This is a familiar passage but it is about much more than you might think.
People humbling themselves as missionaries or to serve others or to work un-rewarded are wonderful things, but here Christ is more than that. Our humility is not in the same class at all with His holy humility.
This was not only about submission and service, but also about surrender. You can humbly serve the whole body and specially as you encounter them, but washing feet as seen by Jesus here is about getting dirty, and removing the dirt from the worn and weary feet of those you are in the trenches with. That isn’t everybody; that is about your local set of people whom you get muddy with on a regular basis, as Jesus did with His disciples. You give yourself to a group of people and those people are whose feet you wash.
A proof of this is found in 1 Timothy 5:9-10. The true widow, who Paul described in detail, and who had humbled herself and served the local congregation of saints, was to be considered for being on the church’s benevolence list or given some kind of support as she supported those in the church. This shows us the application of the “washing of feet” means to a local fellowship, not just a general principle only. Although we are to be humble to all and serve all, this is not just about humility and service in general, but in specific terms to specific people sets.
If you think that you are some super saint and that you don’t have to be a vital part of a local church, if you haven’t surrendered your role as the final arbiter in your life, your discipleship is all dried up. You’ve thrown in the towel against the church instead of girding yourself with it.
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“ Wow! ” This sermon really helped me to "get hold" of some important things, now they make sense.
Sean (8/17/2008)
“ This sermon was....... ” It really did bring a whole new meaning to the word "humility". The movie that we were watching in the youth group "The gospel of John" helped a little bit with sermon. But when you broke it down it really showed the significance of not just feet washing but also forgiveness, Jesus said "Forgive one another, as I have forgiven you." And I took that passage as "oh yeah well thats obvious, of course" but it didn't just stop there.
Even though Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and Peter denied Jesus three times in the same night that He got arrested, Jesus still humbled Himself and washed his disciples feet washing off the filth of their feet and washing them clean (showing forgiveness). I was having a hard time forgiving some people and also humbling myself to athority and the sermon shows that it is what I HAVE to, its not an option. You were talking about how the disciples wanted to be the closest to Jesus, like who was the "best" disciples. And that's where I also fell. I wanted so bad to be the "best" christian that I stopped thinking about Christ and started thinking of self and how I could make myself better. Feel free to correct me where I was wrong.
God Bless, Give me a call anytime.
Kevin Starr (8/17/2008)
from Dunnellon, Florida
“ Pass Me Some Humble Pizza ” This is one of the best sermons I have heard. It is helping me to understand humbleness and how to do to others how Christ has done unto me. I can't wait to listen to the next sermon.
