The washing of feet

      John 13:14-15 reads, “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.” Does this passage command us to wash one another’s feet today?  Let’s take a closer look.

In the above text, this was the night of Christ betrayal. After supper being ended with His disciples, Christ got up and began to wash their feet. Why did He do this? Obviously, the Lord was going to teach His followers a lesson on humility and the need to put others ahead of themselves. So, yes, there are times one might literally wash the feet of a guest that has come in with dirty and weary feet.

But is this a command for all people? To show that Jesus was teaching a principle and not a literal act for all times, consider Luke 7:36-50. This is where Jesus was invited to a home and when the sinful woman came in a washed Christ’s feet with her tears, He perceived the bad attitude of the man who invited Him. Christ said these words, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for My feet, but she washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.” (vs. 44).

Now, consider what Jesus said in John 13, and here in Luke 7. Was Jesus playing the hypocrite? Why didn’t Jesus get up, ask for water and then wash the feet of the one who invited Him into his home? The fact is, it wasn’t the Lord’s place to do that. Foot washing isn’t a command. It is a custom of that day that provided an opportunity for people to show humility. The man in Luke 7, was arrogant and was selfish in his thinking.

Even though we don’t have the custom of washing the feet of our guests today, that doesn’t mean that opportunities to show humility have disappeared. On the contrary, there are many ways saints can show selflessness. One can sacrifice time, money and energy to show honor to another, as we are commanded (Rom. 12:10).    

                                                                                                                                                                                               Chuck