Scripture: John 13:1-17
When I picture the act of washing someone’s feet, it grosses me out. Baby feet, sure. Grown adult feet, I don’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Pun-intended. Jesus however, had a different take on the matter. He lovingly embraced this gesture–an act that isn’t glamorous or attractive. He chose something only someone in a seemingly lowly position would do, to send a message to those who follow him–a few messages actually. By using feet washing as an illustration, Jesus showed what disciples are supposed to be doing as a lifestyle.
SERVITUDE.
This has to be one of the most popular understandings of this account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. After walking all over town and from place to place in sandals, people’s feet would get dusty and dirty. So, before sitting down for a meal, feet-washing was customary, just like washing of the hands. Servants were the ones who normally did the feet-washing but this particular situation was different as we know.
Before the meal, Jesus reflected on the fact that he would soon be leaving his disciples behind, physically [John 13:1]. Out of love for his disciples he continued to equip them for a mission-focused life before them–Jesus prepared to wash their feet. It’s in verses 16-17 that helps us understand that Jesus is teaching his disciples about humble servanthood.
“Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:16
In other words, if Jesus can humble himself by doing something for his brother to serve him in one of the lowliest ways of servitude, so should those who follow him.
DISCIPLING.
There’s something else that Jesus teaches us about feet-washing that we should be doing–and we’ll be blessed if we do it. “Feet” means different things in the Bible like ‘a messenger of the gospel’. It’s also a symbolic meaning of the manner in which we live our lives–things we say, things we think, things we do, things we don’t do. In other words, how we ‘walk out our lives.’
Remember when Peter almost refused to get his feet washed by Jesus? He said in response, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Then Peter panicked and requested his hands and head to be washed too. But what did Jesus say?
“Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet…” John 13:10
This statement has everything to do with repentance from the wrong that is committed throughout our day-to-day journey. Jesus is showing us the importance of addressing our sin, regularly. And addressing it not only involves us individually and privately with God, but it also involves fellow believers using the spiritual water (Word of God) to cleanse us (washing our feet).
Water = Word Reference
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27
MORE ON DISCIPLING.
Washing the feet is figurative for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training” so the servants of God will be thoroughly equipped to live life righteously. [2 Timothy 3:16-17] Further to this, after Jesus died and resurrected, he appeared to Peter asking him if he loves him, and if he does, to take care of his people. Another account after Jesus died and returned to speak to his disciples was when he charged them with the Great Commission to not only make disciples, but baptize those disciples, as well as teach those disciples to obey what Jesus taught, on an on-going basis.
Before I had the conviction about having a Christian as my life accountability partner, I had a very independent mindset. I did what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it and when I wanted to do it. I didn’t want people influencing how I ran my business–my life! So what I was doing was basically putting myself in a vulnerable position where if I made bad decisions and/or slipped in sin, I’d crash and burn on my own. That’s called having an unchecked blind spot.
We all have blind spots making it necessary for every disciple to mentor another disciple–washing their feet with the Word as Jesus instructed. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you’re a servant to your siblings in Christ, responsible and expected to counsel, guide, and support them by “washing their feet” with Bible scriptures. You are your sister’s keeper.
If you’re looking for spiritual mentorship, I would be happy to connect you with a disciple of Jesus in your home state or country. Just email: yardley@riseandshinebright.com.
Love,
Yardley