Question:
Is it right for our church to have the foot washing and ordinances services on the Sabbath? Jesus did not institute them on that day. Most all of our churches do it then, but does this make it right?
Answer:
The closing events in the life of Jesus brought Him to the upper room to celebrate the Passover with the disciples before He went to the cross. It was at this time that the Passover changed and became the Lord’s Supper. The old covenant religious observations, including the Passover, forever passed from the scene at the cross.
The occasion of the foot washing is recorded in John 13. The setting provided Jesus with the opportunity to teach the disciples how to deal with their feelings about one another and the contention of who was the greatest. Not one of them wanted to lower himself to the level of a servant, whose duty it generally was to wash the feet of guests. They wanted to preach and to teach and to cast out devils and to heal the sick. But ministry involves more than these things. It qualifies itself by having a servant’s heart. When none of the disciples wanted to render a servant’s duties, even to the Lord Himself, Jesus took the basin, girded Himself with a towel, and began to wash the disciples’ feet.
After He was finished, He began to explain to them the purpose of what he had done. “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Verses 13–17.
The issue here, as far as example is concerned, is not about on which day it is done but what the attitude is concerning service to our fellow men. We must be willing to serve on any day when needed. Happiness will be produced, if we know what to do and are doing it.
The ordinances are not restricted to any certain day. The Sabbath provides occasion and opportunity for these remembrances to take place for the greatest number of church members and visitors. We are to enter into the ordinances with the attitude of remembering what Jesus has done for us and not restrict ourselves to some certain time frame. The same is true of the communion service. The importance of this service is to remember. The time frame is, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26. The idea is what happens, not when it happens.
Pastor Mike Baugher is a retired minister of the gospel. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.