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12 JESUS TEACHES SERVANTHOOD-Jesus and His disciples gathered
together in Jerusalem for an evening meal at the beginning of the Feast of
The Unleavened Bread and The Passover. Foot washing is a practice of
hospitality that Jesus used to express servant hood to His disciples because
the situation arose. During the course of the meal a dispute had risen among
them as to who was the greatest.
Jesus knew
that God The Father, had put All things under His power, and that he had come
from God and was returning to God; so 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, drying them with
the towel that was wrapped around him. He had washed His disciple’s feet, a
menial task, and a lesson in humility that set forth the principle of
selfless service. Only by this act, so great, was He at last able to convey
to His disciples to serve one another instead of arguing who was to be the
most important among them
In Eastern
countries, shoes are removed when entering a house and the lowest servant is
to wash the dust off the feet of the visitor; it is a minimal gesture of
hospitality. Foot-washing is a lowly task, normally performed by a servant.
This
practical side of foot-washing was done half way through Jesus’ last meal, as
no one had carried out the hospitality task of foot-washing previously
because of the disciple's argument. This menial task was far from their minds
and due to the circumstances. Jesus did it Himself.
By taking
off His outer-clothing, Jesus was a representation of humility. He took the
posture of a slave. Being a servant did not intimidate Jesus; He knew what He
was commissioned to do and where He was going. Disciples must not only have
the desire to serve Christ but accept His service for them also.
Jesus said
this physical washing was necessary before being part of the close fellowship
with Christ. Jesus looked beyond the incident that had happened to what foot
washing symbolises, servant hood and spiritual cleansing. Spiritual cleansing
comes through The Word and The Holy Spirit. No external ceremony can cause
inner cleansing but this is used only as a symbol or figure, which can lead
to internal purity.
This
service He performed broke all selfishness and ‘one-upmanship’ the disciples
had towards each other. The law of love, to "love one another as I have
loved you" is of paramount importance and without this deep and constant
love the Gospel could not be preached.
By washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus showed the deep and
constant love of The Father to His own, His adopted children, His family, in
spite of the fact they had often betrayed by weakness their love for His Son.
All this demonstration showed how deep the love Jesus had for His disciples.
The
disciples did not understand at the time what was happening but were always
ready to be taught from Jesus. Jesus said this act was an example of servant
hood, one of many He set for believers. He had come to serve and was the
perfect Servant. It was expected for His followers to imitate His life and
obey His teachings. His disciples’ feet were symbolically washed to show what
was required for leadership. Christian leadership entails servant hood for
they are to proclaim the Kingdom of God, as did Christ.
Jesus was
the ideal of servant hood. He also taught parables on servant hood. Jesus
Christ set an example in servant hood so that His disciples might become like
Him. Christ was willing to give up freedom of self-interest and show His
willingness to serve others. His humility was a model for others.
Disciples of Christ are to serve
each other in humility and love. The disciples who had quarrelled among
themselves were changed and became known for their love for each other. 
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