This week is an extraordinary week, Jesus' entry of Jerusalem on the Sunday, Which was celebrated as the Palm Sunday. The people rejoiced and shouted as, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Matthew 21:9 NIV
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Some of the Significant incidents happens in this Holy Week.
--> Mary Anoints Jesus - John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;
--> Voice from the Father - “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
-->Jesus went to the Temple and Cleansed the Temple, Overthrowing the tables of money changers.
--> Jesus healed - Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Significance of Jesus washing disciples feet:
Jesus knowing that his hour had come - God, who gave all things into his hands: Jesus chooses the best things and utilizes his time in the utmost manner for us:
This is one of the most important time in the lives of people who lived along with Jesus. It gives us clear direction, instruction and the way. That Jesus has been able to utilize his most difficult time in earth for our benefit and to its utmost possible way. Choosing to wash his disciple's feet is a very significant way of showing concern and respect. At that too at a time of discomfort, because Jesus knew that he has suffer on the cross for our sins. No one could have acted better than Jesus. This shows us the way, how to live life and choose things that God only wishes us to take.
First and the foremost lesson Jesus like us to teach is about Serving others:
No matter what, everyone has to serve others - No one is perfect, but if we are able to do certain things which others cannot, we should not criticize them but we should encourage them. James 2:16 NIV
If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
1 John 4:12 NIV
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:20 NIV
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Serving others is not only a saying "I will do", but its an action - Jesus did it. "got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself." - Initiative is a most powerful thing, because many things are not accomplished, because it was never started.
The second thing that Jesus wants us to learn is - Learn from the Lord, and the Teacher - What it means to be an Example - Good Example:
“Do you know what I have done to you?
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16 said that "You are the Salt of the World" and "You are the Light of the World"
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
In another instance Jesus said - John 15:15 NIV
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Luke 22:26 NIV
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
John 13
HAVE A GREAT AND BLESSED DAY AHEAD
Matthew 21:9 NIV
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Jesus came Jerusalem on a Donkey, Which signifies that he came to make peace with the people on earth. Zechariah 9:9 NIV
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Some of the Significant incidents happens in this Holy Week.
--> Mary Anoints Jesus - John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;
--> Voice from the Father - “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
-->Jesus went to the Temple and Cleansed the Temple, Overthrowing the tables of money changers.
--> Jesus healed - Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Significance of Jesus washing disciples feet:
Jesus knowing that his hour had come - God, who gave all things into his hands: Jesus chooses the best things and utilizes his time in the utmost manner for us:
This is one of the most important time in the lives of people who lived along with Jesus. It gives us clear direction, instruction and the way. That Jesus has been able to utilize his most difficult time in earth for our benefit and to its utmost possible way. Choosing to wash his disciple's feet is a very significant way of showing concern and respect. At that too at a time of discomfort, because Jesus knew that he has suffer on the cross for our sins. No one could have acted better than Jesus. This shows us the way, how to live life and choose things that God only wishes us to take.
First and the foremost lesson Jesus like us to teach is about Serving others:
No matter what, everyone has to serve others - No one is perfect, but if we are able to do certain things which others cannot, we should not criticize them but we should encourage them. James 2:16 NIV
If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
1 John 4:12 NIV
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:20 NIV
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
Serving others is not only a saying "I will do", but its an action - Jesus did it. "got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself." - Initiative is a most powerful thing, because many things are not accomplished, because it was never started.
Galatians 6
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 Brethren, even if [a]anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The second thing that Jesus wants us to learn is - Learn from the Lord, and the Teacher - What it means to be an Example - Good Example:
“Do you know what I have done to you?
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16 said that "You are the Salt of the World" and "You are the Light of the World"
Matthew 5:13-16
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Disciples and the World
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
In another instance Jesus said - John 15:15 NIV
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Luke 22:26 NIV
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
John 13
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Lord’s Supper
13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
The washing of feet is also a metaphor for us to serve others who are at lower in rank, in status or in any other manner. To be able to bless even at the most difficult point of time in life. To be able to teach lesson on servanthood - not just by teaching but by acting.
Maundy Thursday is considered to be a very holy day to wash the feet of others. Everyday and every moment we must dedicate our lives to serve God and in serving others, but this week and specially this day - Maundy Thursday is for the serving.
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