Foot Washing

My first visit to the Seventh-day Adventist Church was when they were having communion.  Not being a member, I didn’t realize that they have the practice of washing each other’s feet before communion (the eating of the bread and drinking of grape juice).

Feet

The men went to one room and the women to another.  Pails of water, a large ladle and towels were set on a table.  Chairs were arranged so that one person could sit while another person washed the other person’s feet.  Having my feet washed by a stranger was odd.

Doing a little studying in the Bible, I read in Scripture about Jesus washing His disciples feet and it made sense to me. Some people think it’s awkward.  I have found it to be humbling.

A couple weeks back, I attended a Seventh-day Adventist church in Hudson, Wisconsin.  Again, they were having communion and they asked those who wanted to partake in the communion service to separate to wash one another’s feet. When I arrived upstairs, everything was ready although I didn’t have a partner.  A young woman came up to me and asked me if she could be my partner and I agreed.

The young woman went to get the pail of water and a towel.  While she was gone, I took my socks off and when she returned, she washed my feet.  The “washing” is not with soap and water but plain warm water.  She carefully wiped my feet dry and then I took the pail with the used water back to the table, added fresh water to the pail and went back and washed her feet.

Afterwards, we prayed.  I prayed for her family, her health and her spiritual condition.  I am always reminded of the Scripture where Jesus washed His disciples feet.

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing and wrapped a towel around His waist.  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.  John 13:3-5

Serving each other.  Some would think it’s stooping too low but in reality it’s lifting us up towards God and humanity.  Our world would be so much different if our leaders would follow this example.

Surely if the Son of God can humble Himself to be a servant to us, we can humble ourselves to be a servant to others.

A fine example you are Jesus.  A mighty fine example.

The Desire of Ages: A Classic on the Life of Christ

 

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