a time.

A number of years where he didn't attend our fellowship, but he was back, and this Passover service was like, I have to be there. He showed up, and he was so excited that when all the men were getting ready to do the foot washing together, he said, you all sit down, you sit down, I will wash all of your feet. I had to rein him in a little bit. I said, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but each and every one of us has to share in this experience of giving and receiving from each other.

Because this is about a relationship. What did Jesus Christ say? He says, if I don't wash you, you have no part with me. But we've reminded that we have a part with one another in a relationship.

When we come together and wash one another's feet. Romans chapter 15 verse 1. Romans chapter 15 verse 1. Is it all about me? Apostle Paul writing Romans 15 verse 1, he says, then we who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak and not to please ourselves. Right? This isn't just about me. It's not just about you. Now it is about me and you, but it's also about what God is doing in the lives of others and what we can contribute. And those who are strong says, ought to bear with the scruples of the weak and not to please ourselves. It's about pleasing our brethren. Verse 2, let each of us please his neighbor for his good leading to edification. It's about lifting him up. For even Christ did not please himself as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you fell upon me. Again, it's describing a mindset of outgoing concern for others and it's asking the question, how can I lift someone else up today? How can I help somebody else achieve the potential for which they've been called? How can I encourage and edify them in their walk with God? There's a relationship among us all that we're accountable to, brethren, and it is an important aspect of this foot-washing event at the Passover service. Again, I am here for you just as you are here for me, and we yield one to another. We humble ourselves one before the other and we lift each other up in our common calling from God. Christ said, if you know these things, bless your you if you do them. He gave his life even when it wasn't convenient. And brethren, that's what you and I have been called to as well.

Characteristic number three of the foot-washing attitude of Christ is approachability. Approachability. You know, it's one thing to wash someone else's feet, right?

But it's a whole different experience to let somebody approach you and wash your feet.

Again, this isn't a cultural experience that we generally have in this day and age. Honestly, having your feet washed by someone else includes a number of lessons we can learn as well. And you know what? Oftentimes it's a very uncomfortable thing and it involves a whole different set of feelings and lessons. And the question I would ask is, how approachable are we?

Again, not just those five minutes, but all throughout our Christian walk. How approachable are we? As a humble servant, Jesus Christ was approachable to the people and it allowed him to connect with individuals who may have simply been cast aside or even out of touch otherwise.

Notice Luke chapter 7, verse 36.

Luke chapter 7 and verse 36. It's interesting. There's actually a snapshot into Jesus Christ having his feet washed. Luke chapter 7 and verse 36. It says, then one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him and he went to the Pharisee's house and sat down to eat. So first of all, he's approachable to the Pharisee who actually had maybe heard him, seen him, had some interest in wanting to know more about Jesus Christ.

So he's at his house. He's having dinner. Verse 37. Very, very, say, intimate type of an expression from this woman.

Verse 39. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, this man, if he were a prophet, you know, if, if he were a prophet, would know whom, what manner of woman this is who was touching him, for she is a sinner.

You know, again, we actually have this example of Jesus having his feet washed by this woman, albeit a different circumstance than you and I will have at the Passover. But I want you to notice and understand he was approachable. He was approached by this woman. He received her. Verse 39. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, again, if he was a prophet, he would know what manner of woman this is who's touching him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. He said, teacher, say it. He says, there was a certain creditor who had two debtors, one owed 500 denarii and the other 50. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he forgave them both freely. He says, tell me, therefore, which of them will love him more? And Simon answered and said, well, I suppose the one for whom he forgave more. And he said to him, you have rightly judged. And he turned to the woman. And he said to Simon, do you see this woman? He says, I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kisses, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven. For she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. And when he had said this, he said to her, this woman, your sins are forgiven. And those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, who is this? Who even forgives sins? And he said to the woman, your faith has saved you. Go in peace. So we have this illustration of Jesus Christ. He was approached by this sinner. He knew she was a sinner. She knew she was a sinner. And it was seen the whole community knew she was a sinner. And I don't know what her sin or her offense was, but clearly it was in the open. And everybody knew that about her. And yet it says, apparently she was repentant.

