“Why do most Christians not practice “feet washing” today, since Jesus gave this as an example, and he said that his followers ‘ought’ to do this” (Jn. 13:15)?
This is an interesting question that arises from time-to-time. Let us give consideration to it. It should be observed first of all that just because Christ gave a command to someone, at some time, during his ministry, does not mean that that same command was required of all people for all time. One must look at the nature of the command, to whom it was given, the purpose thereof (if stated), and whether or not it initially applied in a limited way, or whether it was for every person throughout history.
For example, the Lord once commanded a man, “take up your bed and walk” (Jn. 5:8). Surely it is not difficult to understand that this particular injunction was not universal in its application. To another he said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (Jn. 9:7). That requirement applied to no one but the man to whom it was given. To the apostles Jesus said, “Wait in the city [of Jerusalem], until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49). That command was for the apostles exclusively. Keep this principle in mind as we explore John 13:3ff.
In order to appreciate the situation that occurred during the Passover supper, one has to have some “background” knowledge in a couple of areas – pertaining to the customary act of feet-washing itself, and that of the events that led up to the “supper” incident.
The Act of Feet-Washing Generally
Most Bible students are aware of the fact that folks in ancient days did not wear the type of footwear that most of us in America do today. They wore sandals. Furthermore, most of the nearby travel was by walking. The combination of these factors meant that the citizens’ feet became very dirty during their journeys. It was a common act of hospitality, therefore, when a visitor came calling, to provide him with water for the washing of his feet (cf. 1 Tim. 5:10). One may recall that Christ once reproved Simon the Pharisee for not having furnished him with water for his feet, as the Savior visited in his home (Lk. 7:44).
Further, if a man was wealthy enough to have servants, he might well dispatch one of them to wash his guest’s feet. This is illustrated by a case from the time of king David. When the ruler sent messengers to a lady named Abigail, she gladly received them, and said, “Behold, let your handmaid act as a servant in washing the feet of the servants of my lord” (1 Sam. 25:41). Generally, it was the servant’s role to wash the master’s feet. Keep this thought in mind.
The Tense Supper Scene
As devoted as the Savior’s disciples were, they still had “rough edges” that needed to be eliminated, and not the least of these problems was the spirit of egotistical competition that prevailed among them. One recalls that James and John had requested of Christ that they might have places of preeminence when the Lord entered into his glory (Mk. 10:37). In fact, that very evening there was a dispute among the twelve as to who would be considered the “greatest” (Lk. 22:24). They desperately needed to learn that “greatness” is achieved in serving others; it is not a tribute merely to be bestowed arbitrarily.
It was in this setting that the Master laid aside his outer garments and girded himself with a towel, subsequently commencing to wash his disciples’ feet.
Contextual Clues
In considering the entire context of this episode, it is important that the Bible student look carefully at all of the details, so that he may draw such conclusions as the evidence warrants.
Notice first that Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples. If one is going to bind precisely this “example” as a church ordinance, as a few small religious groups have done, then the feet of everyone present will have to be cleansed. Further, everyone who washes the feet of others will need to have his own feet bathed by everyone else. If there should be a group of several hundred people, this “ceremony” would consume the better part of a day – or even longer.
That Jesus was not washing the disciples’ feet as a literal act to be required henceforth is very clear from what happened in the meantime, and how the Lord responded. When Christ came to where Peter was, the apostle asked, “Do you intend to wash my feet?” The Savior replied, “What I am about to do you don’t understand right now, but you will presently.” Get this point, please. Peter knew that Jesus was about to wash his feet (in a literal sense), but Christ says, “You do not know what I’m doing.” Obviously, it was not the act of washing feet per se that was the point; rather, it was the lesson to be conveyed. And so, in a mild rebuke, Jesus told his apostle (if we may paraphrase), “If you do not learn the lesson I am attempting to demonstrate, you will have ‘no part’ in my ministry” (v. 8).
Then, after he had finished this symbolic act, the Lord asked, “Do you know what I have done unto you?” (v. 12). Certainly they knew what he had done physically. But had they perceived the real significance of the act? They had not. But he explained the matter. “You call me Teacher, and, Lord. You are correct; that is my relationship to you. If I then, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” In what sense? Literally? No, the lesson is this. If I, your Lord, have humbled myself, assuming the role of a servant, you ought to do the same (cf. v. 16). The pathway to “greatness” is not by self-assertion; it is through service! The Son of God was demonstrating an attitude, not requiring a literal act.
The error, then, on the part of some religious people, is in not discerning the difference between what the Lord was doing literally, and the symbolic significance of the act.
