Do we try to obey?
Before we look at the forgotten command, let’s consider our obedience in general. I am sure you will agree with me that we often do things that we know are wrong. The Bible classifies these things as sin.
There is another type of sin that we often forget, that is the sin of omission. James points out in Jas 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
We easily forget that not doing good is also a sin.
Jesus died for our sins, but not so we could continue sinning. He made it clear that His followers were the ones who did what He commanded. Being a Christian is not just to believe in Jesus, but to do what He has instructed us to do.
What does the Lord require of us?
We base our hope of salvation on our faith in Jesus as the Christ. He came into the world to give us an example of what is right before God. He came to die for the sins of the world, our sins.
“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
John 3:16 is the scripture that we build our faith around, but this is not all.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
And then there is the forgotten command.
Jesus often taught by example. His life and actions are what we have to pattern our lives after. He gave very few new teachings. He taught the correct interpretation of the laws God had given to the Jews.
In the upper room before His betrail, He instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper. He commanded us to do it in remembrance of Him. Luke 22:19
He also gave the forgotten command.
On that same night, He took off His outer robes and wrapped a towel around His waist, filled a bowl with water, and knelt to wash the disciple’s feet.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:3-17
I know of very few churches that have foot washings. Many say times are different, so we don’t need to do as our Lord showed us. He was, after all, just teaching us to be humble and to have a servant attitude.
I believe that it would be good to follow the forgotten command. It is hard to be humble.
Pride, which God hates, seems to be ingrained into each of us. Washing someone else’s feet reminds us of who we should be—a servant of others.
Please spend some time praying about this. I know that I fight pride all the time. My desire for people to see the good I do is pride. My sins are many, and the lack of humility is one of them.
Thank you so much for the beautiful article over what Jesus had commanded us to do on the night that he was betrayed. I believe that pride is a terrible vice, that really tears people apart, and it’s sad that this kind of stuff happens to people, that they are so prideful. Remember, pride comes before the fall.
Thanks again, Jessie, all your comments have been great and show that you really read and understood what it was about.