The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 71: A Servant of Servants
This chapter is based on Luke 22:7-18, 24; John
13:1-17.
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Jesus poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with a towel.
Illustration ©
Pacific Press Publ. Assoc. |
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In the upper chamber of a dwelling at Jerusalem, Christ was
sitting at table with His disciples. They had gathered to celebrate the
Passover. The Saviour desired to keep this feast alone with the twelve. He knew
that His hour was come; He Himself was the true paschal lamb, and on the day
the Passover was eaten He was to be sacrificed. He was about to drink the cup
of wrath; He must soon receive the final baptism of suffering. But a few quiet
hours yet remained to Him, and these were to be spent for the benefit of His
beloved disciples. {DA
642.1}
The whole life of Christ had been a life of unselfish
service. "Not to be ministered unto, but to minister," (Matthew
20:28), had been the lesson of His every act. But not yet had the disciples
learned the lesson. At this last Passover supper, Jesus repeated His teaching
by an illustration that impressed it forever on their minds and hearts. {DA 642.2}
The interviews between Jesus and His disciples were usually
seasons of calm joy, highly prized by them all. The Passover suppers had been
scenes of special interest; but upon this occasion Jesus was troubled. His
heart was burdened, and a shadow rested upon His countenance. [643]
As He met the disciples in the upper chamber, they perceived that something
weighed heavily upon His mind, and although they knew not its cause, they
sympathized with His grief. {DA
642.3}
As they were gathered about the table, He said in tones of
touching sadness, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with
you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until
it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And He took the cup, and gave thanks,
and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will
not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." {DA 643.1}
Christ knew that the time had come for Him to depart out of
the world, and go to His Father. And having loved His own that were in the
world, He loved them unto the end. He was now in the shadow of the cross, and
the pain was torturing His heart. He knew that He would be deserted in the hour
of His betrayal. He knew that by the most humiliating process to which
criminals were subjected He would be put to death. He knew the ingratitude and
cruelty of those He had come to save. He knew how great the sacrifice that He
must make, and for how many it would be in vain. Knowing all that was before
Him, He might naturally have been overwhelmed with the thought of His own
humiliation and suffering. But He looked upon the twelve, who had been with Him
as His own, and who, after His shame and sorrow and painful usage were over,
would be left to struggle in the world. His thoughts of what He Himself must
suffer were ever connected with His disciples. He did not think of Himself. His
care for them was uppermost in His mind. {DA 643.2}
On this last evening with His disciples, Jesus had much to
tell them. If they had been prepared to receive what He longed to impart, they
would have been saved from heartbreaking anguish, from disappointment and
unbelief. But Jesus saw that they could not bear what He had to say. As He
looked into their faces, the words of warning and comfort were stayed upon His
lips. Moments passed in silence. Jesus appeared to be waiting. The disciples
were ill at ease. The sympathy and tenderness awakened by Christ's grief seemed
to have passed away. His sorrowful words, pointing to His own suffering, had
made little impression. The glances they cast upon each other told of jealousy
and contention. {DA 643.3}
There was "a strife among them, which of them should be
accounted the greatest." This contention, carried on in the presence of
Christ, grieved and wounded Him. The disciples clung to their favorite idea
that Christ would assert His power, and take His position on the throne of David.
And in heart each still longed for the highest place in the [644]
kingdom. They had placed their own estimate upon themselves and upon one
another, and, instead of regarding their brethren as more worthy, they had
placed themselves first. The request of James and John to sit on the right and
left of Christ's throne had excited the indignation of the others. That the two
brothers should presume to ask for the highest position so stirred the ten that
alienation threatened. They felt that they were misjudged, that their fidelity
and talents were not appreciated. Judas was the most severe upon James and
John. {DA 643.4}
When the disciples entered the supper room, their hearts
were full of resentful feelings. Judas pressed next to Christ on the left side;
John was on the right. If there was a highest place, Judas was determined to
have it, and that place was thought to be next to Christ. And Judas was a
traitor. {DA 644.1}
Another cause of dissension had arisen. At a feast it was
customary for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion
preparation had been made for the service. The pitcher, the basin, and the
towel were there, in readiness for the feet washing; but no servant was
present, and it was the disciples' part to perform it. But each of the
disciples, yielding to wounded pride, determined not to act the part of a
servant. All manifested a stoical unconcern, seeming unconscious that there was
anything for them to do. By their silence they refused to humble themselves. {DA 644.2}
How was Christ to bring these poor souls where Satan would
not gain over them a decided victory? How could He show that a mere profession
of discipleship did not make them disciples, or insure them a place in His
kingdom? How could He show that it is loving service, true humility, which
constitutes real greatness? How was He to kindle love in their hearts, and
enable them to comprehend what He longed to tell them? {DA 644.3}
The disciples made no move toward serving one another. Jesus
waited for a time to see what they would do. Then He, the divine Teacher, rose
from the table. Laying aside the outer garment that would have impeded His
movements, He took a towel, and girded Himself. With surprised interest the
disciples looked on, and in silence waited to see what was to follow.
