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The Desire of Ages
on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust.”
Matthew 5:45
. This ideal of ministry God has committed to
His Son. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, that by His
example He might teach what it means to minister. His whole life was
under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all. Thus He lived
the law of God, and by His example showed how we are to obey it.
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Again and again Jesus had tried to establish this principle among
His disciples. When James and John made their request for pre-
eminence, He had said, “Whosoever will be great among you, let
him be your minister.”
Matthew 20:26
. In My kingdom the principle
of preference and supremacy has no place. The only greatness is the
greatness of humility. The only distinction is found in devotion to the
service of others.
Now, having washed the disciples’ feet, He said, “I have given you
an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” In these words
Christ was not merely enjoining the practice of hospitality. More was
meant than the washing of the feet of guests to remove the dust of
travel. Christ was here instituting a religious service. By the act of our
Lord this humiliating ceremony was made a consecrated ordinance. It
was to be observed by the disciples, that they might ever keep in mind
His lessons of humility and service.
This ordinance is Christ’s appointed preparation for the sacra-
mental service. While pride, variance, and strife for supremacy are
cherished, the heart cannot enter into fellowship with Christ. We are
not prepared to receive the communion of His body and His blood.
Therefore it was that Jesus appointed the memorial of His humiliation
to be first observed.
As they come to this ordinance, the children of God should bring
to remembrance the words of the Lord of life and glory: “Know ye
what I have done to you? 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.” There is in man a disposition to esteem
himself more highly than his brother, to work for self, to seek the
highest place; and often this results in evil surmisings and bitterness