The Basin and the Towel
“How many will be washing feet?”
My daughter was preparing the tubs for the service of feet washing.
The unleavened bread on the little table was covered and the unfermented wine was beside it. God had instructed Israel to remove leaven from their homes at the time of the Passover. At that memorial Passover when Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper, there had been no leavened/fermented products on His table. How could anything corrupted by fermentation, the symbol of sin and death, represent the “Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19)?
All things ready, Alex, a visiting missionary, lead out. Emphasizing the significance of the foot washing, he reminded us of the heart lessons it teaches. Jesus, our Lord and Master, acted the part of a servant. He even washed the feet of His betrayer.
Jesus had given us this example saying:
“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:14,15 In my imagination, I saw the Son of God bending over dusty feet – “by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
We separated, the sisters to the dining room, and the brethren, to the veranda. We prayed together and then sang as we dipped our hands in the cool water to wash the other’s feet. Tubs emptied, hands washed and hearts cleansed, we returned to our designated worship room to continue.
Alex prayed and broke the bread. We were reminded of Him whose body it represented. Slowly chewing I thought of Christ: His body broken and bruised for me. (1 Corinthians11:24) The pure grape juice representing His blood. Drinking, remembering that Jesus had said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:29.
Dearest Lord Jesus, I long for that day – to see your face!
~ Lina writes from QLD, Australia – December 20, 2006