"After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded."
This action opened the eyes of the disciples. Bitter shame and humiliation
filled their hearts. They understood the unspoken rebuke, and saw themselves in
altogether a new light. {DA
644.4}
So Christ expressed His love for His disciples. Their
selfish spirit filled Him with sorrow, but He entered into no controversy with
them [645]
regarding their difficulty. Instead He gave them an example they would never
forget. His love for them was not easily disturbed or quenched. He knew that
the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came from God, and
went to God. He had a full consciousness of His divinity; but He had laid aside
His royal crown and kingly robes, and had taken the form of a servant. One of
the last acts of His life on earth was to gird Himself as a servant, and
perform a servant's part. {DA
644.5}
Before the Passover Judas had met a second time with the
priests and scribes, and had closed the contract to deliver Jesus into their
hands. Yet he afterward mingled with the disciples as though innocent of any
wrong, and interested in the work of preparing for the feast. The disciples knew
nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did
not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. He felt for him such a burden as
for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city. His heart was crying, How can
I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the
Saviour's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel,
the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there
to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart
against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again
controlled him. Judas was now offended at Christ's act in washing the feet of
His disciples. If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be
Israel's king. All hope of worldly honor in a temporal kingdom was destroyed.
Judas was satisfied that there was nothing to be gained by following Christ.
After seeing Him degrade Himself, as he thought, he was confirmed in his
purpose to disown Him, and confess himself deceived. He was possessed by a
demon, and he resolved to complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying
his Lord. {DA 645.1}
Judas, in choosing his position at table, had tried to place
himself first, and Christ as a servant served him first. John, toward whom
Judas had felt so much bitterness, was left till the last. But John did not
take this as a rebuke or slight. As the disciples watched Christ's action, they
were greatly moved. When Peter's turn came, he exclaimed with astonishment,
"Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?" Christ's condescension broke his
heart. He was filled with shame to think that one of the disciples was not
performing this service. "What I do," Christ said, "thou knowest
not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter could not bear to see his
Lord, whom he believed to be the Son of God, acting the part of a servant. His
whole soul rose up against this humiliation. [646] He did
not realize that for this Christ came into the world. With great emphasis he
exclaimed, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." {DA 645.2}
Solemnly Christ said to Peter, "If I wash thee not,
thou hast no part with Me." The service which Peter refused was the type
of a higher cleansing. Christ had come to wash the heart from the stain of sin.
In refusing to allow Christ to wash his feet, Peter was refusing the higher
cleansing included in the lower. He was really rejecting his Lord. It is not
humiliating to the Master to allow Him to work for our purification. The truest
humility is to receive with thankful heart any provision made in our behalf,
and with earnestness do service for Christ. {DA 646.1}
At the words, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part
with Me," Peter surrendered his pride and self-will. He could not endure
the thought of separation from Christ; that would have been death to him.
"Not my feet only," he said, "but also my hands and my head.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is
clean every whit." {DA
646.2}
These words mean more than bodily cleanliness. Christ is
still speaking of the higher cleansing as illustrated by the lower. He who came
from the bath was clean, but the sandaled feet soon became dusty, and again
needed to be washed. So Peter and his brethren had been washed in the great
fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. Christ acknowledged them as His. But
temptation had led them into evil, and they still needed His cleansing grace.
When Jesus girded Himself with a towel to wash the dust from their feet, He
desired by that very act to wash the alienation, jealousy, and pride from their
hearts. This was of far more consequence than the washing of their dusty feet.
With the spirit they then had, not one of them was prepared for communion with
Christ. Until brought into a state of humility and love, they were not prepared
to partake of the paschal supper, or to share in the memorial service which
Christ was about to institute. Their hearts must be cleansed. Pride and
self-seeking create dissension and hatred, but all this Jesus washed away in
washing their feet. A change of feeling was brought about. Looking upon them,
Jesus could say, "Ye are clean." Now there was union of heart, love
for one another. They had become humble and teachable. Except Judas, each was
ready to concede to another the highest place. Now with subdued and grateful
hearts they could receive Christ's words. {DA 646.3}
Like Peter and his brethren, we too have been washed in the
blood of Christ, yet often through contact with evil the heart's purity is soiled.
