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Pilate Washed His Hands ... but Jesus Washed Their Feet!”
| Bro Neil Todd (New Zealand)
B
oth men were leaders, both had power and
authority, one from Rome the other from
Heaven!
The connecting link is all about accepting
responsibility for others.
Pilate stepped back, heeding his wife’s words,
“have nothing to do with this righteous man”;
the Lord stepped forward, heeding His
Father’s words to have ‘everything to do’ with
these less righteous men. We might look for
many lessons for present day believers in
these two men and their actions.
Look at the contrast!
• Pilate thought only of himself
- Jesus thought only of others.
• Pilate was a worldly man
- the Lord, “was not of this world.”
• Pilate perished
- Christ was raised to die no more!
John 13 is the account of the start of the
‘quiet and private time,’ that Jesus shared
with his disciples before He was crucified. We
may underestimate just how much Jesus
needed and valued the company of His friends.
At the very start – special time
The Lord Jesus began with an act of supreme
service; He began washing His disciples’ feet.
We can take good note of that scene – the King
designate, the High Priest to be appointed,
the coming Saviour of the world served His
brethren – first!
We might shortlist the elements of those few
precious hours like this:
Humiliation| “Jesus took a towel” - “He took
upon Himself the role of a servant”.
Demonstration| “He began to wash and
wipe” A priestly role.
Exhortation|“I am the Good Shepherd” and
“My Father is the true Gardener”.
Restoration|“Father, I pray for them” and
“that they may be one...as we are!”
The fellowship we share
This is our special time, and, by faith, we
believe – the Lord is present among us too.
Maybe there is no real connection between these two events, or is there?
~ continued ...