We keep finding Elfie in the silliest places. I got so tickled at the boys this morning as they searched and searched for Elfie and he was right there hiding in plain sight. I guess he might have blended in with the cabinet decorations more than I thought. Today’s lesson is from Luke:22 and John 13:
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles took their places at the table. 15 He said to them, “I have really looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you. I wanted to do this before I suffer. 16 I tell you, I will not eat the Passover meal again until it is celebrated in God’s kingdom.”
17 After Jesus took the cup, he gave thanks. He said, “Take this cup and share it among yourselves. 18 I tell you, I will not drink wine with you again until God’s kingdom comes.”
19 Then Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to them and said, “This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do this in memory of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. It is poured out for you.
4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer clothes. He wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a large bowl. Then he began to wash his disciples’ feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter. “Lord,” Peter said to him, “are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t realize now what I am doing. But later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter. “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you can’t share life with me.”
9 “Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet! Wash my hands and my head too!”
10 Jesus answered, “People who have had a bath need to wash only their feet. The rest of their body is clean. And you are clean. But not all of you are.” 11 Jesus knew who was going to hand him over to his enemies. That was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes. Then he returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You are right. That is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.
The first part of this story tells us of the last supper and what we today call as communion. We took out a piece of bread and some juice. I broke the bread in half and we talked about what it might have been like to be at that table. We talked about what it meant to symbolize the bread as Jesus’s body and the juice His blood. Jesus told the disciples this would be His last meal with them. We imagined they were probably worried and sad since they loved Jesus so much.
Then Jesus did something so unexpected. He gets down on His knees and washes the dirty feet of the disciples. When Jesus tells Peter that he must allow Jesus to wash his feet if he wanted to share life with Jesus. I love Peter’s response. Wash everything! We talked about how Jesus did this as an example of how we are to serve others. This was His final instruction to the disciples before He went to the cross. The most important thing He wanted them to remember. Serve as I have served you.
We have talked a lot this month about serving others and showing God’s love to people everywhere. Ian made me smile when he commented, “mommy, you wash our feet and our whole bodies when we take a bath. You are just like Jesus!” I love his confidence in me. I am nowhere near being like Jesus, but I love that the boys got the lesson. I do serve them by washing them. The care I give my family is not un-noticed and unimportant. I am serving them…….like Jesus. 🙂
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