footwashing

Tonight I participated in our Holy Week Service of Communion and Footwashing. Most people have an idea of what a Service of Communion entails (sharing of the bread and wine/juice in remembrance of the final supper that Jesus shared with his disciples as a part of Passover). But, I have a feeling that some of you may not have had the opportunity of participating in a Footwashing Service. I can tell you for sure that I had never had the privilege until a couple of years ago. I remember hearing vague stories of footwashing services 'back in the old days' of the Pentecostal church that I grew up attending. I have to admit that I was a little surprised to hear that my modern day United Methodist Church had Footwashing Services. Of course, I also have to admit that I really had never thought about it's purpose.

It all goes back to Jesus and the night he spent dining for the last time with his disciples earlier in the night before he was betrayed and arrested.

John 13:1-12 (New Living Translation)

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

In this footwashing ritual, Jesus reinforced his commandment to "love one another".

Please, Lord, help this experience to remind me to serve others as you did the same.