Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1947-03-07

On the eve of his crucifxion our
Lord gave to his followers striking
example of how true humility shows
itself in service to others
Almost in the shadow Of the cross
the disciples had fallen into an ar
gument about which Of them should
be greatest Christ showed them
the way Of true greatness by an act
a mental service, giving them an
example for their own lives. . pat
tern Of love.
]. Action wv. SID.
He who was about to wash his dis
eipaes feet was fully conscious who
he was. whence he came. what his
power was. and where he was going.
Verse 3 gives Us . clear view Of
our Lords knowledge Of himself as
divine, sent by the Father and to
return to him. He was conscious
that he was King Of kings and Lord
a. lords-al1 things had been put
into his hands.
What followed would seem to be
o mistake--a misnt In the pattern Of
the life Of Z being 20 great ~ the
leoe described In verse @sxcept for
lthe fact that Il was Jesus Of whom
u was said.
he knew that real greatness
preves itself In the ability TO stoop
~ need be to minister 10 the hum.
blest need. II was just like Jesus to
take the place Of the servant. II Is
ljust like him ~ do The loving,
thoughtful. compassionate thing for
~ today.
Peters impulsivs refusal to be
washed enabled the Lord to teach
him. and Us. q needed lesson. The
Ions who had come clean and well.
ieroemed to the feast needed only to
ihave the dust Of the road cleansed
from his sandaled feet.
Just 80 the one who has been
ieleansed from his sins by the blood
la Christ returns daily for the
licensing Of the stains and soil Of
The journey through this wicked
world. We must remember that this
constant cleansing Il John l:D is
necessary. II Is not enough to make
u decision for Christ and receive
salvation; we need his daily grace
Ter daily living.
n. Example wv. l2-l5).
When he resumed his place at the
table, Jesus faced q humbled and
ashamed group Of men ready TO
have driven home TO their hearts
the powerful meaning Of the exam
pie which had been set before them.
They called him Lord and Mas
Ter. and he agreed that they were
right. Now he had set them a pat
tern Of lowly service. They had al
ready sensed the rebuke involved.
90 be stressed only the positive side.
tie need for them to do what he had
dons.
n 10 one thing TO understand what
has been taught II IL another thing
10 put It into practice. Jesus con-
lAi1ioned his blessing on the doing,
rather than the hearing (see w. Is.
hD.
We are told In James l:z2 that
he one who Il q nearer Of the
Word and not q doer Of II Is self.
deceived. He Is fooling himself
about his supposed spiritual prog
ress. God is not deceived by 1t, and
usually his fellow men are not de-
ceived by his profession OF what he
does not have. How sad then to 60
on deceiving himself and how fool
Ash.
Ill. Command wv. "a. 35).
1t is really not a matter Of choice
for the believer whether he will live
in the light Of this great example
Il il a commandment Of God Oh.
yes, ii is a commandment Of love,
but that makes It not less but more
binding on US who believe in Christ.
By act and example he set before
he disciples the great and new
ceurn andmeni Of love. expressing H.
seH In loving service.
The measure OF our love for our
brethren 10 the love Of Christ Jesus.
That love, we all agree. was without
lm4. unbelevAhly great mex
prsssibly tender. infinite In its pur.
pese and power.
We cannot measure UP 70 H. What
then shall w do! Surely we mus,
give to our very limit and beyond
thai limit by Gods grace. Of our
love for one another. Nothing less
vui do, Il We are to keep his COM
mandment
eucn love between Christian breth-
rem has always been the most e.
fsotive kind Of testimony for Christ.
A men see true and sacriHcial love
down between Christians. they are
drawn to Christ and the church
The opposite 10 also true. Divi-
sious and strife among believers
quickly become known to the world.
and are always q ground for scorn-
ful rejection Of the truth which the
church processes 10 believe and Is
asking the world 10 accept We can
not effectively apply the gospel rem
edy land II Is the only reinedyl) 10
4 strife-torn world while we are en-
Gagged In unlovely battles with one
another. by this shall all men
know that We are my disciples, said
Jesus, "if ye have love one for an.
other"