Evening star., 1926-03-06
Sunday School Lesson
By Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

stances. one of the IL would have
taken the Jar of cool water and poured
1t over his colleagues feet, so that
they would have been clean before
the apostles entered into divine fellow
ship. The ever of water, basin, and
towel, that had been placed by the
door. were neglected. In their con-
tention for place, prestige and power,
they had all forgotten the courtesy
that they owed to the Master. The
Masters triumphant entrance upon
the preceding Sunday had convinced
them that the people were ready TO
accept Christ, as King, and that the
Messianic Kingdom was about to be
established Not one of them would
assume the slaves place and wash his
brethren's feet. lest their prestige
would be weakened The uncertainty
of their position made them hesitate
to perform menial act.
Christ knew His power. He had no
such feelings. The Master had taught
the value of humility. He had criti
cized the Pharisee for the latter's
neglect of courtesy. when he had failed
to have the water poured over His
feet. The glory of the Masters per-
sonality filed the room. when with
out a word OF criticism, He left the
off his outer robe. girded Himself with
long linen cloth, used as a towel or
apron by slaves. He commenced to
pour the water into the basin, and
| began to wash the feet of His apos-
| tolic BAN and Ito wipe them with the
towel wherewith He was girded." He
| probably started with Judas. There
was no protest from any one of the
number until He reached Peter. al
| though all must have been condemned
by His gracious ministry.
When the Master reached Peter.
Jesus was not surprised at the protest
| of the man. whose life nd service had
been marked by contradictions. He
| failed at times but Peters great heart
always followed the Christ. The dia-
| logue that followed the apostles pro-
test enabled the Lord to press home
to the twelve the spiritual message
| of His act Of service. The Master in
| replying TO Peters objection to His
| performing such a menial service
pointed out the need Of faith and
| patience on the part of the apostolic
college. He emphasized that the
washing had no reference to salvation.
| Sanctification or any spiritual bless
ing. He revealed the fact that one
of their number was doomed TO perdi.
| responded TO the dramatic lesson of
loving humility. They recognized
Christ's lordship and the spirit of
| fraternity was completely restored, es-
pecially after the withdrawal of Judas,
so that Jesus could prepare them for
their coming trials and tribulation.
There was a misunderstanding at
| the time concerning the meaning of
| this act of humility on the part of
! the great Teacher. Many have since
! failed to grasp its spiritual and SYM
bolical significance. Some think that
! He instituted an ordinance perpetu-
| ally binding upon His followers. BY
| their literal Interpretation and OBJ
servance of the act of foot washing
they are in danger of missing the
| spiritual message of His dramatic
teaching. While not holding TO it
| as establishing the ordinance of foot
washing. one is compelled to admire
the spirit of those who practice the
same in their desire to obey Christ
Jesus. Our Lord pointed out that all
who called Him Lord and Master
ought to follow His example Of try
ing to serve others. Too many pro-
fessed followers of our Savior are
seeking and expecting service he
rendered to them rather than seek
| ing to humbly initiate the Christ in
spirit and service on behalf of our
fellow men.
The call for service comes to us
from every quarter of the globe. 1t
demands the spirit of the martyr. 1t
calls for sacrifice. Jesus taught the
lesson of love and nobility by serving
| others. We have learned that he
that humbleth himself shall he ex-
alted. The one who follows Christ in
the paths of service in our homes
and hospitals, in our schools and
shops. in our stores and streets. in
our slums and "shadOwed thresholds.
in our courts and jails, in our homes
for the aged and the orphans. vii
prove by A life of sharing and service
the symbOliCal meaning of the Mas
ter's message when He washed the
apostles feet. If we love our Lore
and desire to do His will we shal
come to know the teaching of the
: Master through service and sacrifice
We will bring men by such practi-
cal demonstration of Christian teach
ings to the fountain of life. where
they can be washed in the blood OF
the Lamb and he made clean. The
Son of Man came not to he minis
tered unto. but to minister and tC
give His life a ransom for many
Let us follow Him and do His will.