We must come to Christ for His cleansing grace. Peter shrank from bringing his
soiled feet in contact with the hands of his Lord and Master; [649]
but how often we bring our sinful, polluted hearts in contact with the heart of
Christ! How grievous to Him is our evil temper, our vanity and pride! Yet all
our infirmity and defilement we must bring to Him. He alone can wash us clean.
We are not prepared for communion with Him unless cleansed by His efficacy. {DA 646.4}
Jesus said to the disciples, "Ye are clean, but not
all." He had washed the feet of Judas, but the heart had not been yielded
to Him. It was not purified. Judas had not submitted himself to Christ. {DA 649.1}
After Christ had washed the disciples' feet, and had taken
His garments and sat down again, He said to them, "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." {DA 649.2}
Christ would have His disciples understand that although He
had washed their feet, this did not in the least detract from His dignity.
"Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am." And being
so infinitely superior, He imparted grace and significance to the service. No
one was so exalted as Christ, and yet He stooped to the humblest duty. That His
people might not be misled by the selfishness which dwells in the natural
heart, and which strengthens by self-serving, Christ Himself set the example of
humility. He would not leave this great subject in man's charge. Of so much
consequence did He regard it, that He Himself, One equal with God, acted as
servant to His disciples. While they were contending for the highest place, He
to whom every knee shall bow, He whom the angels of glory count it honor to
serve, bowed down to wash the feet of those who called Him Lord. He washed the
feet of His betrayer. {DA
649.3}
In His life and lessons, Christ has given a perfect
exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does
not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is
constantly ministering for others. "He maketh His sun to rise 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. [650] {DA 649.4}
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. {DA 650.1}
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. {DA 650.2}
This ordinance is Christ's appointed preparation for the
sacramental 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. {DA 650.3}
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 of spirit. The ordinance preceding the Lord's Supper is to clear
away these misunderstandings, to bring man out of his selfishness, down from
his stilts of self-exaltation, to the humility of heart that will lead him to
serve his brother. {DA
650.4}
The holy Watcher from heaven is present at this season to
make it one of soul searching, of conviction of sin, and of the blessed
assurance of sins forgiven. Christ in the fullness of His grace is there to change
the current of the thoughts that have been running in selfish channels. The
Holy Spirit quickens the sensibilities of those who follow the example of their
Lord. As the Saviour's humiliation for us is remembered, thought [651]
links with thought; a chain of memories is called up, memories of God's great
goodness and of the favor and tenderness of earthly friends. Blessings
forgotten, mercies abused, kindnesses slighted, are called to mind. Roots of
bitterness that have crowded out the precious plant of love are made manifest.
Defects of character, neglect of duties, ingratitude to God, coldness toward
our brethren, are called to remembrance. Sin is seen in the light in which God
views it. Our thoughts are not thoughts of self-complacency, but of severe
self-censure and humiliation. The mind is energized to break down every barrier
that has caused alienation. Evil thinking and evilspeaking are put away. Sins
are confessed, they are forgiven. The subduing grace of Christ comes into the
soul, and the love of Christ draws hearts together in a blessed unity. {DA 650.5}
As the lesson of the preparatory service is thus learned,
the desire is kindled for a higher spiritual life. To this desire the divine
Witness will respond. The soul will be uplifted. We can partake of the
Communion with a consciousness of sins forgiven. The sunshine of Christ's
righteousness will fill the chambers of the mind and the soul temple. We
"behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
John 1:29. {DA 651.1}
To those who receive the spirit of this service, it can
never become a mere ceremonial. Its constant lesson will be, "By love
serve one another." Galatians 5:13. In washing the feet of His disciples,
Christ gave evidence that He would do any service, however humble, that would
make them heirs with Him of the eternal wealth of heaven's treasure. His
disciples, in performing the same rite, pledge themselves in like manner to
serve their brethren. Whenever this ordinance is rightly celebrated, the
children of God are brought into a holy relationship, to help and bless each
other. They covenant that the life shall be given to unselfish ministry. And
this, not only for one another. Their field of labor is as wide as their
Master's was. The world is full of those who need our ministry. The poor, the
helpless, the ignorant, are on every hand. Those who have communed with Christ
in the upper chamber will go forth to minister as He did. {DA 651.2}
Jesus, the served of all, came to be the servant of all. And
because He ministered to all, He will again be served and honored by all. And
those who would partake of His divine attributes, and share with Him the joy of
seeing souls redeemed, must follow His example of unselfish ministry. {DA 651.3}
All this was comprehended in the words of Jesus, "I
have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." This
was the intent of the service He established. And He says, "If ye know
these things," if you know the purpose of His lessons, "happy are ye
if ye do them." {DA
651.4}
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"In Remembrance of Me"
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