Post by Watchman on Apr 11, 2006 16:04:39 GMT -5
The Passover marks the beginning of a new cycle of YHWH's feasts and Holy days. During the Passover service, before partaking of the symbols of Christ's body and blood, the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, Christians participate in a footwashing ceremony. Though seemingly archaic in our modern world, footwashing provides a necessary and important reminder of our duties to each other as true believers.
In the Palestine of Christ's day, where the roads were primarily unpaved and the people wore sandals, footwashing was a common service provided to guests. A servant, usually the lowest-ranking member of the household staff, would wash the dust off the guests' feet as they entered the home. This both kept the house clean and refreshed the guests. This simple act contains huge lessons for our Christian lives.
Many are now turning to the truth and becoming obedient to YHWH's plan and purpose, and many questions arise as to how we should conduct ourselves during the Feasts of YHWH- we should let Yeshua be our example!
When is footwashing performed?
Now before the feast of the passover, when Yeshua knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded. John 13:1-5.
During the evening of the 14th Abib, one day earlier than the time commanded in Leviticus 23, Yeshua and His disciples ate the Passover, commonly known as the "Last Supper." After the meal was served, Yeshua tied a towel around His waist and washed His disciples' feet. Later in the evening, after He predicted that one of the disciples would betray Him (John 13 verses 21-26), Jesus introduced the symbols of bread and the fruit of the vine as part of the Passover service (Mark 14:18-24). Following this example, the church should place footwashing first in the annual service.
What is its purpose?
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13:12-16.
Because of their bickering about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24-27), Yeshua gave the disciples a lesson designed to show them what their real position was under Him. He tells them, "he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. " (verse 26). He shows them that they must be willing to do whatever task that is necessary for the good of their brothers. This should have put them in the proper attitude for the Passover's greater purpose, Christ's sacrifice for our forgiveness and redemption.
What was Yeshua's attitude?
[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:3-7.
The attitude Yeshua showed in washing His disciples' feet is the same attitude that enabled Him to give up the power and glory of being God and become a man. Here we see that our Creator, the Almighty YHWH, is first and foremost a servant. He is willing to serve His own servants! When we come to the point that we are able to do everything in an attitude of service and humility, we are truly following Jesus Christ.
What is the significance of having our feet washed?
Yeshua saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. John 13:10.
Christians are "bathed"—made clean—at baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Revelation 1:5). The footwashing acts as a yearly renewal of our baptism, our commitment to living God's way of life. As Yeshua says, we do not need to be fully immersed again to renew our vow—to be recleansed from sin; we need only to have our feet washed to remove the dirt and dust we collect in our walk through life in this foul world! It was for this reason that Yeshua insisted that Peter allow Him to wash his feet (John 13:6-9).
Does the ritual itself make us clean, or do we play a part in our recleansing? John 13:10-11, 18.
The footwashing is simply a ceremony, a symbolic act that outwardly manifests an inward attitude and conviction of obedience and servitude. In the example of Judas Iscariot, we see that though he went through the ceremony, he was not really clean. The ceremony could not remove the terrible sin that he was about to commit against his Creator. Because he had not repented of his sin, footwashing was meaningless to Judas.
Paul writes, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Corinthians 13:5). Isaiah urges, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; " (Isaiah 1:16). In his psalm of repentance, on the other hand, David beseeches YHWH, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." (Psalm 51:2).
We see that this rededication to God at Passover is a shared effort between us and God. We renew our faith in Christ's sacrifice, redevote ourselves to the New Covenant, repent of our spiritual failings and seek forgiveness, and He forgives us and cleanses us of our sins.
Is the footwashing a 'commanded' ceremony for Christians?
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. 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 13:12-15.
Indeed it is! It is a lesson whose meaning we are to embrace with our whole being and practice at every opportunity! As Christ served us, so should we serve others. The apostle John writes in I John 2:6, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
Is there a blessing given for footwashing?
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:17.
