Foot Washing

Foot washing is an interesting concept to me and one I’m not sure I completely “get.” Some people are moved to tears as they perform this act for another, but, personally, I’m not sure what’s so special about it. Perhaps I am not looking at this act in the correct way or with the right mindset…

Foot washing was one of the last things Jesus did before he died. After the Last Supper was eaten, he got up, removed all his clothing and replaced it with just a towel, and took a bowl of water. He washed all his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing.

Peter’s attitude was initially a lot like mine; Don’t wash my feet! In response to Jesus’ “If I don’t wash them, you have no part of me.” Peter requested that not only his feet, but also his hands and head be included. As he finished, he told his disciples that he had given them an example of what they should do.

I think some believe this mandate applies to the actual act of foot washing. It is true, Jesus did tell the disciples that if he, the Son of God, had washed their feet, they should not hesitate to wash each others in like manner… the manner of a servant.

It seems to me that his point was to serve each other, especially those who are higher up. We are not to be separated by the ranks of prestige or power, but are to look to stoop as low as we can in service to each other, no matter how menial the service.

Jesus said, “I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them.”

While I see no problem with foot washing, I do have a caution about placing it in such high estimation. It seems to me Jesus used the example, not the mandate, of foot washing to convey how we are to humble and submit ourselves one to another; the greatest of all serving the least of all.

Again, I could be wrong… maybe I just haven’t hit the right spot in my relationship with God for this to mean as much to me as it does to others. I’m not against foot washing, just cautious at making it such a big deal.

Give Place without Hope of Recompense

“When thou are bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;”

With these words, Jesus began his parable that outlined appropriate humility and echoed the Proverbs motif of humbleness and lack of pride. In this parable, the reason for not assuming you were the most important person invited to the wedding was because the possibility existed that the one who invited you might have invited someone whose rank and importance was higher than yours.

Instead of being kicked out of your self-claimed seat of honor when one of a higher rank appeared, you would avoid that shame by claiming first the lowest room. By claiming the lowest position, the one who invited you would be able to call you up and you would be exalted in the presence of everyone who was there.

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Imagine yourself in the position of the man in this parable and live through the utter shame and embarrassment of being removed from a self-claimed seat of importance. Equally, imagine yourself having elected to seat yourself in a less-important seat and the jubilation and honor that would accompany being called up to a higher level.

There is nothing to be lost by being humble, but there is much to be lost in being humbled.

Following the story of the wedding, Jesus gave instructions as to what kind of feasts to give. Not feasts for relatives or friends, but feasts for the homeless, the poor, the crippled, the blind. Why? Because there exists a very real possibility that your relatives and friends, after being feasted by you, would return the favor by inviting you to their own feasts. A homeless or poor or crippled person can never return this favor to you. They will not be able to repay your kindness and there is no hope of reward for you in giving them a feast.

But this is how Jesus said we are to view others… and it comes with it’s own reward.

“And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”