In John 13 there is the account of an incident in Jesus’ ministry which only John records. This account tells of Jesus washing all His disciples’ feet, which was an act of profound humility.

 

The incident occurred when He, with the twelve, was celebrating the oldest feast observed by the Jews, older even than the giving of the Law. The disciples would partake of two feasts that evening: the first (the Passover) celebrated the fateful night in which God had commanded (through Moses) that every family among the Israelites kill a lamb, take blood from it, and put the blood on the lintels and doorposts of their homes. That night an angel of the Lord would pass through the land and in every household where there was no blood, the firstborn in that house would die. For those of Israel who followed the Lord’s instructions, the angel would “pass over” them and none would die in that household. It was a celebration of a feast of more than 1,500 years of celebration.

 

However, on that night Jesus established a new feast which was a remembrance of another Lamb (the Lamb of God) who would die and His blood save the one who had been “washed” in this blood. This would equate to being saved from eternal death, or eternal separation from God and all that is holy. For such ones, God would “pass over” their sins.

 

Between the observance of that “old” Passover and His institution of a “new” Passover, Jesus did a most remarkable thing. He took off His outer garments, filled a basin with water, and then began to wash each of His disciples’ feet. A great hush must have descended over the disciples as they perceived what their Master was doing. As Jesus approached Peter the following exchange occurred. “So, when he came to Simon Peter who said, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, what I do thou knowest not now; but thou shall understand hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith unto him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all” (John 13:6-10). To all His disciples Jesus said, “If I then, the Lord and the Master have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

 

From this incident some practice “foot washing” as an act of worship, believing Jesus ordained such a practice to be observed by His disciples. In some of the rites of Catholicism, the Pope washes the feet of his bishops, cardinals, etc. Did Jesus intend from this incident to bind a religious act upon His disciples?

 

God’s Word promised disciples of Jesus that God would provide them with “all things which pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:7) and that “every scripture, inspired by God is profitably unto doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is godliness, that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Since this is true, the Holy Scriptures surely provides an answer to the question, “Did Jesus intend that washing one another’s feet be an act of worship?”

 

When we study to learn what New Testament churches did in their worship, we learn they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Early Christians also, on the first day of the week, contributed of their finances to support the work Jesus gave His church to do (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). We also see that early Christians sang “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” in their worship, teaching and admonishing one another (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). There is, however, no command, example, or necessary inference that disciples practice “foot washing” as part of their worship.

 

Yet, while “footwashing” was never mentioned as an act of worship, “washing the saints’ feet” was one of the qualifications for widows who would be enrolled “in the number” of widows supported by the church. Paul wrote that such a woman must “be 60 years old,” that she was to be “well reported of for good works, if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, then if she hath washed the saints feet” (1 Timothy 5:9-10). During Jesus’ personal ministry, a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus into his home for a meal. A woman of ill repute lived in that city and hearing that Jesus was there, she entered the house, came to Jesus and fell down at His feet, weeping, washing His feet with her tears, and then dried them with her hair and anointed Him with ointment. Simon said nothing but thought within himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this woman is …” Jesus, according to His divine insight, knew Simon’s thoughts and spoke a parable to him of a man who had two debtors, one of whom owned him a huge debt and the other a very small one. The creditor forgave both men their debts. Jesus asked Simon which of the two would love that man the most. Simon responded that likely the man whose larger debt was forgiven. Jesus then said to Simon, “Seest thou this woman? I entered thy house and thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she has wetted my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair” (Luke 7:44). In essence the host (Simon) had not practiced “foot washing” but the sinful woman had. From the inhospitable host and “widow indeed” we learn that “foot washing” was an act of hospitality, not an act of worship.

 

When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, Peter protested and then begged the Lord to wash not only his feet, but also his hands and his head. The answer of Jesus to Peter is very significant: “He that is bathed needest not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit” (John 13:10). The disciples had assembled to celebrate the first feast commanded the nation. It was a feast of great significance and surely each of the disciples had bathed himself to participate in the feast. But wearing sandals as they did, their feet would have become dusty, thus Jesus’ words, “He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet.” The bodies of the disciples were clean but their feet were dirty. Jesus’ host had neglected to provide water for Him to wash His feet when He was a guest in his home but the “sinful woman” had shown her repentance and humility by “washing” Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:44). Widows were to provide that same comfort to those who came into their homes. For His disciples, Jesus, their Lord and Master, had humbled Himself to provide this menial act. And if He would do such, then so must they. We likely will not be called upon to literally wash the feet of another, but there are many acts of kindness and hospitality which are the equivalent of “footwashing” we can do and, following the example of our Master, must do.

 

Jim McDonald