Bible Study 26

Ordinance of Humility

  1. At Christ’s Last Passover in what sad condition of mind were some of His disciples?
    Luke 22:24
  2. Did Christ encourage or rebuke this intense personal ambition or place seeking?
    Luke 22:25-26
    Compare Mark 10:42-45
  3. Did Jesus exercise lordship in an autocratic, worldly way?
    Luke 22:27
  4. What crushing rebuke did He administer by His personal example?
    John 13:4-5
    Compare the ancient custom:
    Genesis 18:4
    Genesis 19:2
    Genesis 43:24
    Judges 19:21
    2 Samuel 11:8
  5. Observe the real reason for reproving Simon, who resented the woman sinner’s washing of Christ’s feet. Sorrow for sin and a humble spirit was more important to Jesus than anything else.
    Luke 7:44
  6. What did feet washing signify to Jesus?
    John 13:6-8
    ‘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.’ – E G White in ‘The Desire of Ages.’
    ‘While baptism relates to that purification and renovation of the whole man, and happens only once, the washing of feet was intended to illustrate a daily cleansing from the contamination of the world, which even the regenerate man cannot avoid, but which would become injurious to him only in case he did not immediately endeavour to remove it.; – Olshausen.
  7. Did Jesus expect His disciples after His day to follow His example of feet washing as an ordinance of humility?
    John 13:13-15
    ‘Jesus knowing that the Father had put all things in His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going to God, did what? He laid aside His garments and took a towel and a basin of water and washed the disciples’ feet: a menial office, which in the absence of servants would fall to the youngest of the party. The apostles protested, of course. But He answered, when He was set down again, ‘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 ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do a s I have done to you.’ It is almost like the institution of a sacrament, the only sacrament, by the way, mentioned in this gospel as founded by Christ.’ – W R Inge in ‘The Listener.’
  8. Does it appear that the New Testament church observed this as a regular part of worship?
    1 Timothy 5:9-10
    ‘The Waldenses, who are acknowledged to have come the nearest to the purity of the faith and practice of the doctrine of Christ, held feet-washing as an ordinance of the Church. They say: ‘We confess that feet-washing is an ordinance of Christ which He Himself administered to His disciples, and recommended by example to the practice of believers.” – Waldensian ‘Confession of Faith.’
  9. Is there happiness in observing this act in a humble, loving spirit?
    John 13:17
  10. Should such acts be performed for prominent persons only in the church?
    Matthew 25:40

The Communion Service

  1. What should we ever remember about our Lord?
    1 Corinthians 15:2-4
  2. By what Christian ordinance are the burial and resurrection of Jesus commemorated?
    Baptism
    Colossians 2:12
  3. What reminds the church of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary?
    Breaking of Bread – 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
    Drinking the cup – 1 Corinthians 11:26
    ‘As faith in Christ before the cross was shown by typical ordinances, so faith in Christ since His crucifixion is shown by the memorial ordinances of baptism, the Lord’s supper, and the ordinance of humility.’ – O A Johnson in ‘Bible Text-Book.’
  4. Can a sinful person partake worthily at the Lord’s Supper?
    1 Corinthians 11:27-29
  5. Should we prepare our hearts for this service?
    1 Corinthians 11:28
    See also 1 John 1:7
  6. What fellowship results from true devotion to Christ?
    1 John 1:3