Maundy Thursday

 

Holy Thursday

Collect of the Day

O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 797 Praise the Almighty. My soul, adore Him!

 

1 Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him!

Yes, I will laud Him until death;

With songs and anthems I come before Him

As long as He allows me breath.

From Him my life and all things came;

Bless, O my soul, His holy name.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

2 Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal;

Earth-born they are and soon decay.

Vain are their counsels at life's last portal,

When the dark grave engulfs its prey.

Since mortals can no help afford,

Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

3 Blessed, oh, blessed are they forever

Whose help is from the Lord Most High,

Whom from salvation can nothing sever,

And who in hope to Christ draw nigh.

To all who trust in Him, our Lord

Will aid and counsel now afford.

Allelujah, allelujah!

4 Penitent sinners, for mercy crying,

Pardon and peace from Him obtain;

Ever the wants of the poor supplying,

Their faithful God He will remain.

He helps His children in distress,

The widows and the fatherless.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

5 Praise, all you people, the name so holy

Of Him who does such wondrous things!

All that has being, to praise Him solely,

With happy heart its amen sings.

Children of God, with angel host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 116:1–4; antiphon: v. 5

 

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

                our God is merciful.

I love the Lord, because he has heard

                my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Because he inclined his ear to me,

                therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

                I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

                “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

                our God is merciful.

 

Gradual

Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a

[Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, by means of his own blood,

                thus securing an eternal redemption.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant,

                so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

He sent redemption to his people;

                he has commanded his covenant forever.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Maundy Thursday copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Maundy Thursday Homily

1 Corinthians 11:23-34
A Truly New Covenant

[1]

Something truly new and different is happening as Christ our Lord institutes His supper. We call it the Last Supper because it was the Last Supper, which Jesus ate before His arrest, trial, and death.  It can also be referred to as the Last Supper because at last, after this supper something new is taking place. In establishing this Holy Communion Jesus is presenting to us a new covenant in His body and blood.

Holy Communion certainly is a truly new covenant.  What is this new thing?

I.     The blood of Christ replaces the blood of animals.

A.   Specific animals had to be offered for specific sacrifices.

1.   The list of tasks was endless. Regulations abounded. The requirements were tremendous. The law required for a strict enforcement of all of the regulations of the ceremonies. An animal had to be killed in a certain manner; certain sacrifices required certain animals.

2.   Men had to be therefore taught repeatedly concerning these sacrifices. Each generation had to pass down to the next one how the sacrifices were to be carried out. If they failed to teach their children how the sacrifice was to be performed the entire custom would be lost in one generation. The hope for forgiveness, restoration and peace would be lost forever.

B.    These sacrifices had to be frequent because people repeatedly sinned.

1.   As there were sacrifices named for specific sins, these sacrifices could only last but once. There was but one sacrifice for each offense. When a subsequent offense occurred, another sacrifice had to be offered if a person were to have their sin atoned and their conscience stilled.

2.   This made an interesting enterprise for some. There would have to be animals on hand, available to be sacrificed. These had to be kept, housed, fed, and cared for. Often abuses were found, as just a few days before His arrest Jesus took a whip and drove out the animals, and the money launders who had turned God's house into a dean of thieves.

Transition: Such was the old system of sacrifices. It was limited, cumbersome, full of regulations, and a system that was full of abuse. That is why Christ came to give us a more acceptable way. Consider Jesus' new covenant.

II.     The new covenant speaks of the work that was accomplished in Jesus Christ.

A.   The Old covenant ="this do and live"

1.   It was a covenant of regulations disciplines and rules. It was based on strict obedience. It was motivated by fear; fear of reprisals, fear of failure, fear of offending a just a holy God.

2.   It could not stand the test of every man for no one is capable of following the decrees and dictates of a holy God. For this reason our good and gracious Father sent forth a plan that a just the right time His Son, our Savior would break into time and space to offer up Himself a good and perfect sacrifice. This was accomplished with Christ instituted His Supper "which is give and shed for you for the forgiveness of all of your sins.

B.    The New covenant = "live and do this"

1.   The benefits of the new covenant, celebrated by Christians in this wonderful Sacrament are the fruits of Christ's righteousness.

He gives to us the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. We are now free to live and the children of God.

2.   Because of this freedom, this new life that is offered by Christ, we are also strengthened to will and to do the will of our heavenly Father. Obedience no longer becomes a burden. It becomes a blessing and an opportunity to serve God in righteousness and purity.

