Washing of the FeetWeek 4 of the Holy Great Fast
March 7th, 2010 – Amshir 28, 1726 AM
Memory Verse
“If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:8)
Objective
• To learn how to be humble• To learn how to serve others
INTRODUCTION What is the meaning of cleaning
ourselves? • To clean ourselves from our bodies• To clean ourselves from the bad things
we do… through confession and communion.
When do we use water in the church?
The Teacher and the Lord Girds Himself for Us
† This time Jesus did something, different and unexpected.
† Jesus Christ and His disciples were gathered together for The Last Supper.
† After supper, Jesus took off His garment and took a towel and tied it around His waist.
Washing their feet
• Although He is the Teacher and the Lord, He started washing the feet of His disciples with water and wiped them with the towel.
Peter’s Turn• When it came Peter’s turn, he said to Him:
– “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
• Jesus:– “What I am doing you do not understand now,
but you will know after this.”
• Peter:– “You shall never wash my feet!”
• Jesus:– “If I do not wash you, you have no part in Me.”
BAPTISM and CONFESSION
• Peter:– “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head!”
• Jesus:– “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet
…”
BATHED = Baptism Foot-washing = Confession
Those who are baptized have not need to be baptized again b/c baptism can not be removed!
As we live in the world, we fall and sin. How do we remove this sin?- Repentance - Like washing our feet from the dust of the street
We are bathed by Christ in baptism and have periodic washings in the sacrament of confession.
BAPTISM and CONFESSION
Wash Each Other’s Feet
• So when He had washed their feet, Jesus sat with them and said:
– “Do you know what I have done to you?”– “ You call Me Teacher and Lord and you say well, for so I am.”
– “If I then, 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 should do as I have done to you.”
– “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.”
– “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”
Humbleness • Jesus wanted to teach His disciples to be
humble and ready to serve others† To be kind and ready to help each other.
• Who can we help?† An older person, like Teta or Gedo† Younger person, like our brothers and sisters† Our friends† Those who are sick or tired† Our mother or father who ask for our help.† All who are in need
Pop Quiz1. How many disciples does Jesus have?
– 122. What did Jesus Christ do after the supper?
– He took a towel tied it around His waist and began to wash the feet of the disciples
3. Who refused that Jesus would wash his feet? – Peter.
4. Why did he refuse?– Because Jesus Christ was Teacher and Lord and was doing the work of
a slave or servant. 5. Was his feet washed or not?
– Yes they were because Jesus said to him: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
6. What did Jesus want to teach His disciples ?– To be humble and serve one another– He wanted to prepare them for their own mission into the world after
His death and resurrection. 7. What are the disciples supposed to do?
– Become servants to preach the word of God to all people 8. What are we supposed to do?
– Obey the Lord and listen to hear His calling for us.
My God is full of Love for Me
† Our Lord Jesus is the most Humble man that ever lived on earth! • He even washed the feet of Judas who
He knew would betray Him soon after!
† He is our God who is full of Love and we must live to learn from Him.
“Lakan” Prayer• Abouna washes the feet of all the
men in the church.• When?– Before the Holy Liturgy on Covenant
Thursday during Holy Week.• Why?– To remind us of what our Lord Jesus
Christ did for his disciples.
Holy Communion: Sons Of God
1- Brothers, sister we are one, And our life has just begun, In the spirit we are young,
We can live forever.
2- Shout together to the Lord Who has promised our reward,
Happiness a hundred fold And we'll live forever.
3- Jesus gave a new command: That we love our fellow man,
Till we reach the promised land Where we'll live forever.
4- If we want to live with Him, We must also die with Him, Die to selfishness and sin
And we'll live forever.
5- Make the world a unity, Make all men one family, Till we meet The Trinity And we'll live forever.
6- With the church we celebrate,
Jesus coming we await, So we'll make a holiday,
So we'll live forever.
Sons of God: Hear His Holy word, Gather around the table of the
Lord Eat His Body, drink His Blood And we'll sing a song of love Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia.