Monarchical example

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you speak well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” John 13: 12-20

On Wednesday this week, Her Majesty the Queen became Britain’s longest serving Monarch of all times. She had served her people for 63 years 217 days. The Times also drew attention to the shortest serving British Monarch of all times – Lady Jane Grey, niece of Henry VIII – who served for only 9 days before losing her life at the age of 17 in 1554. She was executed. Elizabeth II’s wonderful reign continues: “long to reign over us, God save our Queen.” The last words of Lady Jane Grey echoed the last words of Jesus as he died upon a cross outside Jerusalem around AD 30. She said, “Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Immediately prior to her execution Lady Jane Grey read aloud Psalm 51 to the crowd at the Tower of London. It begins: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
.	‘Too many church members are starched and ironed but not washed.’ (Vance Havner, writer, 1901-1986)
It certainly seems that Lady Jane Grey both knew herself to be a sinner and also placed her complete trust in Jesus Christ the LORD for his cleansing. Come with me now back to AD 30 and the very last hours of Jesus’ life on earth – as recorded in bold above by John his eye-witness biographer. Immediately before the above extract Jesus had acted out a play which saw him lay aside his outer garments (his equality with the Father), taken a towel (become a human being), tied it around him (being made wholly man forever), poured out water into a basin (himself on the cross), and washing clean their feet (symbolically their whole beings, through and through). You may well say, “Fair enough. I’ve heard all this before.” But what about Jesus’ instruction to his key followers? “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him….. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” *“You also ought to wash one another’s feet…. You also should do just as I have done to you.”* Britain’s constitutional monarchy is rather special. The Queen is served by her ministers.... But this instruction of Jesus to his ministers overturns all the power and all the authority in this world, coming, as it does, from the one to whom every knee shall bow.
.	‘Genuine fellowship comes when Christians stop relating to one another as righteous saints and accept one another as unrighteous sinners.’ (David Watson, author, 1933-1984)
Jesus became a convicted criminal (taking the place even of self-righteous others). Jesus suffered atrocious capital punishment (dying the cruelest death known to humanity – in place of others) so as to be able to forgive in his Father’s name. Lady Jane Grey received that forgiveness. Along with many others I believe Elizabeth our Queen also trusts in Jesus for the cleansing she needs. Do the Queen’s ministers wash one another’s feet? Do the members of Jersey’s Council of Ministers do the same? If they did they would be acknowledging to each other their need of cleansing and they would be providing that cleansing to each other. What about me? Will you help?

Richard Syvret

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