This meal is truly a celebration of the new things God is working in us. It is a new covenant, a covenant of His mercy and grace. It is a feast of victory of our God who has done all things well for His glory and our good. Come, for all things are now ready. Amen.

Words-700
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Reading Level – 7.1

 

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[1] Maundy Thursday copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Maundy Thursday

 

Thursday, April 01, 2021 – Maundy Thursday –              1 Corinthians 11:23-32 – A new covenant

The Antiphon: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. – Psalm 116:13

Prayer for Maundy Thursday – O Lord God, who hast left unto us in a wonderful Sacrament a memorial of Thy Passion, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so use this Sacrament of Thy body and blood that the fruits of Thy redemption may continually be manifest in us.

The Crucifixion From the Woodcut Illustration “The Crucifixion” is taken from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, The Book of Books in Pictures. © WLS Permission granted for personal and congregational use.

The Lord’s Supper © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Collects from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Maundy Thursday

 

An invitation to come

The Savior has invited us to come. Let us see the benefits of attending shall we? Let us consider Luther’s Christian Questions and Their Answers.

The question is asked, “Why ought we to remember and proclaim His death?” The answer is given in three parts. This shall be the basis of our meditation this night.

I.                    That we may learn to look with terror at our sins, and to regard them as great indeed.

The anger of an offended God is what Jesus faced. Consider His cry from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?!” Without Christ this is our cry!

We can claim nothing before God. Luther’s deathbed remarks remind us, “We are only beggars!”

Luther further teaches, “Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, "Given, and shed for you for the remission of sins." But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unprepared; for the words, "For you," require all hearts to believe.”

It is our joy and honor in this congregation often to receive Jesus’ Supper which he instituted for our comfort. In his body and blood, given and shed for us to eat and drink, Jesus forgives our sins, strengthens our faith, and increases our hope.

The whole Christ; true God and true man, is offered from our altar in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine. But how are we to meet him worthily?

Faith is the only thing required! There are no heroic preliminary works required to prove that you are spiritual enough. There are no benchmarks of holiness to surpass. Only learn to confess the fact that you are a weak sinner and that in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood you will find grace.

By eating and drinking Jesus’ body and blood with trust in his promise connected to these elements, there is no condemnation, no punishment, no law to hold you back from your heavenly Father’s kindness.

Transition: As we look at our sins we must ask ourselves, “How do I stand?”

II.                  That we may learn to believe that no creature could make satisfaction for our sins but Christ, true God and man.

That we may learn to believe that no creature could make satisfaction for our sins.

But only Jesus can make satisfaction for sin. Consider His two natures; He is both - true God and man, yet only one Christ.

Jesus is true God. This is necessary for only God can save. At the same time Jesus is truly human. This too is necessary for it is a human who fell headlong into sin.

 

Peter calls Jesus, “the Holy and Righteous One” - Acts 3:14 while Peter says that Christ “went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with Him.”- Acts 10:38

 

The writer to the Hebrews says Jesus was “without sin.” - 4:15 Jesus lived a sinless life for you.  Jesus was active in His living a perfect life for you. Jesus did everything the law requires.

 

Jesus’ atoning death – He took your sin as His own and died in your place. In His Suffering and dying all sin was paid for – period! - "The next day john saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" - John 1:29

In the Gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” -Romans 1:17

The Scriptures teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake. They are justified through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins.

That we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. [Augsburg Conf, Article IV]

Transition: As Christ has forgiven us at the bloody cross we not take great comfort in His redeeming work.

III.                To find joy and comfort in Him alone and thus be save through such faith.

To find joy and comfort in Him alone – J. S. Bach put it this way: “Jesu joy of man’s desiring. Holy wisdom, Love most bright. Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring. Souring to uncreated light. Word of God, our flesh that fashioned. With the fire of life impassioned, Striving still to truth unknown, souring, dying round Thy throne.”

And thus we are saved through such faith. It is a faith which clings to Jesus’ merit alone. Faith is a reliance on the gospel promise. You trust in the person and work of Christ. Faith is not a vague, “faith in God,” or a merely generic faith in the Bible, but a specific trust that holds on to Jesus as its sole focus.

Faith is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word. Faith is nothing more than clinging to Christ and the promises of the gospel. Faith is resting in Christ and not in your own works. Faith is the confidence that God is good and true to his promise of grace to those who believe. It is the drowning victim which clings to the life line. Jesus is your life-line.

