"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 should do as I have done to you,” reads the scripture in John 13.

According to the scripture, these are words that Jesus Christ told His disciples on his last day before he was killed on the cross, resurrecting on the third day on Easter Sunday.

He observed the liturgical washing of the feet of his disciples and challenged them to always do the same to others as a sign of love, humility and good service.

Maundy Thursday is Christian holy day that falls on the Thursday before Easter.

Clerics at Saint Etienne Anglican Church took towels and water containers to wash the feet of Christians as the former washed one another during the Thursday mass in line with Jesus’ teachings.

Christians of St Joseph Catholic Parish in Kicukiro District perform the Way of the Cross to observe Good Friday. File

Before Jesus Christ was crucified, he washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of humility and love, and asked them to always do the same.

The root of this practice appears to be found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilisations, especially where sandals were the chief footwear. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests or even serve the guests by washing their feet.

Preaching to the congregation, Pastor Daniel Hanlon, who heads the English services at Saint Etienne in Kigali, called on Christians to learn a lesson from Jesus’s acts and be humble, love one another and serve the needy.

"It is love that can save us, Friends we are loved by Jesus and his love can set us free to love others, free to serve others, we love because we were first loved (by Jesus) and we should serve because we were first served and we were set free to serve,” he preached.

"Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross but even before He died, he showed humility when He washed the feet of His disciples,” he added.

He also challenged the congregation to strive to become servants than seek people to serve them.

"We want others to serve us but not to serve them,” he added.

St Etienne clerics practice Jesus' example to wash  his disciples'feet  during Maundy Thursday mass in Kigali yesterday (Sam Ngendahimana)

Augustin Habarugira, a father of four from Nyamirambo Sector in Nyarugenge District, said the day meant a lot to him as a Christian as it reminds him of Jesus’ love.

Christian will on Sunday celebrate Easter in remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com