As a young boy I lived in an isolated forestry village. Our home had neither running water nor electricity. A bath was a once a week luxury. A nightly ritual before bed was to sit on the back step with a basin of warm water and wash my feet. As boys we ran around barefoot and invariably our feet were encrusted with dirt or mud.
When we reflect upon Christ’s directive to wash one another’s feet, we find vital teaching. Interestingly, in the scriptural examples of footwashing for guests, we find that the water was often provided for the guests to wash their own feet. Abraham provided water for Christ and the angels this way. Genesis reads, ‘I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree’ (18:4 The Message). This implies that if Christ and the angels did wash (it is unstated) they may have done it for themselves.
When Joseph welcomed his brothers to a banquet, the steward provided water for them to wash their feet before supper was served (Genesis 43:19/24). The hospitality incident of the old man from Ephraim welcoming the travelling Levite and his concubine (Judges 19:16-21), similarly states: ‘So he took them into his house and gave the asses food; and after washing their feet they took food and drink’ (Bible in Better English).
In Christ’s directive there is an ‘above and beyond’ requirement to actively participate in the washing of another’s feet. Our annual Passover footwashing therefore has these important lessons.
We do it because Christ said to
We have the direct statements of Christ, as our Lord and Teacher, that this is what He wanted His disciples to practice. ‘If then I, the Lord and the 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’ (John 13:14 15 Modern King James Version). He is our Teacher. Will we allow Him to instruct us?
Peter’s reaction: Christ’s response
Peter exclaimed ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Christ’s answer was that if he didn’t submit to the ordinance he would have no part in Christ. I counseled a man years ago in another country, who accepted the Church’s teachings, except for footwashing. By holding stubbornly to his contrary opinion he kept himself out of the Church at that time (John 13:8).
Footwashing shows we are to help each other be clean
Washing another person’s feet reminds us that we are involved in helping others to be spiritually clean. The book of Hebrews exhorts baptized members who have been ‘washed with water’ to consider others, as well as be involved in Church fellowship (Hebrews 10:22-25).
Paul illustrates the humility of Christ by showing He gave up His divinity to become a man (Philippians 2:3-8). In that humble state He instructed His disciples to likewise ‘wash one another’s feet.’
To be Christ’s servants we must be spiritually clean
The Book of Hebrews, in contrasting Old Testament practice, says Christ’s sacrifice cleanses our conscience from dead works so we may serve the Living God (Hebrews 9:14). The apostle John wrote that on confession of sin we receive forgiveness and cleansing of unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In our annual self-reflection it helps to consider the cleansing we need through Christ’s sacrifice, the cleansing that we have received, and the cleansing we help accomplish in others.
The annual footwashing ceremony helps reinforce these lessons.
