Baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Matt 28:19) for those who confess faith in him (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12). Baptism is done by immersing the whole body in water (Matt 3:16; Acts 8:38-39), in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
When you are baptized, it serves as a sign of your fellowship with Christ and your identification with him in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5). Baptism marks that you have now put on Christ (Gal 3:27) and received forgiveness for your sins (Acts 22:16). It is the public declaration of your repentance and your belief in Christ (Acts 2:38), symbolizing that you have committed to live and walk in newness of life through Christ (Rom 6:4).
When you decide to be baptized, you are acting in obedience with Christ's command in Matt 28:19-20. At the moment you decided to place your faith in Christ, you were saved (Acts 2:21; 4:12). When you are baptized in water, you are acting out, in the physical realm, what has already happened to you in the spiritual realm: your death, burial, and resurrection through Christ (Gal 2:20; Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12). Baptism by immersion best illustrates the symbolism of our shared death (crucifixion), burial, and resurrection with Christ. Going into the water symbolizes death and burial. Coming up out of the water symbolizes being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life.
The Last Supper holds profound significance within Christian theology, serving as the foundation for the Communion and encapsulating key aspects of Jesus' ministry and sacrificial love. This event, recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, and Luke 22:7-38) and referenced in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 by the Apostle Paul, occurred on the eve of the Passover. During this meal, Jesus shared bread and wine with His disciples, establishing a new covenant and foreshadowing His imminent death on the cross (stake).
The central element of the Last Supper is Jesus' institution of the emblems. Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then, taking the cup of wine, He gave thanks and said, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28). Through these actions, Jesus established a ritual for His followers to remember His sacrifice. The breaking of the bread symbolizes Jesus' body, broken for humanity, and the cup represents His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins.
The Last Supper's timing during Passover is significant. Passover commemorates the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery, marked by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, which spared them from the plague of the firstborn (Exodus 12). Jesus, often referred to as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), chose the Passover meal to reveal His role as the ultimate sacrifice, liberating humanity from the bondage of sin. Just as the lamb's blood signified salvation for the Israelites, Jesus' blood establishes a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins for all who believe in Him.
During the Last Supper, Jesus also issued a new commandment to His disciples, underscoring the importance of love and service. John 13:34-35 records Jesus saying, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." This commandment, given in the context of Jesus washing the disciples' feet (a task typically performed by servants), illustrates the depth of love and humility that should characterize His followers.
The Last Supper also looks forward to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. Luke 22:18 records Jesus saying, "For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." This statement points to the future consummation of the Kingdom when Jesus will return and establish His eternal reign. Communion, therefore, is not only a memorial of Christ's past sacrifice but also an anticipation of the future feast in the Kingdom of God, where believers will be reunited with Christ.
The Last Supper is a multifaceted event that encapsulates the essence of Christian faith: the sacrificial love of Jesus, the establishment of a new covenant through His blood, and the call to live out His commandment of love. It serves as the theological foundation for the practice of Communion, a ceremony that commemorates Jesus' sacrifice and celebrates the hope of His return. Through the Last Supper, believers are invited to partake in the mystery of faith, remembering Christ's death, proclaiming His resurrection, and awaiting His coming in glory.
The ordinance of foot washing finds its foundation in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verses 1-17. Here, we observe a profound act of humility and service performed by Jesus Christ Himself. Before the Feast of the Passover, knowing that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, Jesus, during supper with His disciples, rose from the meal, laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.
This act was not merely about physical cleanliness but carried a much deeper spiritual significance. When Simon Peter initially resisted, Jesus responded, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me" (John 13:8). After washing their feet, Jesus explained, "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:15). Here, Jesus sets forth an example of humility and service that His followers are to emulate towards one another.
Furthermore, Jesus stated, "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" (John 13:16). This act and Jesus’ teaching underscore the importance of humility, service, and the readiness to elevate others above oneself. It serves as a reminder that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are those who serve.
In our faith, the foot washing ceremony is observed as an ordinance, symbolizing the humility and purity that followers of Christ should exhibit, reflecting Jesus' commandment to love one another as He has loved us. This ordinance, when practiced, serves as a tangible reminder of the call to serve and love one another in humility and grace, just as Christ did.