OzThoughts Thursday 9th April 2009.

OzThoughts Thursday 9th April 2009.

Thursday in Holy Week

“I like little rituals” was the response of one of my co-workers when a few of us were discussing personal daily Bible reading and prayer. He was not a Christian but went on to say he thought our little rituals were good for us. Some of us declared that it probably seemed a ritual but as our readings were different every day and our prayers were ‘conversational’ with God and not read prayers, there was a great benefit from our spiritual life.

The washing of feet before a meal may have been a ritual and a courtesy but it also had a practical benefit in days when sandals were worn and the roads were hot and dusty. When John tells of the Passover meal that Jesus shared with his Disciples, he tells us “6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything… So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron.”

Jesus then filled a bowl with water and began to wash the Disciples feet. All went well until Jesus came to Peter. Peter emphasizes his relationship with Jesus by calling him “Master” and declares he will never allow him to and wash his feet (as a servant to Peter).
Then Jesus answers “"You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter says “Never! You will never wash my feet”
The report continues:
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
9"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"
10-12Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean.
So it was much more than a ritual. It was much more than the hygiene. We can see in it an example of service as a servant and submission. It is also a foretaste or entrée to the cleansing power of Jesus.

The conversation continued and Jesus says

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4490.mp3 ]

Lord, through the blood of the Lamb that was slain,
Cleansing for me;
From all the guilt of my sins now I claim
Cleansing from thee.
Sinful and black though the past may have been,
Many the crushing defeats I have seen,
Yet on thy promise, O Lord, now I lean.
Cleansing for me.

From all the sins over which I have wept,
Cleansing for me;
Far, far away by the blood-current swept,
Cleansing for me.
Jesus, thy promise I dare to believe,
And as I come thou wilt surely receive,
That over sin I may never more grieve,
Cleansing for me.

From all the doubts that have filled me with gloom,
Cleansing for me;
From all the fears that would point me to doom,
Cleansing for me.
Jesus, although I may not understand,
In childlike faith now I stretch forth my hand,
And through thy word and thy grace I shall stand,
Cleansed by thee.

From all the care of what men think or say,
Cleansing for me;
From ever fearing to speak, sing or pray,
Cleansing for me.
Lord, in thy love and thy power make me strong
That all may know that to thee I belong;
When I am tempted, let this be my song,
Cleansing for me.
Author: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 437


John 13:1-17
1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.
3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
7Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
8Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"
Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
9"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"
10-12Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
12-17Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.
John 13:31-35
31-32When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!
33"Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.'
34-35"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."






You might like to listen to “Salvoaudio Songster Selection for Easter”. It is a choice selection of 11 songster pieces by at least 7 Songster Brigades.
Click here:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/songsters/salvoaudio_songsters.htm
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