31/05/10

Washing of feet

John 13:5 - 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.


When most read about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper they always talk about Jesus being humble and serving others, what they miss is the greater point - the washing of feet.

If one reads the scriptures one finds Jesus insisting of washing only the feet not any other part of His disciples. Without getting into other scriptures or incidents of the Bible and coming direct to the point - the washing of feet symbolize forgiving of sins.

People do not realize if you are a Man of God the Lord Jesus Christ has given you authority to forgive the sins of others. This may be difficult for some to digest and one of my brothers in Christ had great difficulty in getting to accept this.

His argument was when a person commits sin against the Lord he/she repents and comes before the Lord and gets forgiveness. If a person sins against another brother/sister, he/she approaches that brother/sister and asks for forgiveness and the Lord forgives him/her. This is very true.

There are two other - one when approaching a Priest / Worker of the Sanctuary /Pastor and second approaching a Man / Woman of God.

The Bible says in the books of Moses when a person sins against another and that does have access to that person (i.e. person is dead) then he/she should approach his/her next of kin and only in case there is no next of kin then the person approaches the priest. When I realized this it was funny that long before as a Catholic I used to declare my own family members dead and approach the priest every time for forgiveness of my sins towards them.

Now the other part of approaching a Man of God, one should realize a Man of God is an anointed representative of God having authority in the Name of the Lord. One may argue that a Priest / Pastor is a Man of God - this is not necessary. In the Old Testament a Man of God (Nabi) was not necessary a Priest nor every Priest called a Man of God (Nabi). A Man of God demonstrated his authority and the people feared him greatly, so much so that when they hear a Man of God entering their town, they would rush to the gates and enquire if he came in peace.

In the Old Testament few were selected Man of God for the Spirit of God was on few, but after the dead and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Spirit of God is a promise to all who believe in Him. Does that make all Man of God? No.

This authority was given by Jesus to His disciples and to become His disciples one needed to carry the Cross and follow Him. Like I told you before the crucifix was to do with suffering of Jesus Christ and was not the Cross Jesus refereed but part of the Cross of Jesus.

In the Cross which we are given to carry is does not have the crucifix (for the sacrifice is done eternally for all mankind) but mainly the purpose of Jesus Christ to bring man unto God.

For this the disciples receives along with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit also a Baptism of Fire / Power. All Men and Women will testify to you how they received the baptism of Fire in their lives which became a turning point in their lives and there on they gave their lives unto the purpose of the Lord.

As Man or Woman of God we also need to approach each other since we too are prey to the sin nature of Adam in us which we are still fighting against.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, You became the Lamb of God for the forgiveness of sins to all those who believe and are baptized in You. Knowing that we still have to overcome the nature to sin, You gave us your Spirit Who work in us and help us overcome this nature of Adam. Holy Spirit as You work in us help us have courage to ask for forgiveness when we fall. We also thank You for your anointed ones who have authority in your Name...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 20:20-23
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Matthew 18:1,18
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Numbers 5:6-9
6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty;
7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.
8 But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
9 And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)