Stooping To Serve

Today, as we continue to Prepare 90 Days for Easter (P90E), we read John 13 and Psalm 116.

In John 13 Jesus commits a beautiful act for the disciples of service and devotion. He washes their feet.   The washing of feet was a wonderful service that a guest would receive upon entering a nice home with a warm welcome.  As we would take someone's coat today, they would have their lowest servant wash a guest's feet.  In that day when people went barefooted or sandaled and walked along the same roads as the domesticated animals walked, a good foot washing was important and very refreshing.
Some have made footwashing a part of worship as a required celebration for the church because of the words of Christ.  We do not celebrate it in that way.  Those special celebrations that we participate in, and that we call ordinances, are the Lord's Supper and baptism.  We chose to celebrate those two because they both directly point to the cross, the centrality of our faith, and they were both regularly observed by the first churches after the ascension of Christ. That does not mean that foot washing is not a beautiful, symbolic ceremony or that the message behind it is not of a supreme importance.  It appears Jesus was focusing on the meaning behind it. You make the call. It is found in
John 13.14-17- If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

The point Jesus is making is that we ought to be quick to serve other people.  We ought to be willing to stoop ourselves to the lowest level to help someone out.   Our service to others helps us show Christ working in us and opens the door for us to share His Truth with others.

Be quick to serve others today...and have a great day.  Be blessed and be a blessing.