Come, come weary sinners, come to the foot of the cross for all things are now ready!

 

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Maundy Thursday image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Maundy Thursday Morning Chapel

John 13:1, 34-35

This morning. We gathered for confession and individual absolution.   It is a powerful beginning. To the three days of Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. And Easter Vigil.

This Thursday before Easter — The night before Jesus’ death — We remember Jesus wearing a servant’s apron. And washing his disciples’ feet. Giving the command. To love one another. 

It is also on this night. Where Jesus promises, “this is my body and blood.” The radical newness in Jesus’ command to his disciples. To participate in the Eucharist. 

This is also a night of garden prayer. And betrayal. With swords and clubs. And disciples. Who ran away in fear. Today. We make all these things a very big deal. Because. This is! A very big deal.

The name “Maundy Thursday.“ Comes from the Latin word mandatum.  “Mon-da-dum” Meaning “Commandment.” And the commandment Jesus has given us is this. - That you love one another. 

When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [Jesus said to them,]”A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:1, 34-35

To be a teacher. Means you have to love school. Your teachers. Not only did they have to learn to teach things like reading. History. Science. And math. They also had to learn things like, “The Learning  Pyramid.”  And “The average student retention rate.” – Which simply says. That the best way of knowing that you get it. – Is not just by reading. Or hearing.  Or even practice.  Or doing.

But the best way. To measure that you have learned something. Is “to teach others.” And this Jesus has done. ”A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.”

No matter what. Jesus is the center of everything. In your life. In your family. At your school. Jesus is at the center of everything. And this He has commanded us to do. – Love one another.  

Love at all times. Even when it is hard to do so.  We love. At all times. Because love covers sins! And that’s what these three days – Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. And Easter are all about.  Because God is love. And love removes sin!

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 And how did Jesus express that love? He loved by doing. He went to the cross. To offer you forgiveness and life.

The night in which He was betrayed. Right before the Shepherd laid down His life for sheep who love to wander. Jesus gave each of His disciples a personal token and sign. That what He was about to do was for them. 

He gave them of His body to eat. And His blood to drink. With their very own mouth. 

They each ate the body. Which was about to be given over to arrest. Trial. And crucifixion. 

They each drank the blood. Which was about to drip throughout the streets of Jerusalem. And pour forth from the cross.

And He told them. To keep doing it. "Do this, as oft as ye do it, in remembrance of Me."

What moved Jesus to do such things? Love pure and simple. Look to Good Friday. Count your blessings every day. The best of which is your inheritance. Ushered into the world in Christ. Purchased for you on Good Friday on Calvary. And sealed to you by your Savior’s resurrection from the grave. ”A new commandment I give to you…’ Says Jesus. “That you love one another.”

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M Thursday

M Thursday

13 April 2017

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” – John 6:35

Jesus speaks. Jesus the bread of life speaks to us this night. What would He say? Let’s listen to His voice.

I.        I am from heaven - John 6:41 “At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." (NIV)

A.     Jesus makes a bold claim – “I am the bread that came down from heaven” Jesus makes Himself equal to the Father…He does not merely claim to know God. Or to represent God. His claim is unique. He is God. It is God alone who would rain down bread from heaven in the form of manna. It is only God Himself. Who can feed a starving prophet. By sending ravens. Holed up in a cave. In fear of his life.

B.   Jesus makes Himself equal with God. He caused many to grumble at Jesus. Many eventually grew dishearten. They walked away. Are you to grumble too? We claim that God will guide and lead us. Do we have the right to grumble and complain when His blessings are present in our midst? It takes faith to submit to His will. It takes a daring faith to trust in Him. Come what may.

Transition: Jesus claims to have come from heaven. He also claims to have direct access to God.

II.     I alone see God - John 6:46 “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” (NIV)

A.     No one has seen the Father. Except the one who is from God.  Jesus will not lay claim to anything else. He is the only begotten Son of the Father. Not one, who knows God. Not one who understands God. He is the only one who has seen the Father.

B.     Only He has seen the Father - To have seen God. Meant sure death. Moses had to shield his face. Jesus makes the claim as to have seen the Father.

Transition: Jesus claims to come from heaven. He claims to have seen the Father. His claim is simple. He alone is the bread of life.

III.   I am the bread of life - John 6:48 (NIV)

A.     He creates life. In ten simple phrases. The entire created order was made. There is nothing that exists. Either on earth. Or in heaven. Which did not come by the created mouth of Jesus.

