Discover Jesus’ Feet…and Yours
Matthew 1
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit… an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
According to this scripture – for what purpose did Jesus come?
How does this make you feel?
Here in extended form is the prophetic declaration of Isaiah describing the coming of Christ, that was used in this weeks message:
Isaiah 52:6-10
6 Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I.”
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
What are some of the characteristics of Jesus ministry that are described in this passage? What sort of joyous results, is His coming, intended to bring into our lives?
John 13 (New Living Translation)
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
Ephesians 5:25b-27
…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
To personalise these incredible promises, try writing out a prayer of thanksgiving listing all the things that you are grateful that Jesus washed away in your life.
Eg. Lord Jesus, I thank you that you have washed my walk free from…
John 13 (New Living Translation)
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
If washing someone else’s feet is a metaphor of offering forgiveness, showing hospitality, and lovingly refreshing somebody else’s ‘walk’, who could you ‘wash’ this week with a word of kindness, act of generosity, or some other genuine gesture of service, to follow Christ’s example? (List Who and How)