MAUNDY THURSDAY
A FOOT-WASHING for our Soul
JOHN 13
13 Now before the feast of the Passover, when JESUS 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. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray HIM+;
3 JESUS knowing that the FATHER had given all things into His+ hands, and that HE+ was come from GOD, and went to GOD;
4 HE+ riseth from supper, and laid aside His+ garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself+.
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.
6 Then cometh HE+ to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto HIM+,
LORD, dost THOU+ wash my F E E T?
7 JESUS answered and said unto him,
What I+ do thou knowest not now;
but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto HIM+, THOU+ shalt never wash my feet.
JESUS answered him,
If I+ wash thee not,
thou hast no part with ME+.
+ + +
PSALM 51
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:
and my sin is ever before me.
+ + +
Are you WASHED in the BLOOD+ of The LAMB+ ?
Foot-washing by JESUS CHRIST is not a ritual; it is a death to Self. HE+ laid aside His+ dazzling , divine “transfiguration” robes to be girded about by lowly flesh, the servant’s rough towel.
HE+ girded this lowly flesh upon HIMSELF+, took upon HIM+ the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.
Then, with the flesh of Adam as His+ lowly girding, HE+ used it to wipe us clean. Every drop of our old Adamic nature was wiped away. And in so doing, HE+ gave us new LIFE.
And , being found in fashion as a man, HE+ humbled Himself+ and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.
+ + +
O HOLY ONE of Israel, my sins are only hidden from me; THOU+ seest all . THOU+ alone canst open my eyes.
Cleanse THOU+ me.
Behold, YOU+ stand at the door and knock.
Behold, O LORD, Self stands revealed by Thy + Light; not a shred of my self-justification can stand before that white LIGHT+ of Thy+ pure Holiness.
Wash me by Thy+ Light, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Purge me and I shall be clean, cleaner than any fuller’s soap can make me.
And in Thy+ Light, I shall see Light !
9 For with THEE+ is the Fountain of LIFE:
in THY+ LIGHT shall we see light.
Psalm 36
+ + +
John 1
4 In HIM+ was LIFE;
and THE LIFE was the LIGHT of men.
+ + +
John 14:6
6 JESUS saith unto him,
I+ , I+ AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
NO man cometh unto THE FATHER,
but by ME+.
+ + +
PSALM 51
7 Purge me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean:
wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
+ + +
Traditional churches practice foot-washing on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week. Other churches observe foot-washing at Communion times.
Many churches do not practice it
at all.
But for THOSE CHURCH CONGREGATIONS WHO DO OBSERVE FOOT-WASHING, it is a time of consecration ANEW of one's life and vows to CHRIST JESUS, regardless of when or how it is practiced.
+ + +
No comments:
Post a Comment