Christ’s Teaching About Humility

“Before the festival of the Passover began, Jesus realized that the time had come for him to leave this world and return to the Father. He had loved those who were His own in this world and He loved them to the end. ..rose from the supper table, took off His outer clothes, picked up a towel and fastened it round His waist. Then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry then with the towel around His waist.

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His clothes, He sat down again and spoke to them, “Do you realize what I have just done to you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and you are quite right, for I am your teacher and your Lord. But if I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you must be ready to wash one another’s feet. I have given you this as an example so that you may do as I have done. Believe me, the servant is not greater than his master and the messenger is not greater than the man who sent him. Once you have realized these things, you will find your happiness in doing them.”

John 13 (Phillips Translation)

Passover and Christmas Don’t Mix

I have been observing the New Testament Passover as a Christian for forty years. Following the pattern set by Christ with His disciples the night before His death I gather with other others and go through the rituals set forth in the gospel accounts.

We wash each other’s feet as an act of humility. We then take the unleavened bread and wine as symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood for the sins of mankind. It is a beautiful and remarkable service. In the Church of God it is the most visible ritual we have each year. We do this once annually as a remembrance of the Lord’s death.

The Passover kept in this manner is distinctive and taken in its setting that momentous night in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago defies mixing with any other tradition. That is why this morning’s article in the Wall Street Journal, “Is Passover the New Christmas?” strikes a discordant note.

The article seeks to show multi-faith meaning in the way some Christians and Jews share or observe the distinctive Passover Seder service. As it points out many Christians do look at the Seder to try to understand the Jewish roots of Christianity. Indeed, the other Biblical festivals, such as the Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Tabernacles have drawn the interest of many in an effort to return to an authentic worship. I would encourage anyone to look at what the Bible does say about festivals and the true worship of God. Most would be surprised at what the Bible reveals on this subject. Our booklet Holidays or Holy Days makes a conclusive presentation on the subject.

But there is a problem trying to mix the tradition of the Seder with the Christian traditions.

“These Christianized seders show the Passover story as merely the prelude to the advent of Jesus. This distresses some Jews and Christians. “It’s deceptive to introduce Christian themes into the Jewish seder. When you start talking about Jesus, that is no longer a seder. That is a different creation altogether,” a vehicle for preaching or proselytizing, says Rabbi Neil Gillman, professor emeritus of Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary.”

The Rabbi is right. Christ is not in the Seder. Nor is Christ in the modern Christian traditions of Easter. People today who try to mix two incomplete traditions create a stew of religious confusion. The article concludes with the observation that mixing these two traditions “makes the Jew invisible”. I would conclude the two traditions, make Christ invisible. That is the greatest error.

Christ instituted a most remarkable ceremony the night before His death. To observe this night in the correct manner is to unlock the great mystery of the ages. It is worth the time and effort to study.

BRICS Desire Stronger Voice

The calls to replace the dollar as the world currency continue. What seems to be a newly formed bloc of nations, the BRICS, met this week in China to discuss the continuing world monetary disorder. These nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, desire s greater voice and an end to the economic dominance of the dollar.

In a statement the group said what was needed was, “a broad-based international reserve currency system providing stability and certainty”. “The world economy is undergoing profound and complex changes,” Chinese President Hu Jintao said. “The era demands that the BRICS countries strengthen dialogue and cooperation.”

This group of emerging nations are an interesting mixture of emerging nations. There common theme to date appears to be a strong desire to have a voice in world affairs, countering the more dominant position of western powers. While strident, it does not now appear they have the clout to do assert the type of power that can by itself bring fundamental change. They do, however, add to the growing voice of concern and doubt in America’s economic leadership.

In a week where the Obama administration demonstrated little visionary leadership to curb America’s growing debt bomb this little development on the far side of the world should not be misunderstood. The United States’ role in world leadership is changing on many fronts. Other nations want a voice at the table and are not content to stand by in a secondary role.

America is facing a defining moment for its role as a global power. The sun has not set. At the very least it has reached its zenith. Unless fundamental changes are made the only question remaining is the rate in which it declines.