B.     He sustains life. As He brought this world into existence. By His mighty Word. He will continue to sustain and keep it. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease” (Genesis 8:22) Times and seasons. Created by  the Word of the Lord. Will never cease. Until the end of human history. This is His promise to you.

Transition: Jesus comes from heaven. He alone sees God. He creates and sustains the earth. He alone gives eternal life.

IV. I give eternal life - John 6:50 “But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.” (NIV)

A.     Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. Jesus is looking intently into the face of the crowd. How would He fare today? Do we believe that He is God in the flesh? Do we believe that He gives His life for this world? Do we believe that His death. Upon that bloody cross. And the eyewitness testimony of the open tomb can give and sustain life? These are the claims of Jesus. He asks you this night. To believe and trust in Him.

B.     Which a man may eat and not die.  The Scriptures remind. In the midst of life. We are in death. Death seems to surround us. Will we have the prospect of life eternal? Jesus Christ guarantees that we will have life in His name. By faith, we believe and live. Every time you feast. On Christ. The bread from heaven. Eternity is granted. This is His guarantee to you this night.

Jesus says – “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” By faith. We trust Him. By faith. We receive Him. He gives us His life. In exchange for the life of this world. Remember His words this night. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread. He will live forever. This bread is My flesh. Which I will give. For the life of this world.”

Words - 780

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Readability – 95.2

Reading Level -2.1

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for private and congregational use.

M Thursday

M Thursday

24 March 2016

“Lead us not into temptation”

Matthew 6:13

καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶςεἰς πειρασμόν

And do not bring us into temptation

Friends in Christ, I urge you all to lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ our Lord has taught us and freely promised to hear us. Lead us not into temptation, O Lord, but help us by Your Spirit to subdue our flesh, to turn from the world and its ways, and to overcome the devil with all his wiles, Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.[1]

Keep your promise and be true to Yourself, Father, by not doing anything that would cause us to sin. Do not abandon us in temptation, and do not let any temptation beyond our strength befall us, but send us Your Spirit to defend us in every temptation. I pray this for myself and all Your children.

On this holy night, when we remember that the Savior endured temptation for us we are brought into remembrance that He Himself allowed Himself to suffer. He prayed in the garden “Father, not My will, but Thine be done” and then allowed Himself and permitted Himself to be crucified.

Tonight, we look at the sixth petition, “and lead us not into temptation” Luther in his small Catechism reminds us: “God indeed tempts no one…” Well, if that is the case, what then do we ask in the sixth petition?

              I.      We ask that the Father would guard and keep us, so that the temptation to evil may not come upon us.

Paul writing in 2 Thessalonians 3 reminds us, “But the Lord is faithful, and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (v.3) Here Paul places the faithfulness of God in sharp contrast with the lack of faith in people.  “No temptation has sized you except what is common to man…”

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10, “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand under it.” (v.13) 

Temptation in itself is not sin. Jesus Himself was tempted. Yielding to temptation is sin. Through God’s battling for us we are able to resist temptation to sin and stand up under it.

           II.      God also promises to strengthen and preserve us when He permits temptation to come.

                Why, pray tell, would the Father allow His children to be tempted? You might ask.  The Father allows temptation so that in the end we may overcome and obtain the victory.  Paul reminds us to be clothed with Christ’s protection.  In Ephesians 6:13 he writes, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (v.13)

                Withstanding temptation is the end result.  God by these words assures us that he will give us the means by which we can withstand temptation. Those means are His Word and the Sacraments, which are connected to God’s Word and promises.

                To help guard and keep us the Savior has given us His Supper. This meal is an everlasting testament in which the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation is given to us.

                Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him took the time to offer for us His Supper. This meal is offered to you and to me that we may withstand temptation, that we may overcome, that we may gain the victory.

Lord, I believe what You have said,
Help me when doubts assail me;
Remember that I am but dust
And let my faith not fail me.
This Supper in this vale of tears
Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.[2]

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[1] Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service, Setting Five © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

[2] Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared stanza 6, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

image by Google

M Thursday

M. Thursday

April 2, 2015

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

“Holy Communion is a Participation with Christ”

In any poll ever taken of the greatest men in history, Jesus has always come at or near the top. Jesus is universally admired as a self-sacrificing human being and a gifted teacher. For us Christians, Jesus is far more, however. He is the Son of God and our beautiful Savior. As such, He is surely worthy of all the admiration we have for Him.

