John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
4. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to awash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
12. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
14. If I then, your Lord and aMaster, have bwashed your feet; ye also ought to cwash one another’s dfeet.
15. For I have given you an aexample, that ye should do as I have done to you.LUKE CHAPTER 7
36. ¶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37. And, behold, a awoman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster bbox of ointment,
38. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and aanointed them with the ointment.
39. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred apence, and the other fifty.
42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly aforgave them both. bTell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
47. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are aforgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
We had a wonderful meeting on Sunday in Relief Society. We discussed the ministry of Christ and how we can be a part of his ministry as sisters and visiting teachers. We studied the story of the woman who washed and kissed the Savior's feet. How even in her imperfections even she could serve and worship the Savior in this way. Many wear surprised and even revolted that this sinner would dare do such an act. This was a teaching moment for Jesus to then show the company he was with (they probably thought themselves more perfect then this woman) that we can all be servants and ministers (and recipients) of His love. She was forgiven of her sins and this because she had loved the Savior as He had loved her.
Jesus Christ has loved us in a way that we may never understand. He served so many and gave his life.
He even washed the feet (imagine how dirty they were) of his own disciples, his followers. (Of course, there is more to discover in both of these stories about forgiveness, worthiness and Pride.) He didnt' need to do this, no one expected this from him. Think about it though, would we expect less from the Savior? His example of love went beyond the scope that any of us are required to do....but we are required to love as he has.
We can't do it all, we just can't, but we can work each day to serve and love His children, in a personal way. With our own personal touch. A kind word, a smile or a hug. We can listen to the spirit to know what it is we can do.
We can follow his commandment to love as he has loved.
This reminds me of some of my favorite memories. Singing an arrangement in the DC visitor's center and my father. Thank you. "Now there were in the upper chamber, Jesus and his disciples, there to take the supper of the passover ere the end should come..." So much power in that arrangements. If I find it I'll forward it.
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