shortlady
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- Aug 3, 2005
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Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. (John 13.5 NRSV)
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Bruce Thielemann, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, told of a conversation he had once with an active layperson. "You preachers talk a lot about giving," said the layperson, "but when you get right down to it, it all comes down to basin theology."
Thielemann asked, "Basin theology? What's that?"
The layperson replied, "Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before his death, called for a basin and proceeded to humbly wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology. Which one will you use?"
Pilate was an ambitious man. He was not willing to sacrifice his possessions and his position when he was confronted with the opportunity to choose between what was right and what was expedient. He called for the basin to wash his hands.
Jesus was also an ambitious man. His ambition was the grandest ambition of all--to usher in the rule of God in every heart. He also called for a basin that he might wash his disciples' feet.
What basin will be yours?
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Dear God, you know that I have failed you many times, but help me to do my best in being a basin of service for your people. Amen.
Ron Newhouse
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Bruce Thielemann, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, told of a conversation he had once with an active layperson. "You preachers talk a lot about giving," said the layperson, "but when you get right down to it, it all comes down to basin theology."
Thielemann asked, "Basin theology? What's that?"
The layperson replied, "Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before his death, called for a basin and proceeded to humbly wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology. Which one will you use?"
Pilate was an ambitious man. He was not willing to sacrifice his possessions and his position when he was confronted with the opportunity to choose between what was right and what was expedient. He called for the basin to wash his hands.
Jesus was also an ambitious man. His ambition was the grandest ambition of all--to usher in the rule of God in every heart. He also called for a basin that he might wash his disciples' feet.
What basin will be yours?
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Dear God, you know that I have failed you many times, but help me to do my best in being a basin of service for your people. Amen.
Ron Newhouse