The Testimony of History
It is important to note that the early church did not perceive this incident as a “binding example” of literal feet-washing for a required practice throughout Christian history. One prominent historian has observed:
“There is no indication in the New Testament, or in the Christian literature of the first three centuries, that our Lord was understood to have instituted an ordinance [feet-washing] by the acts and words under consideration [in John 13]. Feet-washing was a common and needed act of hospitality in Palestine at the time, and the teaching that Christ intended to convey was the manifestation of the spirit of brotherly love in acts of humble service. . . The earliest reference to the ceremonial use of feet-washing is in the canon of the synod of Elvira (A.D. 306) where it is condemned”.
In John 13:14-15, Jesus gives the disciples the command to wash feet. Is this something we are to follow today?
Background
I think it is important that we deal with this passage a little more seriously than sometimes we do. I think we often cast it off as something that should be cultural discarded. But that would be a mistake. Notice in 1 Timothy 5:10 that one of the requirements of widows is that they have “washed the saints’ feet.” So we may not want to cast this off so quickly. To understand what is going on, let us look at the whole context and I think we will see some important lessons that will help us answer the question. The context is John 13:1-17.
Lesson of Foot Washing
I believe that the key phrase is given for us in verse 12. Jesus says, “Do you know what I have done for you?” By Jesus saying this, he is looking for his disciples to grasp something greater. The answer to the question is not, yes you washed our feet. That would not have been the answer. There is a greater lesson that Jesus is teaching. To see the lesson that Jesus is teaching, let us look again at what happens here. Notice verses 4-6. Jesus, by laying aside his garments and putting a towel around his waist is taking on the form of the servant. He looks just like a servant and is to perform an act of service. This is why Peter says are you going to wash my feet? That was work for someone else to do, particularly not for the son of God. This was a great lesson in service and humility. Why did Jesus’ wash the disciples feet? 1) It was needed. They did not have tennis shoes walking around on pavement and concrete. Their feet would become dirty quickly. More importantly, you did not sit up at the table, where the feet were hidden, but reclined at the table, with the feet tucked back. Dirty feet was more obvious. This was also customary to be done in people’s homes. Remember in Luke 7:36-50 that Jesus is in Simon, the Pharisee’s house and the sinful woman is washing Jesus’ feet with oil and her hair. Jesus says that Simon did not even offer him a basin of water to do his own feet. Foot washing was customary and necessary in those days. 2) It was a great act of humility. What we truly see is that this really was a great act of humility. This was completely unusual for someone to wash another’s feet. It would be the work of a slave or something you did yourself. Thus we see a great act of humility and selflessness of Jesus by washing his disciples feet. In verse 15 Jesus says that he has left an example for his disciples to follow. Was Jesus leaving the example of performing an outer act of foot washing or was Jesus leaving the example of a godly characteristic of service and humility? It was not a ritual outward act that God is looking for, it is what the outward act communicates!
So why are we not washing feet? Because foot washing is not necessary like it was then and because it would not have any meaning for us like Jesus was showing to his disciples. But let us not cast this away as cultural and so we can ignore this passage. This still has meaning for us. We must perform acts of service for one another. But not simply acts of service. We must do things that we think are beneath us for people who are below us. That is the great example that still applies to us today. We must do things that we would say to ourselves that this is humiliating or that is something we would never do for someone else. Nothing is to be beneath us in our service for others. Jesus showed humility and became a servant. There is nothing culturally obsolete about that. We must do the same thing today.
There is even a deeper level and context that we take this lesson. What happens immediately after this? Judas goes out from the foot washing and from the supper and betrays Jesus (vs. 29-30). Jesus served the very person who would betray him. The lesson moves even deeper. Jesus is asking what we will be: self-serving like Judas or serving others like Jesus? We serve ourselves when we are unwilling to bring ourselves low and do anything for others. We are self-serving when we are unwilling to serve our enemies. These are the deep lessons of this text. I could wash your feet, but does not have the same act of service and godliness today.
I would then have to say that from the Biblical example set here in John that this was not a something that was bound to the side of the Lord’s Supper. No other text of the New Testament Church ever mentions that when they broke bread or partook of the Lord’s Supper did they wash feet before, during or after that event. It was a thought provoking insight to the disciples and should be to us on how we are to be humbled within ourselves, the thought of serving Christ and partaking of the emblems of His body and blood. The main challenge I have for one about the washing of feet as a religious act now is the following:
If the washing of feet is a part of us taking the Lord’s Supper today then while did Paul not tell the Corinthian Christians about it in 1 Corinthians 11. Also When Paul was preaching in Acts 20:7 on the first day of the week when they met together to break bread where is the mention that they washed feet as a required religious act? Here are two cases after the death of Christ (meaning the New Testament era) which we are now in and they were not in John 13 (Old Testament Law). The important and the things of necessity were established or reiterated by the apostles teaching, and the washing of feet never was.