Is Foot Washing For Today?

In light of the recent head covering thread I thought I would bring this up because it seems they are two similar types of issues on which some Christians disagree.

In John 13 we read of our Lord washing the disciples’ feet right before His last Passover with them. Verses 13-17 are what I believe to be the main portion of that passage to be considered:

"13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 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. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

So taken at face value it would seem that our Lord is giving a clear command not only to the 12 but also to every believer throughout all ages to follow literally this example of washing one another’s feet. And we cannot say that this was part of the Old Covenant because there was no such command given in the OT Scriptures.

From what I understand the vast majority of Christians throughout history have seen this as a cultural issue because in those days and in that culture people wore sandals and it was very common for people to wash others' feet after a day’s walking journey. Other groups have taken this passage very literally and apply it literally in their gatherings. So who’s right? I’d respectfully side with the first line of reasoning just mentioned as the correct interpretation, and would say that today we are to obey the spirit of that example and we are not commanded to literally wash each other’s feet.

There have been a couple of instances in the assembly in which someone who was teaching actually washed my feet.

Those were very memorable times. It is symbolic, but very meaningful. It isn't just tradition for traditions sake. I learned a lot from it.

We are not commanded to wash the feet of one another, however I grew up with an occasional foot-washing service. It did not happen often and as I look back on it, I am sure there was a real prompting of the Holy Spirit to do so as these were times of great humility, repentance to one another, and brokenness before God. I remember them as glorious times when the Holy Spirit really did a deep work in the hearts of all of us.

I think when Jesus said "you ought to wash one another's feet" he was using this statement as a way of stating they should be willing to lower themselves to serve each other. Jesus washed the disciples feet because the roads were dusty and their feet were dirty.

I heard the story about how Eric Liddell (chariots of fire) when he was imprisoned in China used to mop out the overflowing latrines on a regular basis. In so doing he was "washing the feet" of the brethren.

When a church has a foot washing ceremony peoples feet are probably the cleanest they will ever be... At least mine would be. So it really isn't needed and is only symbolic.

I think Jesus means for us to do real acts of humble service that are really needed. It might be visiting an elderly person with some fresh picked blueberries or washing someone's car or dog.

It might mean washing their feet if it is needed.

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TMK writes:

I think when Jesus said "you ought to wash one another's feet" he was using this statement as a way of stating they should be willing to lower themselves to serve each other. Jesus washed the disciples feet because the roads were dusty and their feet were dirty.

I heard the story about how Eric Liddell (chariots of fire) when he was imprisoned in China used to mop out the overflowing latrines on a regular basis. In so doing he was "washing the feet" of the brethren.

When a church has a foot washing ceremony peoples feet are probably the cleanest they will ever be... At least mine would be. So it really isn't needed and is only symbolic.

I think Jesus means for us to do real acts of humble service that are really needed. It might be visiting an elderly person with some fresh picked blueberries or washing someone's car or dog.

It might mean washing their feet if it is needed.

Brothers,

at this point we need to be really careful.

Everything that was commanded of us is not just inwardly applied.

Should we just merely remember the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus, but never take the Lord's supper?

Should we just merely acknowledge our salvation, but never get baptized?

*********************

God does indeed look at the heart; however, let us not love in word only. "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Hello havok-

I am in agreement we must be careful. Jesus did not tell the disciples to wash each other's feet in remembrance of Him. I think in the context of the passage it seems clear that Jesus was exhorting his disciples to humbly serve one another.

In other words, when the disciples heard Jesus's statement about washing each others feet, I am sure they understood that what he was saying that yes, they should wash each others feet if needed but that they should be willing to humble themselves and be a servant in ALL cases. Jesus stressed this throughout his time with his disciples and it was punctuated and perfectly illustrated when he took up the towel.

In our day and age of daily showers and shoes the necessity of feet washing just isn't there. Back then the lowliest servant in the house got the job of washing guest's feet when they came into the house. There was a practical reason- namely dirty and dusty feet. When guest reclined at a table as was the custom, one person's feet would be near another person's head. Thus the practical and appreciated requirement for feet washing.

As another example, my dad used to tell me to "keep my nose clean." He didn't mean for me to literally keep my nose clean, although it might need it- what he meant was to stay out of trouble.

I think Jesus's statement to the disciples was exactly like this. "You ought to wash one another's feet" was a vivid way of saying "be your brother's humble servant."

Now, once again, I have no problem with churches that have foot washing services. My mom grew up in a Brethren church and they did this when they had communion. But she said you better believe that everyone's feet who were there were in pretty stellar condition prior to the washing.

Put it this way- I would be more blessed to be surprised by a spontaneous humble act of service from a brother than to have my feet washed in a ceremony.

