It was the night before when in the upper room Jesus and the disciples meet for the last supper. As they came into that room each one passed by a basin and a pitcher full of water.
Every one of those disciples knew what that pitcher of water and basin was there for.
It was the job of the servant of the household to wash the feet of the guess as they entered. If there was no servant of the house it was a custom for one of the guess to take on the task. The disciples were looking for a position of honor or a place of privilege at the table. They were rushing to get a good seat. It seems that Jesus waited until all were seated and while it was fresh in their minds and then
The bible says in
Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
I’m sure you could have heard a pin drop as Jesus takes off His garments and puts that towel around His waist and I would say that the water pouring out of that pitcher sounded like a water fall to each one as it hit that basin. Jesus layed aside His garments of glory to be a servant.
Foot washing represents the fellowship with Christ…..not relationship…you see when we came to the cross and ask Jesus into our life we were washed all over…thats is a bath…a regeneration ..the feet represent the walk in this world they get dirty …we become disobedient and sin gets into our life….i don’t believe anyone can go thru a day without making some kind of sin…..in order to have our feet washed we must confess our sin…when we confess our sin the Bible says He is faithful and just to forgive
but that’s not all…we must put our feet in the hands of the Saviour….we cant just ask forgiveness and keep on sinning….…confessing is agreeing with God. that you are a sinner. That’s the hardest part for a saint is admitting that their a sinner.
In verse 17 of John 13 says
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
If you want absolute joy in our life…confess your sins
You know that’s a lot of the problem with some congregations in our churches today…we have a head full of doctrine but our feet smell…there’s nothing must worse then smelly feet.
We need to confess our sins…..the way to start a revival is to draw a circle around ourselves and that’s were the revival starts…it begins with each one getting feet washed.
Jesus said in
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
What did He mean by that?
Paul tells us in
Ga 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted
That means when a brother in Christ falls into sin, he is to be brought back into fellowship with Christ by one who is spiritual.
Beating him on the head and criticizing him is not washing his feet. …...To restore means to wash his feet.
You know before we can wash the feet of a brother or sister and bring them back into fellowship with Jesus we must first have Christ to glory wash our feet.
The Bible says:
Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Ps 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
It was the night before when Jesus broke the bread and representing His body ...drank wine to represent his blood and convent of the new testament
John 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Mark 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
That cup was passed around 7 times and they sung hymns.
I found that the hymn were Psalm 111 thru 118 according to most scholars
Ps 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
Ps 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
Ps 111:3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Ps 111:4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion
The next time you read one of those Psalms 111 thru 118
Think about our Lord singing….. The night before.
Bible says in:
Mr 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
So the communion will be done in the Millennium in remembrance of our Lords sacrifice.
So when we do have communion for the remembrance ...we can also think about when we do it in the future again.
It was the night before when Jesus told Peter he would deny Him 3 times…Peter had told Jesus that he would never deny Him and would die for Him if it came down to it. Jesus proved Peter wrong and the Bible says that when he denied Him that Peter followed at a distance Isn’t that what happens to us when we stumble in our fellowship with Christ.. Follow at a distance and sometimes keep getting farther away until the prayer life is gone…..church and fellowship with others Christians is gone….but God hasn’t moved….God is still reaching for us….ain’t you glad that God can reach down a lot father than we can reach up? Aint ya glad that He don’t deny us like we do Him sometimes?
It was the night before that Jesus made a statement that the disciples just couldn’t understand. Especially Peter
Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you Joh 13:36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Joh 13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake
Here’s Peter just like a child asking a Dad..why cant I? How come I can’t? All Peter herd was NOW….if I can go later why can’t I go now?
Chapter 14 of John I believe that Jesus continued to comfort Peter and the rest of the disciples by these marvelous words and its as new today as it was then...I can see Jesus holding Peters shoulders...saying...Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father house….
It was the night before when it would be Judas who would betray our Lord with a kiss.
Lu 22:48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
It was a question for Judas but, Jesus already knew the answer
It was at that moment that ...as the Bible says...Jesus was to be delivered into the hands of sinful men.
The night before Jesus prayed for you and me.
Most of the time we forget to pray for others...but here is Christ Jesus praying for you and me and what’s really assume is that He is asking God to sanctify us.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Also on the night before our Lord was praying in the Garden and He could see the victory but the price He was about to pay
Lu 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
There is actuality a name for that condition
In medical term it’s called He-ma-ti-drosis
There has been cases in the past of people experiencing that because of extreme stress. Sweat mixed with blood.
Encyclopedia says there have been cases of soldiers before a battle or men unexpectedly given the death sentence.
Why did Jesus do that? He was God but He was also human
The night before Jesus saw what was coming by way of the cross..He saw the weight of the sins of the world that He would carry. .Jesus saw the beating of the Roman whip with the metal attached to the ends that would rip the skin from the victims back.
Beaten beyond recognition and could barely see to carry an old wooden cross to die on.
That night before: ….He saw that same blood that would run down His arm and drip off his elbow as the nails were driven into His hands.
That night before: He saw that same blood dripping off His toes and down to the foot of the cross as nails were driving into His feet.
The night before: He saw that same blood as a crown of thorns was placed on His head and that same blood ran down His forehead onto His eyebrows and down onto His eyelashes and into His eyes and blared His vision. But wait!!!
The blood might have blared His human vision but, Jesus was God in the flesh.
The night before: He saw that blood as salvation to who so ever would come to Him. He saw old Ronnie Miller as I would lay everything before Him and His precious blood toke away my sins and gave me life more abundant and eternal life.
The night before: He saw you and me as we came to that cross to take away our burdens and carry them for us.
The night before He could see the defeat of death and the fall of Satan.
The night before: He could see the plans of a Heavenly home for you and for me.
How about you? Do you believe He did?
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