She came in humbled herself before Jesus Christ. And he was willing to receive her because she had needs too. In this case, her need was for her sins to be forgiven. And he saw her repentant heart, and he extended that forgiveness to her. If we're going to have the foot-washing attitude of Jesus Christ, brethren, we need to be approachable with one another as well. Not distaining the one of whose feet we would wash. Not looking down the line and jockeying for position. You know, we when we go play volleyball on Saturday nights, everybody lines up, right? We're going to have two teams. It's like one, two, one, two, one, two. Sometimes people switch place. I want to be on their team. This isn't what we do at the foot-washing service, all right? We're not jockeying for position for our friends. We're not to wash that person's feet. We're not playing favorites.

Rather, it's having a humility to wash and be washed by one another, no matter who it is. Because, again, this is ultimately about a relationship that's formed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, you know, I don't wash you. You have nothing to do with me. Peter, if you're resistant, if you're unwilling, it's about the relationship we have through that sacrifice, no matter who the brother or the sister are. Through Jesus' own explanation, we understand the foot-washing helps us to build a relationship with the individuals whose feet we're washing, and it's intended to be a very intimate thing. This woman, her tears drying his feet with her hair, her crying out to him in humility, that was an intimate, intimate expression. And, frankly, the foot-washing between one another in the body is an intimate experience between one another, leading to a relationship. In her case, it was one whereby Jesus forgave her sins.

In our case, I would say it's whereby we say, you know, my brother, my sister, I love you, and I am here for you. We are in this together, and it's not a matter of jockeying for a position.

I don't know about you, but personally, I find it more humbling to have someone else wash my feet than it is for me to wash theirs. I mean, maybe I feel like, okay, I'm happy to help serve you, but in some ways, on the flip side, I feel like Peter, which is like, I don't want you to wash my feet. You're washing my feet. But again, it's about the relationship that must go both ways. And I would say we actually can maybe feel uncomfortable having someone else wash our feet. Maybe we even feel vulnerable, because that's kind of a very personal expression. Again, our culture, we're not used to that. But I have to admit that when it's said and done, for me, it's always a bonding experience. I remember who washed my feet last year, and the year before, and the year before, who washed my feet on my very first Passover, you know, when I was 19 years old.

Those things will stick in your memory, and it's a bonding experience. And honestly, I have to, though, have considered beforehand, am I in the mindset to even have my feet washed? This is part of the preparation as well. And it's a reality check as to the kind of relationship we're called to have with one another all of the time. So I'll just say, if you end up washing the feet of our brother or sister that has done you wrong over the past year, and it's like, oh, we're both up at the water dispenser together, and we're going over here together, this is your brother. This is your sister. And I want you to consider that through this action of humility, we have the opportunity to wash away whatever dirt might reside within our relationship, to wash clean, and to go forward anew if we indeed are submitting one to another. Because if you're washing one another's feet on that night, on a night that portrays the laying down of a life so that you can have peace with God and each other, how could we not come out of the experience having just been willing to let it go and wash away the dirt that exists between us? Because, frankly, Jesus Christ died while we were enemies of God to wash away that dirt of enmity that exists between us and him. Again, there's so much, brethren, for us to consider in this event. If we're unapproachable, if we're unwilling to humble ourselves in this way, then Jesus said the relationship won't be there. And how could we have something to do with one another for unwilling in this way? Again, the point I'm making through all of this is we need to maintain this attitude of humble submission at all times, approachability at all times. This activity of foot washing is a type. It's just a physical event, but it points to something spiritual that God is doing in our lives. It points to something that Jesus Christ did in his life for each and every one of his disciples. He was approachable in his sacrificial service to all. And, brethren, you and I must be approachable to one another, and to this world, frankly, as well.

Fourth and final characteristic of the foot washing attitude that we'll look at today is an ability to recognize the potential in others. An ability to recognize the potential in others. Again, Jesus Christ did all these things as a matter of service. When he looked at people, he had the ability to see beyond their immediate circumstances. Maybe, again, this woman beyond her sins of the time. He saw her humility and repentance. He had the ability to see the God-given potential for which they were created. He had the ability to see what they could become if they overcame their struggle. Read through the Gospels. Read through the New Testament. So many of these people, and put ourselves in the story, have had struggles all along the way. Have wrestled with sin. If we had to be clean of that to even appear at the Passover, I would dare say this would be an empty hall, and I wouldn't be joining you either. So this isn't just, if you've ever stumbled, you're not welcome here, but again, it's a matter of, are we seeking to grow? Are we seeking to overcome? Are we seeking to be like Jesus Christ? And are those fruits there? They must, they must indeed be there. But Jesus had the ability to see beyond the imperfections of the moments of the reality of what they were called to be. And you can see that in his interactions. Luke 22.