But we do not just admire Jesus from a distance of almost 20 centuries. We actually approach Him so that we come very near to Him.  And He to us. That’s what Paul is saying in our text.  He reminds us that Holy Communion Is a Participation in Christ.

It is an exclusive participation

The real Christ unites Himself with us in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.  We take into ourselves His very body and blood.  We participate intimately in God Himself. We participation in Christ excludes participation in idolatry.

By worshiping the gods of money, prestige, and sex we divorce ourselves from Christ (1 Corinthians 6:25-20) God will have no other gods before Him (Zech. 1:14)

Transition: The exclusive participation in Christ in Holy Communion reminds us that we are to be done with participation in anything that usurps Christ’s place within.

It is a satisfying participation.

Christ satisfied us with His forgiveness. We need forgiveness for our unfaithfulness, an unfaithfulness that can never satisfy (Ezekiel 16:28). We receive full and free forgiveness, for Christ gave His body and blood to secure that forgiveness. His forgiveness takes away our guilt and calms our conscience (Psalm 65:4; 107:9).

Christ satisfies us with abundant life. (John 10:10)  We need Christ’s life because we live in bodies that will die. We receive the life of Jesus, over whose body death no longer has dominion (Romans 6:9)

Transition: The satisfying participation in Christ in Holy Communion results in the life of Jesus being manifested in our mortal bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:10-11).

It is a unifying participation.

Since we partake of one bread we receive the one and the same Christ, we also are one body. Our oneness manifests itself in our united affirmation of the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion. Our oneness manifests itself in our unanimous confession of all that Christ has taught. (Matthew 28:20) Our oneness manifests itself in our sharing tasks, joys, and sorrows (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

As we participate in the one Christ, we have a oneness that enables us to stand against Satan. We will not be such easy prey for Satan when we remain in fellowship with one another. We can better escape Satan as we strengthen our fellowship by partaking of Holy Communion (Acts 2:42)

The unifying participation in Christ in Holy Communion enables us to be a body of Christians who together confess Christ, support each other, and stand firm against temptation.  As members of families and as citizens of a country we all participate in many kinds of activities. But none of these compares with our participation with Christ in Holy Communion.

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M Thursday

M. Thursday

17 April 2014

John 13:1-17

He loved them to the end

Jesus kept loving His disciples. He loved them. Despite their self-seeking ways. Even though He knew one of when would betray Him. Even though was conscious of soon entering the glory from which He had come. He performed for His disciples, even for His betrayer, the menial service of foot washing. In that selfless act. He showed His love in all the beauty of its perfection.

He loved them to the end.

1.       It is a love that makes us clean.

A.      The foot washing portrayed Christ’s loving work of spiritual cleaning.  . (v.10)

1.       Peter did not understand the real significance of this act of love. “He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” (Vv.6-8a.)

2.       Though justified by faith and thus purified from sin, we still daily sin much.

a.       We are still living outside of Eden.

b.      Flesh and blood led us into evil.

c.       We need daily cleansing from daily defilement.

B.      If our feet are not washed, we have no part inn Jesus.  “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” (v.8b)

1.       We confess we need to have our feet washed when we pray daily, “Forgive us our trespasses.”

2.       He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us. (1 John 1:9)

3.       We have a part in all that Jesus earned for us by His suffering and death.

We are daily made clean all over. The love Jesus showed in washing His disciples’ feet does not fail us either.

2.       It is a love that makes us humble.

A.      The foot washing provides us a pattern for humble service. “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (Vv.12-15)

1.       Christ’s act is a picture of His voluntary humiliation whereby He stooped to save. “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[a] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

2.       But literally washing one another’s feet will not bring us any nearer to the mind of Christ. 

3.       We follow Christ’s example when we bear one another’s burdens. “ .” (Galatians 6:2)

a.       We are concerned for their physical comfort.

b.      We aim to secure their spiritual and moral cleansing.

B.      The love of Jesus enables us to “wash one another’s feet.”

1.       That love transforms our hearts so that we get rid of arrogance, envy, and anger.

2.       That love guides us in a spirit of lowliness and helpfulness.

Blessed are we when we let the unfailing love of Jesus move us to imitate Him. “ .” (v.17)

The love of Jesus will not fail. He who washed His disciples’ feet will cleanse us daily and empower us to humble service.

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