Foot Washing - John 13:1-17

   In John 13:1-17, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet.  Foot washing in Judea at that time was a common practice.  Yet why was Peter so insistent at first that Jesus should never wash his feet?  The answer is that though foot washing was a common practice in Judea, the practice involved the work being done by a servant.  Thus the foot washing by Jesus was radical because Jesus was taking the position of a servant.  Peter rightly identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God in Matthew 16:16.  Peter realized Jesus was the Messiah who should have been served by everyone else.  And Jesus exclaimed, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am” (John 13:13 NIV).  Yet Jesus humbled Himself to a low position of servitude.
   I advocate Jesus was not teaching we Christians are supposed to go around washing the feet of our fellow Christians consistently, and I do not think He was establishing a "church" ordinance.  Rather when Jesus taught that disciples should wash one another’s feet, He gave a metaphor showing Christians are supposed to serve one another in a variety of ways and according to our gifts.  I say this due to the context of the passage.  For example, during this act Jesus tells Peter, "...Unless I wash you, you have no part with me" (John 13:8 NIV).  I think this was a metaphor for Jesus cleansing people of sins, rather than Jesus setting a regulation that any apostle who did not get his feet washed that night was banished from discipleship.  Also, there was the metaphor given by Jesus regarding Judas.
   However the statement by Jesus, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet…” (John 13:14 NIV) could be taken literally since instead He could have said something to the effect of “now that I have served you, you should serve others.”  So I understand and respect why some Christians advocate washing feet as an ordinance.  For example, my Brethren and Mennonite brothers and sisters-in-Christ have carried out a rich foot washing commitment since the Reformation period.  Also foot washing has been practice throughout Christian history.  Today a number of Christians who do not consider it an ordinance within many denominations where it is not deemed an ordinance still carry out the washing of feet on occasion.  They are even done in some youth groups meetings within various denominations.
   I advocate Jesus was teaching we are supposed to express our true love in serving.  John states, “…Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (John 13:1 NIV).  My interpretation here is that this statement is referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, of which a series of events begin at this point.  As Jesus taught, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIV).  Still this foot washing act done there on the night of the betrayal of Christ was an act of love.
   So followers of Jesus should be serving.  I do not think our manner of service is key, rather the key is we serve.  I have been worshiping in churches for twenty-five years, and I have seen many people serve in many ways, and I have likewise served in a variety of manners at a variety of times.  Yet I think remembering this specific act of service by Jesus is a good thing.
   For a season in 2013 to 2014, I taught Bible and History at a small Christian school in a rural area in Appalachia.  I loved teaching, and I gave my all to be the best teacher I could be.  One week when we reached this passage, I decided I wanted to offer a foot washing for my students, something I had never done before.  I thought it would be a great "visual" lesson.  I brought to class plastic jugs of distilled water and a towel, and I got a school trash can to act as the basin to catch the water I poured directly onto their feet.  Normally I had students read the passages we learned about, but on that occasion I started class by reading the passage.  I then gave a few comments, and then I announced to the class I was offering to wash any of their feet.  They were excited.  Of course it was voluntary.  Some really wanted their feet washed, some did so but were hesitant, and some had no intention of taking their shoes off.  As I started washing the feet of the first student, I realized something special was taking place.  Washing the feet of all of the students who wanted to participate, one by one I felt the love of Jesus as I did the task.  And after that class was over, I felt as though that lesson was my best “teaching” of the year; even after all of the eloquent and intelligent things I said for months.  :)
   Though I loved teaching at that school it was a tough season for me.  Moving 1350 miles was hard on me.  Being single and being in such a rural area, I sometimes felt lonely.  And worse of all, being an outsider I sometimes felt like I could not be myself.  Yet I had such fulfillment and emotion walking back to my dorm room after teaching that day.  I even thought to myself, “How many teachers in all of America had the blessed opportunity to wash the feet of their students today.”  I had served my students in a unique way.  I normally felt fulfilled after teaching those students day by day, yet I think I only had fulfillment on par with that day three other times, all after I gave the sermons for the school chapel services.  This sound corny, but I felt honored to be able to do a foot washing.  I love those students, and I felt like God gave me that unique opportunity to express my love.  Praise be to Jesus.
Hunter