I recall a prayer time that a group of us used to attend early on Saturday mornings. The times of prayer were powerful. One morning we got there and the brother who led the group was standing outside the room. We saw the room inside was lit by candle light and there were simple place settings at the tables inside. As we entered, all the brother said to each of us was "There is a place prepared for you." I am telling you I melted. We went in and had a simple communion service together and it was one of the most spiritually impactful experiences of my life. That is because it was a SPONTANEOUS act of service on the part of that dear brother.

havok20x writes

Brothers,

at this point we need to be really careful.

Everything that was commanded of us is not just inwardly applied.

Should we just merely remember the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus, but never take the Lord's supper?

Should we just merely acknowledge our salvation, but never get baptized?

*********************

God does indeed look at the heart; however, let us not love in word only. "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

I believe a key difference is that concerning the Lord's Supper and believer's baptism, there is ample scriptural evidence and authoritative teaching that supports the continual practice of those two ordinances.

In answer to your question,May I offer something for your consideration ?

As we look at many of the things that Jesus did while He was teaching,..
taking them into consideration,and the meaning that it represents / reflects for our day (and after His resurrection),both naturally for that day and Spiritual reflections.

How He :
Healed:
*The blinded eyes,/ wants to give us eyes to see,.. Spiritually.
*The lame/. ..our walk
* deaf / ears to hear,....through the Spirit
* Dead / Death.../ Life. Lazarus died,was bound from head to toe,..isn't that the way we were?

Jesus said,'these things shall ye do ( healing) ,and greater than these
Shell ye do...I believe He was talking about, ' Through the foolishness
of preaching ' the gospel of the kingdom of God many would be healed
Spiritually.

I have said all of that to say this,the washing of the feet that Jesus
demonstrated, to me it not only was showing us to humble ourselves ,but that our walk matters,...and reminding each other that we must walk with
clean feet ( Spiritually )

Just wondering....
Was Paul really washing Peters feet when he ask him the question on
his hypocrisy ?

Thoughts,
elizabeth

This is not new to SI, whenever there is a thread on Head covering someone will question foot washing. I believe in head covering as a God ordained symbol. But I do not believe Foot washing is literal command. I believe in the command.

So taken at face value it would seem that our Lord is giving a clear command not only to the 12 but also to every believer throughout all ages to follow literally this example of washing one another’s feet. And we cannot say that this was part of the Old Covenant because there was no such command given in the OT Scriptures.

In verse 12 Jesus himself said clearly that he is only giving an example. At that moment Jesus gave an example by doing a service that was much NEEDED for the disciples. He did not restrain from serving because he was a teacher, but wanted to set an example that in Church each one should have this attitude to serve. In the Church that I attend no one is paid to serve, we do more in a Sunday service than most Churches, we serve lunch as well which is completely cooked by the brothers. No one is paid, not even the elders who Sheppard us. Each of us serve one another.

There are brothers who take up the responsibility of Toilet cleaning in Church. Surely cleaning the toilet is much lower service than washing feet. We do not reject this ritual that Jesus did to his disciple because it is lowly or will look odd (unlike head covering which is rejected by most women because it looks odd). We do not do it because we do things that are more practical and much more needed in the Church.

I do not find any use in washing feet in an American Church in which everyone wears a shoe with socks. No one is benefited from this service. It is a service done just for name sake and hence a dead work. Jesus did not teach us to do a dead work, he came to cleanse us from dead work.

I do not believe that foot washing is an ordinance but you can't use it as a vehicle in which to tote the rejection of other commands.

It is abundantly clear from the text that it is an example or type, not a commandment.

Thank you Neal, that testimony was very edifying for me.

Sree wrote:
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Jesus did not teach us to do a dead work, he came to cleanse us from dead work.
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Sree, I appreciate your many posts and your insights but I would like to ask you a question: based on your quote, you would have to include baptism in this 'dead work', right? Baptism is purely a ritual, nothing more, nothing less BUT commanded by the LORD Jesus to do. When such is the case, it has meaning beyond our scope of comprehension...except maybe it is our modern day equivalent of eating from the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil': you either do it and sin or refuse and obey God - a test of our obedience.

What do ya think?

sermonindex writes:

Just also to mention there are 4 scripture passages that speak of a "holy kiss"

Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; and 1 Thessalonians 5:26.

Kiss Greek: philēma
the kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith

In the culture one would kiss the cheek. In our culture we would embrace in a hug which in my mind would accomplish the same affection of love toward the saint.

This is not an ordinance setup by our Lord but rather a practice that saints just as they also called each other brother and sister.

Brothers,

How then do you go about determining which ones should not be followed?