Bible Study Christians serving each other.

[ChristineES]

Joh 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and went to God,
Joh 13:4 He rose up from supper and laid aside His garments. And He took a towel and girded Himself.
Joh 13:5 After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Joh 13:6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, Lord, do You wash my feet?
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said to him, You do not know what I do now, but you shall know hereafter.
Joh 13:8 Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.
Joh 13:9 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and head.
Joh 13:10 Jesus said to him, He who is bathed has no need except to wash his feet, but is clean every whit. And you are clean, but not all.
Joh 13:11 For He knew who would betray Him. Therefore He said, You are not all clean.
Joh 13:12 So after He had washed their feet and had taken His garments and had reclined again, He said to them, Do you know what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 You call Me the Teacher, and Lord, and you say well, for I AM.
Joh 13:14 If then I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Truly, truly, I say to you, A servant is not greater than his master, neither is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.


What does this mean? It means that as Christians, we are supposed to be servants of one another. Jesus did not think it above Himself to wash His Apostles feet. Back in those days, there were no paved roads, so the feet He washed were very dusty. We all need to learn humility.

 

[Imagican]

Which brings to mind the inability of those in the churches to offer that which is meet. To honor and serve the least in order to be greatest. Makes one wonder why the there would be leaders who only allow others to serve them rather than offer of themselves other than to 'do their duty'. It would seem that Christ offers that those that would be ressponsible for His sheep should be those MOST willing to 'give of themselves COMPLETELY' TO the sheep. Funny that it doesn't seem to work out this way. Yes, they accept the job, but seem to think that this is the extent of what they should offer. Yet each week they remind US of what WE should be giving. Very strange indeed.

 

[ChristineES]

I ask this question: would anyone's Priest/Pastor/Preacher in their Church building be willing to wash his congregations feet? Jesus was The Son of God, and He was willing to wash dirty, dusty feet, but what about Church elders nowadays? I wonder this at times. I am hoping mine would.
What about you and your fellow Congregation. Would you be willing to wash their feet? Would they yours?

 

[stovebolts]

I don't think its so much about the washing of feet as it is the concept of actually humbling oneself.

All too often, we are given authority and through our own self rightous pride, we become haughty and boastfull.

When I think of the story you mentioned above, another story comes to mind as well (but not inclusively) and that would be the story of the talents. Think about it, what if Jesus would have used his authority to please his flesh, and not do the will of the Father?

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And we know that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God.

 

[Rick W]

I've known one. Pastor Terry Long of Salt Lake City Calvary Chapel.
We had a church picnic a while back. My wife and I attended. There was barbeque and all that stuff at the pavilion which from where were sitting (blanket, cooler etc) was a good piece away. Anyway, I'd gotten a pretty good gash on the inside of my knee (stake in high weeds) that required stitches. Nothing life threatening but I still had the knee immobilized for a while.
Beforehand the pastor found out about it while making his rounds with the guests. A bit later here he came with two trays of food for me and my wife. Drinks and ice too.
Ok, call him the exception. Even before services his opening prayer included "Help me stay out of your way Lord that you may better do your work." The "me" he referred to was his ego.
So I suppose it depends on one's experiences if one has been served by a pastor such a Terry. And he served more than just food that day.

We look at pastors as people to serve us without really looking to see how they themselves are serving God. They present themselves as tools through which the Holy Spirit can work, to spread the gospel, to make testimony of Christ and God's pursuit of the hearts of men.
And we are more likely to ask a pastor to pray for us rather than us praying for the pastor. Remember, he is more of a threat to Satan and it's them that will attract greater attacks. It's pretty much like JFK's speech "Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.". Have you served your pastor lately? Have you given words of encouragement, asked, "what can I do to help?" or are your words reserved only for requests?
Yes, there are those of the cloth that are corrupt, using religion for their gain. That's always been there and always will be. But there are those who truly serve in ways we sometimes don't recognize.

 

[mutzrein]

What is it that God requires of me as it pertains to others? To be responsive to the Spirit that dwells within me.

And when someone asks me to do something that they believe I should, but I have no 'leading' to participate in, whether it is written in scripture or not, I am not bound to say yes so that another may see my humility.

 

[Sothenes]

What does this mean? It means that as Christians, we are supposed to be servants of one another. Jesus did not think it above Himself to wash His Apostles feet. Back in those days, there were no paved roads, so the feet He washed were very dusty. We all need to learn humility.

"Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work."- 1 Timothy 5:10

What would be the point in foot washing? To be like the Lord Jesus:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."- 2 Cor. 8:9

Lets make the subject about soul washing instead of foot washing; 'Lord, you will never wash my soul.' How would the Lord respond? "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." ( John 13:8) You have to get rid of your pride and ask Jesus to wash you; "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."- John 13:9 That submission of asking God to cleanse you is becoming like a little child and lowering our defenses because God lowered His defenses towards us through Jesus Christ and His cleansing work. All you have to do is provide the sinner and God provides the saviour.

I made a decision when I was twelve years old to follow Jesus, Christine. One of the biggest obstacles was pride because we all want to be masters of our own ship and we were on the throne of our lives instead of God.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."-John 7:12

By treating people as if they are better than ourselves, we overcome evil with good.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Why? To be like Jesus.

 

[CatholicXian]

I ask this question: would anyone's Priest/Pastor/Preacher in their Church building be willing to wash his congregations feet? Jesus was The Son of God, and He was willing to wash dirty, dusty feet, but what about Church elders nowadays? I wonder this at times. I am hoping mine would.
What about you and your fellow Congregation. Would you be willing to wash their feet? Would they yours?

Every year on Holy Thursday (the Thursaday before Easter) when the Catholic Church celebrates the Last Supper, the priest washes the feet of 12 men in the congregation, as Christ washed the feet of His disciples. They take off their shoes and socks, the priest pours water over their feet, and then dries them on the apron he's wearing, and then the priest kisses their feet before moving on to next person.

It can be a very moving experience. It's one of my favorite parts of Holy Week.

Good topic, Christine!