May we walk in holiness before the Lord

Dost Thou Wash My Feet?

by Emily Freeman

John 12:7 – John 16:11

Every celebration begins with a moment of anticipation. Expectation fills the air as guests mingle, waiting for the host to seat them around a table that has been carefully spread.

Little can compare with an evening spent with friends.

This feeling of anticipation surely filled the upper level room on the evening of the Last Supper.

In all that had happened previous to that night, the disciples must have looked forward to a quiet evening alone with the Lord.  Entering the room from the dusty, crowded streets below each would have removed their sandals at the door as they found a seat around the table.

It was at this moment when Christ taught a powerful lesson that was completely unexpected.  Just before supper began, the Savior took a bowl and after girding himself with a towel, knelt beside every guest to wash their feet.

This service caught the disciples by surprise.

Traditionally washing the feet of the guest was deemed a lowly act, one that only a servant would perform. As was His nature, the Savior connected this unexpected act of service with a teaching moment, “…to share in this washing, was, as it were, the way to have part in Christ’s service of love, to enter into it, and to share it… There was deep symbolical meaning, not only in that Christ did it, but also in what  He did…What He did, meant His work and service of love; the constant cleansing of one’s walk and life in the love of Christ…it is the daily consecration of our life to love after the example of Christ.” 

After performing this sacred act, Christ introduced the ordinance of the Sacrament we are familiar with today.

“The weekly opportunity of partaking of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is one of the most sacred ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We may fail to recognize the deep spiritual significance this ordinance offers to each of us personally.”

David B. Haight

Just as washing the disciples’ feet was a reminder to the disciples in the time of Christ, the covenant we renew each Sunday should remind us to follow in the footsteps of the Lord daily.   The Lord instructed that, “the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by a godly walk and conversation, that they are worthy…walking in holiness before the Lord.”  (D&C 20:69 emphasis added)

By partaking of the Sacrament we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name of His Son, and always remember Him especially in our daily walk and conversation. (D&C 20:77)

Think over some of the situations you encountered this past week.  Were your actions consistent with the covenant you took?  Were you able to always remember Him?  How did you walk in His footsteps?

May we think of the walk of our lives.

May we be known as someone who is willing to consecrate our lives to love like Christ.

May we walk in holiness before the Lord.