Bread of Life / Feet Washing

Communion

John 6:47-51

John 6:47–51 CSB

“Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

In the wilderness the people ate manna. Every morning, except on the Sabbath they would wake to find their daily provision of manna. It was enough for them and their family for the day. What they needed the LORD provided.

The need was met.

Exodus 16:18 tells us that what was needed was provided.

Exodus 16:18 CSB

When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.

The need was met.

Some people tried to hoard and take more than was needed but it went to waste. To take more was a lack of faith. It was a physcial sign that you did not trust the LORD. But it did not matter because God I would provide your need. He promised to give what was needed.

The need was met.

The people ate and were satisfied but they died. It was only physcial nourishment. Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life. He has eternal life. The body might die, it might decay but Jesus has life for us. He has fullness for us. He has lasting refreshment for us.

What Jesus promises is the eternal. When we take the cup and eat the bread we are confessing that we need Him. We are making a statement that He is enough. We are saying that we trust Him to meet the need.

We take the cup and the bread and we say by faith, Jesus I trust you that you have taken my sins and that you have healing for my body and my soul.

I am going to leave space for you to take communion when you are ready. Take a moment and let Him examine you. Let Him comfort you. Let Him refresh you and then take the cup and eat the bread in faith.

Foot Washing

Philippians 2:5–7 CSB

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,

These verses are technically known as the kenosis of Christ, or the self-emptying of Christ. It teaches us that Jesus laid aside His divinity. He never stopped being God. He never stopped being the sustainer of universe, He never stopped being the Logos of God but He did for a brief period of time lay it aside and not rely on it.

In John 13 Jesus does something so amazing, so confusing, so self-humbling that it is difficult to wrap our minds around. He showed us what it means to not rely on your own position and instead serve. He took the servants role and served.

Jesus rose to kneel. Jesus rose to remove His garments, His royalty, His position, to kneel and serve. Jesus says in John 13:13-15

John 13:13–15 CSB

You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

He laid aside His position to serve. What does this teach us? It teaches us two very important things.

We love unconditionally. Jesus washed Judas’ feet knowing Judas would betray Him.

He loved and served one who would betray and be responsible for His murder. Jesus chose to love and serve even His betrayer. Who can we love that way? Who can we serve that way? Jesus knew He would be betrayed, He knew He would be beaten, He would be mocked, He would be killed and it would be agony, and yet He chose to wash the feet of the one who would cause it. Why? Because He loved.

Service and humility are the call of the Christian.

We are called to serve. When we enter the kingdom we become part of kingdom of priests. We become sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have position and status. We will one day rule and reign with Christ. We are to understand that and then lay it aside to serve.