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Presented are transcripts of radio broadcasts by R.L.D.S. President Frederick M. Smith in 1938 on pertinent topics that continue to be of considerable interest in this 21st century.
VI. The Spirit of Service, and The Law of Love Shortly before Gethsemane and Calvary, there occurred in the life of Jesus and in his experiences with his twelve apostles, a series of incidents which are strongly indicative of what he expects of his followers. They emphasize in an important way the social aspects of his religion. Every moment of these experiences was pregnant with meaning and importance, because by his rare prescience he knew he was nearing the end of his earthly work. By various suggestions he gave his disciples hints and even direct statements that such were true, yet they in their own humor and blindness understood them not. From the Scriptures that we have read, we learn that Jesus and his apostles were outside the city of Jerusalem, probably near Bethany, and when the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread came, a feast closely connected in time and importance to the Passover, he was reminded at once of the necessity of preparations for the Passover and the great desire he had to eat the Passover with them once more before he suffered. This “desire” was stimulated by a number of things, among them his past associations with his beloved, his knowledge through his presence that this would be his last Passover, and also the knowledge that before him was the task of giving to his disciples and all the Christian world the sublimation of the Passover and the lessons which were crowded into the time of the Passover Supper and the initiation of the Lord’s Supper. An Example of Humble Service He sent two of his most trusted disciples to prepare the room, the feast, and for their reception when they should come later. But they failed him to a degree, and in that failure they gave Jesus opportunity for an important lesson. They found the room, prepared it, killed the lamb, and spread the feast. But for the reception of their Master and their brethren there was not adequate preparation made. The reason of their failure lies at the bottom of a trait often displayed by man. It is said in the Scriptures that there had been strife among the disciples, even those closest to Jesus. They could not agree which of them should be accounted the greatest. With the bitterness that always is a concomitant of such strife, one of the social amenities was omitted from the reception of Jesus and the brethren at the room of the feast. In those times and in that country, the common footgear, where footgear was worn at all, was the sandal. The soil being sandy and rocky, a great discomfort to the traveler was the accumulation of sand and pebbles between the sandal and foot, and between the toes. So one of the first acts of hospitality extended to an incoming guest by a host was for a basin of water and towel to be brought, and the feet laved, so the foot-weariness and irritation by sand and pebble could be relieved and the guest enter in comfort. This act of courtesy was usually done by a servant, of course at the command or by instruction of the host, or as a result of his previous training. It was a custom well established. But the disciples, already quarreling as to which of them was the greatest, were unwilling to assume the role of a servant and refresh the incoming guest by an act of hospitality so much needed. Apparently, on coming to the room Jesus took little or no notice of this error on the part of those he had sent to make preparations, but after they had eaten, and probably after he had listened to the rumblings of the strife as to the greatest, and mayhap even about the question of washing of feet, he arose, girded himself with a towel (a sign or symbol of a servant) took a basin of water, and he himself washed the feet of his disciples. Then he at once impressed a beautiful lesson of service and administered a stern rebuke to his disciples for their discourtesy. When he had finished and had taken his garments and sat down, he asked them if they knew what he had done to them. He said, “Ye call me Master, and Lord, and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord, neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” No finer demonstration of the principle of real service could be given than this incident. No question arose in the mind of the Master as to class or station of those needing service. His only question was “Is service needed?” And his answer to that has given the Christian world a fine example. An example it was, not a pattern. Here, as in many other cases of events related in the Bible, certain things have been taken out of their proper setting, and made to do service where not intended. Jesus, in order to impress the lesson of service to those in need, and to attend to what should have been done when the guests arrived at the room of the feast, himself washed the feet of the disciples, as an example, and did not intend it as the pattern of a ceremony to be perpetuated, as some have tried to do. What he meant, as I believe, when he said, “an example, that ye should do as I have done to you,” was when there is service to do, acts of kindness to render, courtesies to extend, the question of rank, caste, or class should not be raised, but ministry rendered without question; and that in such ministry, the master, the great, would in no way suffer degradation, but would be honored for his spirit of kindness and helpfulness. There is no need today, when man’s feet are more protectingly shod, for the courtesy of foot-washing at the door, but there is always need for distress to be relieved, kindness to be extended, and graciousness to be manifested. How is it with you? Do you withhold your ministry of goodness at times because in your opinion persons are below you in rank? Who draws the lines of rank, anyhow? And who will draw them at the great and final bar of judgment? Significance of the Lord’s Supper To the Christian, some remarkably important things occurred in that upper chamber where Jesus and his disciples assembled to eat the Passover. As Jesus then knew, and his disciples afterwards learned, it was the last time they would so eat. This was, of course, historically important. The Passover was one of the greatest of feasts of the Jews up to that time, and so remains among those who still observe it and the Hebraic laws. Jesus well knew its historic significance, its social value, and its religious import. He knew, too, that in that room he would institute a substitute for the Passover to be observed by his followers ever afterwards—a sublimation of the Passover. In that room, too, he pointed out the one who would betray him for a monetary pittance; and in that room the Lord’s Supper became a preparation for the Gethsemane which followed. And finally, a new commandment was given in that chamber. We have noted his lesson of service, exemplified by washing the feet of his apostles. After they had eaten the Passover, he blessed bread and gave it to them to eat as emblematic of his body broken for them, and wine as emblematic of his shed blood. This was the first Lord’s Supper, superseding among all Christians the feast of the Passover. And the Lord’s Supper continues to be celebrated as one of the sacraments. Among us of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it constitutes each time, if properly partaken of, a renewal of the covenant made in the waters of baptism, a promise to obey the Christian mandates. Who of us can sense the deep grief of Jesus when Judas Iscariot left the upper chamber on his trip of betrayal? The record of the happenings in the room makes no mention of his sorrow, except perhaps a faint indication of it; but as Jesus knew beforehand who would betray him, and the time, he probably had suffered in anticipation and had conquered the outward manifestations of his keen grief. But who can doubt that this was one of the factors which later impelled him to seek Gethsemane and plead for the passing of the cruel cup. Judas Walks Out After Judas had in anger left the room there occurred one of the most important events which transpired in that room, now matchless in its historic importance. Turning to his disciples he addressed them as “little children” saying he would be with them yet a little while, that he would go where they could not come. He addressed them as children, for even after their years of experience with him, sitting under his instruction, how little they knew of the kingdom he came to establish! Would they learn in due time? It is certain that after he left they would have experience in abundance. But now, what of now? Well, he could leave them further instruction. But would they remember? Perhaps, if he gave them something so simple and basic that they could not forget, it would form a basis from which they could analyze problems of conduct. And so he said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”—John 13:34,35 In his answer to the lawyer Jesus had given the first and second great commandment as, Love God, and Love neighbor as self, and had said these were so basic as to form that on which all the law and the prophets could be hung. Now in this upper chamber, he reduced the law to a single command, “Love one another.” What do you thing? If all had this love in heart, would we have need for law? Would there be social evils and sins? How far have you gone in developing this great new law as a dynamic in your life? How did this new commandment impress itself upon the disciples? Who knows? It is said that John the Beloved lived to be a very old man. And as he lay dying, he raised up and said, “Little children, love one another.” It had impressed him deeply. And I doubt not he had all his life taught it, and as his spirit was about to leave his body, he called out what he had come to know was the foundation of all Christian commandments. |
