Foot Washing - Forgiveness

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. [John 13.12-17]

After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus very clearly, told them to wash each other's feet. 

If Jesus directly said, "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you", wouldn't it make sense that we follow His instruction?

'Dirty feet' was a common condition in this period and place of history when humans wore only sandals or no shoes at all. It was a normal practice for feet to be washed because they definitely needed it. It would not have been a pleasant job.

I can imagine most people just washed their own feet. However, it is no stretch of the imagination to think household servants did a great deal of the foot washing. It was, after all, a dirty job and dirty jobs were usually the responsibility of servants.

And yet, the Messiah humbled Himself and washed His disciples' feet. The Master washed His slaves' feet. The Son of God washed sinful men's feet. His message was clear: "If I the Master washed your feet, then you the slaves should wash each other's feet."

Fast forward to today. What does this look like now?

I suppose we could find another similar circumstance... a need. Perhaps today washing someone's car would be as appropriate as washing their feet then. But does our Lord require us to be contemporary? Was foot washing meant to be practical? No, it was meant to make a point. It was meant to display humility. It was meant to remind us of Jesus laying aside any idea of social or spiritual hierarchy and placing the needs of other's above our own. It was as pure a picture of forgiveness as one could ever imagine.

And, since our being forgiven is contingent upon our giving forgiveness, Jesus instructed us to humble ourselves in open display by washing each other's feet.

Today, foot washing is largely seen as "weird" among Christians.

What a tragedy!

Father, help me to forget about all my "spiritualizing" foot washing into something other than Jesus instructed. Forgive me for disobeying.