“What about foot-washing (John 13:1-17)?”
The text you cite has prompted several Christian denominations to
practice foot-washing as a religious ceremonial rite. We feel the Lord was
merely teaching the apostles a lesson about humility, a lesson
they sorely needed (Lk. 9:46; 22:24).
In Bible days, feet that walked in sandals on dusty ground needed
washing when they arrived at their destination (Gen. 19:2; 24:32). This
humble task was often rendered by a servant (Gen. 18:4) or those willing to
serve as a servant (Lk. 7:38; I Tim. 5:10). Proud men would of course
refuse to wash a man’s feet (Lk. 7:44), and since this was sadly true of
the apostles, the Lord washed their feet as “an example” (John
13:15) of humility.
This word example is important. The Mona Lisa is an
example of Renaissance art, but this does not mean all Renaissance art is
characterized by portraits of women. It rather means that the Mona
Lisa has the same spirit of other works of that era. Thus the
Lord washed the apostles’ feet to exemplify how they should
treat others in the same spirit of humility. While washing a
man’s feet exemplified this spirit well in Bible days, paved walks and
leather shoes have rendered this particular example of humility obsolete.
Today, guests are shown the same humble spirit with a beverage, a meal, and
other gestures. We feel those who insist on practicing the exact
example of humility the Lord gave are emphasizing symbolism over substance.
They sometimes ask why we observe the Lord’s Supper but not foot washing,
but the former is never said to be an example of what to do. Paul
rather says, “This do” (I Cor. 11:24,25).
Finally, there is a doctrinal significance to this ceremony that renders
it exclusive to Israel. God promised Israel they’d be a kingdom of
priests (Ex. 19:6), and priests had to be washed in an initial baptism
ceremony to initiate them into the priesthood (Ex. 29:4). Later they had to
wash their hands and feet as part of their daily service (Ex. 30:19-21).
When John preached that the kingdom was “at hand” (Mt. 3:2), he meant
the kingdom in which Israel would be a kingdom of priests, so he baptized
them to initiate them into the priesthood. In John 13, the time for the
twelve to minister to the world as priests was drawing nigh, so the Lord
washed their feet so they could function as priests (cf. John 13:6-10).
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