What about foot washing?

I have a question to ask?  Is foot washing for today?  Or is it merely a custom found in the Bible, or a strange ceremony practiced by certain religious sects, but not relevant to today’s society?  And IF by chance, it IS relevant and for today, then what would it look like?

How does one wash another’s feet?

 Our text for this ‘ceremony’ or custom is found in John 13:1-15. (Jesus got up from the Passover table and washed his disciple’s feet.)

Jesus physically washed their feet, but how would we do this in today's vernacular?  And should we?

Let’s look at two other examples of foot washing found in Luke 7:37-38 and also John 12:3.

John 12:1-3  So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him. Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Luke 7:37-38  And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume). And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet [affectionately] and anointed them with the ointment (perfume).

Do we wet the feet of Jesus with our tears of gratitude, appreciation, for Who He is, let alone for what He has done for us, or do we only cry over our own trials and sorrows?  Do we ever wet his feet, weeping as He did over Jerusalem, or for the lost souls of this world?

Do we wash others feet in prayer for them, or in service to the poor and those who cannot repay us in any earthly manner?  Do we strive to make better the world around us, not for our own recognition and applause, but because it is the right thing to do, and is within our power to do so? 
 

Are we willing to forbear with those who despitefully use us, serving in love and meekness, not in railing and protestation of their poor treatment of us, because we deserve better?  Instead do we become a voice for those who have no voice and  truly become their advocate?

  

Psalm 82:3 (BBE)  Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights.

To participate in a physical foot washing is both humbling and exhilarating. It can be life changing, empowering and revelatory.  It can be an act of repentance and reconciliation between people. It is often a healing experience, bringing healing and restoration to the inner man when there have been untold hurts and wounds.

 
Whether it is an actual physical foot washing, or a spiritual one through outward acts of kindness, ect. it must be done with the right heart attitude.

Hebrews 4:12(AMP)  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Weymouth New Testament puts it this way:

…and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Sometimes, we need to be confronted with things in our lives, and in our hearts that we have not yet recognized as being there.  This is why the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, correction and reproof and training in righteousness! 2Timothy 3:16.   The Word holds up a mirror before us and begs us to look deeper than the surface of “appearances.”

When we wash another’s feet, we must be careful to check our heart attitude. Why are we doing it?  Is it for self-gratification?  To “feel” good about one’s self?  Is it so you can “show” the others how “holy” and “humble” you are?  I do not ask these questions with criticism in my heart, but as one to whom the Lord has also asked these questions of!  We must be careful that in our very acts of piety (worship to the Lord through outward service to others) that we do not put forth any airs or attitudes that would further degrade those to whom we are sent, rather than lifting them up, as Jesus always did.  Jesus never dwelt on what people currently “were,” (except for the religious leaders who thought they had it all together, and were sorely self-deluded. Which serves as a warning to all who would be leaders!)  But rather He pointed them towards what they could be, what HE saw them as being!

For example, let’s look at the account of the woman taken in adultery. 

He asked where were her accusers, after he had dealt with the hearts of those doing the accusing.  He then said, neither do I condemn you, ‘go’ (a command for a lifestyle) and sin no more.  In other words He was telling her, “you have a new lifestyle to live now and you CAN live it.”

By the way, He gave the same command to the 500 who watched Him ascend into heaven, which transfers/translates down the ages to you and me: “Go ye” ( into all the world and preach the G0spel…)[Go live out a different lifestyle, preaching the Good News in words and deeds that the Kingdom of God has come near.  In other words; that I, Jesus came and opened the way for them to have access to all that Father God intended for them to have from the very beginning! Which, is a life full of God’s goodness and intimate relationship with Him.]

  

So, the question is, “are we modeling this lifestyle that Jesus COMMANDED us to live?”  And don’t cop out and say, “but I am not perfect, so I ‘can’t’ do that!”  Jesus told us to do it, so it IS possible and we should be ‘going’ and ‘doing’ it every day! It is a journey, one that we will be on all the days of our lives.  So we have lots of time to ‘practice’ living this wonderful lifestyle He has made possible for us; a lifestyle of intimacy with Him and loving service to others, washing  people’ s feet all along the way. So, get ‘going!’

Yes, foot washing is for today!