There certainly is a reward for following the narroe path, YHWH's way of life! Not only will we be given eternal life and rulership in His Kingdom, but He will protect us from the coming destruction:
I will say of YHWH, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made YHWH, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
In the Palestine of Christ's day, where the roads were primarily unpaved and the people wore sandals, footwashing was a common service provided to guests. A servant, usually the lowest-ranking member of the household staff, would wash the dust off the guests' feet as they entered the home. This both kept the house clean and refreshed the guests. This simple act contains huge lessons for our Christian lives.
Many are now turning to the truth and becoming obedient to YHWH's plan and purpose, and many questions arise as to how we should conduct ourselves during the Feasts of YHWH- we should let Yeshua be our example!
When is footwashing performed?
Now before the feast of the passover, when Yeshua knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded. John 13:1-5.
During the evening of the 14th Abib, one day earlier than the time commanded in Leviticus 23, Yeshua and His disciples ate the Passover, commonly known as the "Last Supper." After the meal was served, Yeshua tied a towel around His waist and washed His disciples' feet. Later in the evening, after He predicted that one of the disciples would betray Him (John 13 verses 21-26), Jesus introduced the symbols of bread and the fruit of the vine as part of the Passover service (Mark 14:18-24). Following this example, the church should place footwashing first in the annual service.
What is its purpose?
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13:12-16.
Because of their bickering about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24-27), Yeshua gave the disciples a lesson designed to show them what their real position was under Him. He tells them, "he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. " (verse 26). He shows them that they must be willing to do whatever task that is necessary for the good of their brothers. This should have put them in the proper attitude for the Passover's greater purpose, Christ's sacrifice for our forgiveness and redemption.
What was Yeshua's attitude?
[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:3-7.
The attitude Yeshua showed in washing His disciples' feet is the same attitude that enabled Him to give up the power and glory of being God and become a man. Here we see that our Creator, the Almighty YHWH, is first and foremost a servant. He is willing to serve His own servants! When we come to the point that we are able to do everything in an attitude of service and humility, we are truly following Jesus Christ.
What is the significance of having our feet washed?
Yeshua saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. John 13:10.
Christians are "bathed"—made clean—at baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Revelation 1:5). The footwashing acts as a yearly renewal of our baptism, our commitment to living God's way of life. As Yeshua says, we do not need to be fully immersed again to renew our vow—to be recleansed from sin; we need only to have our feet washed to remove the dirt and dust we collect in our walk through life in this foul world! It was for this reason that Yeshua insisted that Peter allow Him to wash his feet (John 13:6-9).
Does the ritual itself make us clean, or do we play a part in our recleansing? John 13:10-11, 18.
The footwashing is simply a ceremony, a symbolic act that outwardly manifests an inward attitude and conviction of obedience and servitude. In the example of Judas Iscariot, we see that though he went through the ceremony, he was not really clean. The ceremony could not remove the terrible sin that he was about to commit against his Creator. Because he had not repented of his sin, footwashing was meaningless to Judas.
Paul writes, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Corinthians 13:5). Isaiah urges, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; " (Isaiah 1:16). In his psalm of repentance, on the other hand, David beseeches YHWH, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." (Psalm 51:2).
We see that this rededication to God at Passover is a shared effort between us and God. We renew our faith in Christ's sacrifice, redevote ourselves to the New Covenant, repent of our spiritual failings and seek forgiveness, and He forgives us and cleanses us of our sins.
Is the footwashing a 'commanded' ceremony for Christians?
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. 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 13:12-15.
Indeed it is! It is a lesson whose meaning we are to embrace with our whole being and practice at every opportunity! As Christ served us, so should we serve others. The apostle John writes in I John 2:6, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
Is there a blessing given for footwashing?
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. John 13:17.
There certainly is a reward for following the narroe path, YHWH's way of life! Not only will we be given eternal life and rulership in His Kingdom, but He will protect us from the coming destruction:
I will say of YHWH, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made YHWH, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.