Should we wash feet?

Jn 13:14–15 —“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

The Ordines Romani (if the twelfth and thirteenth centuries show the ceremony in use at Rome), where in fact there were two washings of feet. The Pope in person first washed the feet of twelve subdeacons at the end of the Mass of the day, and, after the repast, he and his whole court washed the feet of thirteen poor men. The latter ceremony alone survives to-day.

Some Early Practiced foot washing in conjunction with Baptism - Africa, Gaul, Germany, Ireland

3rd or 8th day following

Today many practice as a cerimony/symbol - one foot, poured water on.

>>> The question: is it a command?

The Biblical Background

Washings

Many washings in the Bible

Leppers after clean were to wash their body and clothing

Washing hands before meals - in the time of Jesus

etc

Why wash feet?

Because they are dusty and dirty

There is no religious significance given - unless that is given by Christ when He washed the disciples feet

Jesus washes the Disciples Feet

John 13:3–17 NASB95

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Observations (from His teaching)

May have been shocking to the disciples

part of Peter’s reaction

Do you know what I have done?

washed our feet, duh.

No, this they would have understood, but Jesus asked repeatedly, “Do you understand what I am doing?”

What was He doing? Leaving an example - based in, I the Master have served you

You also ought to wash oneanother’s feet (I believe this goes with the next observation

He gave an example to follow (remember this point)

an example, not of action, but of attitude and spirit

Even Judas

Others

Many times in the OT as an act of hospitality

Priest in OT washed their own hands and feet before entering the Temple

Obviously not what we are talking about here

A Widow Indeed

1 Ti 5:9–10 —A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

An act of Service and Hospitality

A Command to Follow

The command was Not Washing feet

The Scriptures

Nowhere in John 13 is it stated to follow as a rite/ritual/service

There is no other scripture teaching or giving an example to be followed

For instance - The Lord’s Supper has both teaching and example

It is given at the same time as He washed their feet

Where are the Biblical examples of Christians gathering to wash each other’s feet?

the only mention of foot wasing is concerning Widows to be put on a list to support (1 Ti 5:9–10)

where it is clearly an act of service and hospitality, not a religious event

Where it is Personal - an action of an Induvidual rather than a communal even of some type

No instruction is given concerning it’s practice

When is it to be done?

Why Maundy Thursday? Why because it coinsides with the passover? Why Not at the New Year?

Wat is it’s purpose? Who is to be involved? Where is the instruction?

Teaching concerning the Lord’s Supper has all of these

Certainty not as practiced today

Catholics - not ‘oneanother’ but those chosen specifically for the task but washing and being washed. Rather it is the Pope, and a select few Church officials washing the feet of the poor

Denominations - commonly wash just one foot, by pouring some water over - done this way since it is viewed as a ritual service

The Command; Follow my example of Humility and Service

Humility and Service

They needed to see a lesson of Greatness

Luke 22:24 NASB95

24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.

Luke 22:26 NASB95

26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

This event could not have illustrated this point any better

While we are not given any further teaching concerning Washing Feet, we are given an immense amount of teaching concerning Humility and Service

Galatians 5:13 NASB95

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 4:10 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Ephesians 4:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:5 NASB95

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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