The Lessons of Lent: Leadership Rite of Passage

The Lessons of Lent: Leadership Rite of Passage

An online English dictionary, English,  described 'rite of passage' this way...
(anthropology) a ceremony or series of ceremonies, often very ritualized, to celebrate a transition in a person’s life. Baptisms, bar mitzvahs, weddings and funerals are among the best known examples.

Jesus Christ too did a certain ceremonies depicting transitions in His life and in the lives of His disciples. He had the communion table and also the washing of the feet of His disciples.

John 13 was the first of His valedictory chapters in the gospel according to John. When He had come to the knowledge and understanding of the season in His life, the first thing He did was to wash the feet of His disciples.

So many things have been attached to this act by Christ. But one thing that is clear is the fact that it was one of those things He had to do in preparation for His physical departure from His bodily ministry.

It's time to go, so He had to leave certain things behind to help the disciples carry on the work and washing their feet was one.

We can see from the passage how He removed His outer garments, girded Himself, took a towel and a bowl of water and stoop down to wash their feet.

The desert life without airconditioned mobility would mean the feet are always dusty and coming into a house, the servants and good wives wash the feet of those coming in as a way of showing welcome and honor. It was unheard of that a noble man would do that for his subordinates.

And we could see the reaction of Peter to that. He wasn't going to allow such turning of traditions upside down. If anyone should wash another's feet, it should be the followers washing the feet of their leader.

But Jesus quickly explained the essence of His unusual act. If I do not wash your feet, you have no part in me! Wow, what a reason! So to have a part in Him wasn't left to the disciples but to Christ Himself.

To stoop to serve the 'servants' is to transfer a portion and an heritage to them? That sure sound unusual but that's exactly what Jesus did. If what Jesus had was to be left behind at His departure, He had to stoop low to serve them and wash their feet!

Leadership is service and if we must show proper leadership, acceptable of Christ we must learn to wash the feet of those who call us leaders. That way what we received by our feet being washed by those gone ahead can be shared to those who would take over from us...hmmmmm.
I wonder if we are there yet! Could this be why revival tarry or why it doesn't go on to other generations?

In our days the greater we become as servants of God the more we desire worship from those whose feet we should wash... we become fat and we kick... [My Offline Bible] Deuteronomy 32
15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

we need grace for true humility!

This is one lesson we must learn. When the disciples argued about who should be chief among them after the sons of Zebedee led by their mother went to Jesus to ask for positions, Jesus had told them that he who would be chief should be the servant of all since even He didn't come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom to many. Matthew 10:25-28.

We never saw that Jesus laid hands or poured oil on the disciples to anoint them for the work after the washing of their feet until the physical outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This was where He gave each of His disciples his bishopric in the work which Judas lost being unclean. Acts 1:16-26

One thing we need the most in today's church is the ability to set up a legacy of genuine and sincere humility for those coming after to learn from.

In the world, pride goes with position but the passion of the Christ and all His journey from the heaven to earth, from the earth to the cross and to the grave before His resurrection speak of the height of humility which we must copy and conform to as true Christians... Philippians 2:1-11

And so, to be a leader of even the smallest of groups in the body, we must receive the washing of humility, washing off every stain of pride before taking position...it is called leadership rite of passage!

I pray the grace to be humble enough to wash each others feet in genuine service be released upon us today. I pray every evil heart seeking worship will be purged from us, replaced with a heart ready to serve and to give our days as ransom for many!

Remain blessed, good morning!

THE ESSENCE OF EASTER

continues

Thursday, 26th March 2015 6:00pm

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