Luke chapter 22, and we'll conclude here today, verse 20.

Luke chapter 22 and verse 20, context here again, the upper room. Final night of Jesus' life, final Passover he kept in the flesh here with the twelve. Luke chapter 22 and verse 20, likewise, he also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you, but behold, the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. He says, then they began to question among themselves who of them it was who would do this thing. Now there was also a dispute among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest. So we have Jesus Christ here. He just told them he's going to be betrayed. And he told them earlier what that was going to mean, even though maybe they didn't get it, but he was going to be delivered up. He was going to be killed in a horrific way. And yet the conversation jumped almost immediately from who's the betrayer to who's the greatest. We might wonder how can they make that leap? But the answer is the disciples in many ways were still very much self-focused. And in my mind, I imagine the conversation was something like, well, you know, who's the betrayer? You're kind of looking around the room and it's like, well, don't look at me because it certainly couldn't be me. You know, I'm his most trusted. I'm his best friend. I'm the one you don't remember last week he sent me to, you know, to the market, whatever it might be. It certainly couldn't be me. In fact, actually, I'm the greatest. Definitely wouldn't be me. Oh, you're the greatest, are you? Well, what do you think makes you the greatest? And you could, very quickly, this conversation takes the leap. The disciples were still largely self-focused. Verse 25, again still in Luke 22, verse 25, and he said to them, Jesus said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercised lordship over them. Those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you. On the contrary, 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 one who serves? Okay, this isn't a competition over who's the greatest, and Jesus Christ continually brought the conversation back to the servant's heart. What is it that you are inside? What is it that you have to give to your brothers and sisters, and what is your desire for that? This is about a servant's heart. Verse 28, Jesus said, But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. It says, You've been here all along, and I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Brethren, what did Jesus Christ see in his disciples besides their troubles, besides their shortcomings? He saw their potential. He saw what God created them to be, and the fact that they, indeed, through his sacrifice, could achieve that calling. Where the world saw uneducated fishermen, where the world saw despised tax collectors, Jesus Christ saw future rulers in the kingdom of God. It was their potential he could see, and brethren, he encouraged them to that end. And you know what? I'm sure that gave them so much encouragement, not only that night, but as they went forth from there. I'm sure it guided and directed their focus throughout their ministry. Can we do that? Can we do that with one another? Can we come to the foot washing doing that with one another? Can we look at others and see not only their shortcomings, but also see the potential for which they were created? Those who imitate Jesus Christ's foot washing attitude, brethren, I say must seek to do so. He washed the feet of the twelve that night imperfect. Imperfect. Peter says, I will never deny you.

Well, he went forth from there and did so very quickly. Those who imitate Jesus Christ must seek this attitude. The disciples, again, he washed their feet, and he could see what they would be.

When you and I get down on our knees at the Passover service and we wash the feet of our brother and sister in Christ, don't just see the feet of a sinner.

Don't just see the feet of somebody maybe you know has a problem or a shortcoming or something they're seeking and struggling with to overcome. And don't just see the feet of your friend either.

You need to see the feet of a future glorified child of God who has the potential to overcome and be in the kingdom of God, one whom you're willing to humble yourself before and offer your energy in your life in service to them. That's what you need to see when you kneel down and wash each other's feet at the Passover. In the United Church of God, we follow the practice of foot washing among ourselves as we observe, again, this Passover every year. As we wash one another's feet, it should remind us that just as Jesus Christ came to serve, we too are called to live in humble service one to another. There's an attitude of submission before one another that comes through this action, an attitude of yielding to one another, an attitude of brotherly and sisterly love, one for another, and in a way that's intended to be an incredibly intimate experience.

Rather than this is to bind us together, to remind us we are part of, we have the same goals, we have the same desires as we then sit down and take the bread of the wine, we indeed are of His sacrifice together. And we'll share in the inheritance of that blessing together, but it begins with humbling ourselves one to another in this calling. Again, it's a very intimate experience.

This activity serves to remind us that we must imitate the foot washing attitude of Jesus Christ at all times if we're going to function properly as the Church of God, and not just on that night, each and every day of the year. And so I'd like to quote from Jesus' own words in conclusion. Again, this is where we began. John 13, verse 14 through 17. Jesus said, If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. This is where I've 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 sent greater than he who sent them. If you know these things, Jesus said, if you know them. It says, if you know them, blesser you if you do them.