Washing Each Other’s Feet
Based on John 13:1-17 (New King James Version)
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You are not all clean.’ So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 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. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
There are many that have misunderstood what the Lord did here, or at least, they have turned a teaching into something literal, and have completely lost sight of what it meant. What the Lord did (like everything He did) had a very deep meaning, because He was able to hit on many things (per se) with just one action. We will try to explain at least the essentials within this teaching.
The first issue is that the Lord’s example should not be taken literally, the issue of literally washing another person’s feet, as it is seen in many places. The sad thing about this is that even though there are many that have done it literally, the essence of what is taught is not practiced and that is the problem. If people’s feet were washed literally, but also, fulfilling what the Lord taught, then everything would be fine. But if contrary, then the act becomes something meaningless, and the kingdom of God is not about that. The Word of God must be “lived” in a practical, logical, and applicable way.
What the Lord was teaching through this (like in everything He did) was the order of things, that if we really love God above all things (just as He loved and obeyed His Father), then the natural consequence of that love should be manifested with other people; the real fulfillment of the Law: to love God with all of our being, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For it is written: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:10-12. So then, it should be clear; if you love God, then you will also love your neighbor, which includes service (and service has all kinds of significance and depth).
The Lord should be our example for everything. No matter how special the people that followed Him were like Paul, Peter, John, etc., our model for everything should be the Lord. And as the model, the Most High God served us by coming into the world, by taking our form (coming down to our level), by teaching us the Truth, by giving us everything we need in this world, and even giving Himself on the cross (literally) so that we could have eternal life. So then, if He did that for us, we should also do the same for our neighbor, and our neighbor is every person that surrounds us, even our enemies (because remember: each one of us used to be God’s enemy before repenting from our sins and making Him the Lord of our life).
Therefore, just as He did, we need to do as well. Washing a person’s feet was the job of the lowest servant in a house (if the house had servants). What the Lord demonstrated through this was that we should humble ourselves and do whatever we need to do for each other. There are no limits for the type of service we should render, but only in what is “needed” or necessary; not for spoiling people or being taken advantage of. That’s why when Peter told the Lord to wash him completely (exaggerating the issue), the Lord Himself told Peter that it was not “needed”.
So, what is necessary? Salvation should be first. We should share the Gospel with everyone because every human being needs God’s salvation. Second, we should help with everyday and practical needs. If a person needs a roof, take them in or help them. If they don’t have food, then feed them. If they don’t have clothes, then clothe them. If they are sick, visit them, or at the very least, pray for them. If the Lord has given you the gift of healing, then use it; or a way to help medically, then do it. If someone is sad, comfort and exhort them. And if there is a worthy situation, that you have to lay your life for your brother, then do it, because that is what God did for you. The Word of God should be learned and lived.
And finally, if the Lord has given you growth, then share [with love] what you have learned with someone that needs knowledge, so they can grow and become strong in God’s will. It is written: “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:18-20.
So then, are you willing to wash your neighbor’s feet, just as God has done for you? Lord bless! John