Washing Feet

Before eating a Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus took a towel and basin of water to wash their feet.  When he finished, he said to them, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (Jn 13:15).  This is, in point of fact, the only thing Jesus ever said was an example we are to follow.

Interestingly, it is not generally among those things most Christians do today as following a biblical example.  While we talk about the need to follow the biblical examples of attending worship services, taking communion, giving contributions and such,  we feel quite free to pass on the one thing that was actually set forth as "an example tht you should do."

Why is that?  Why do we simply ignore this very specific imperative of following the example of washing feet?  Is it because we find touching other people's feet icky?  Is it because we find touching other's feet a little too intimate?  I think both of those reason weigh in on our reluctance to even consider feet washing as an ongoing part of our Christian witness.

But the real reason it is passed on, by and large, is that we know feet washing was a cultural phenomenon that has little relevance in the modern Western churches.  We simply don't trudge around in dirty, dusty places with sandaled feet and then show up to a church gathering or a common meal with dirty, smelly feet.

In response to, “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (Jn 13:9), Jesus said that the rest of their body was clean, only the feet needed washing.  The cultural relevance is clearly implicated in those words.  The need of foot washing really doesn't take exist today.  The opting out seems legit, don't you think?

Yes and no.  Washing feet that don't need washing generally has little place in today's church.  Although, it can be a very moving experience.  However, the example that must not be left out is the example of servant hood Jesus gave:  Read verses 13 - 17 of our passage, where Jesus points out the servant hood factor and concludes, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

The ritual is not the example, it is the relational posturing of serving one another freely, regardless of one's place in the church or in society.  The example that we should follow is in seeking to serve rather than being served.  Jus' Say'n.