Chapter 10.5
Foot Washing
Is it a sacrament like Baptism and Communion?
The Custom – The Significance of the foot
First
Word
The practice of foot washing is found in the customs and
hospitality of ancient civilizations especially where sandals were the chief
footwear. A host would provide water for
his guests to pour over their feet into a copper basin, rubbing the feet with
his hands and wiping it with a napkin cloth. Sometimes they would have a
servant[1]
provide the hospitality for the guests and on occasion the host would do the
honors himself. Genesis, the first book
of the Bible has many references to the custom.[2]
Significance of the Foot
The
foot,
because it comes in contact with the ground is considered less honorable than
the hand or head; it is the lowest member of the body. To humiliate the enemy the foot would be
placed on his neck or head to indicate victory.[3]
Shaking the dust off your feet is the rejection
of inhospitality; a gesture of scorn, that to take so much as dust from a place
implied a bond with those that had rejected you.[4]
Homage is paid by falling at
the feet of someone.[5]
Offerings would be laid at someone’s feet.[6]
A student would sit at the feet
of the Teacher or Master.[7]
Love is shown by washing, anointing
and kissing the feet.[8]
When Jesus returns, God will place all things under
His feet which is an expression of His absolute dominion.[9]
The Custom
People
traveling the dusty roads of
Palestine needed to wash their feet for comfort and cleanliness; this was
usually performed by the lowliest servant in the household. If the host had no servants, he would usually
wash the guest feet himself to show hospitality. This
was to remind himself that he too one day might be a weary traveler looking for
shelter and rest.
The washing of feet made the guest feel at home and
welcome; the anointing of the feet with oil was for cleansing, the same as we
use soap. Jesus commented on the
lack of hospitality that occurred in a Pharisee’s home concerning the custom of foot washing. You offered me no water to wash my feet.[10]
Anointed feet
Moses instituted a ritual
washing of feet for the Priest when they entered the Temple.[11] As part of their customs, sometimes an
honored person would wash the feet of others as a sign of humility. This occurred when Mary and Martha were in
gratitude for Jesus honoring them with the raising of their brother Lazarus
from the dead.
Mary washed or anointed the
feet of Jesus with perfume and wiped it with her hair.[12] Jesus said this was a shadow of what was to
come concerning his death, embalming and burial.[13]
Early Church Jesus set the example
It
was just before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus washed the feet of
His Disciples and told them that this was an example of what they should do; to
have the heart of a servant and wash others feet in humility, to love one
another.[14]
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, scripture indicates
that the early Church practiced the example of humility with foot washing as commanded by Christ.[15]
The Catholic Church continued the practice
of foot washing by the Pope with (approximately) twelve deacons
where he pours water over their feet and dried them with a towel. During this service, the account of Jesus’
interaction with the Twelve Disciples is read from the book of John; especially
the dialog between Jesus and Peter.[16]
Today
Foot washing is most often experienced at the
ordination services of those who are being ordained for the ministry and also
in connection with the Maundy Thursday services. Maundy Thursday is the fifth day of the
Holy week that comes before Easter Sunday (resurrection day) and the day before “Good Friday” which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ
and his death on the
cross.
Maundy is from the Latin mandatum, (MANDATE) the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos." These are the words of Jesus; "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have
loved you".[17]
Foot washing is observed by numerous Protestant groups, including Southern Baptists, Anabaptists,
Pentecostal and many Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Seventh-day Adventist
churches.
(Anabaptist who were later referred to as Baptist,
were against the Catholics position on infant baptism for the forgiveness of
sin; salvation.)
Some
denominations act out or perform the roles of Christ and Peter with the dialog
passed back and forth as Peter tells the Lord to not wash his feet and Jesus
responds that if He does not, that he (Peter) will have no share with Him
Other denominations have "OPEN" Communion where
all believers, not just members or pastors in attendance; are invited to share
in the washing of feet with one another: men with men, women with women, and
frequently, Husband with wife and vice versa.
Is Foot Washing an
Ordinance like Baptism? –There are three qualification for something to be deemed
an ordinance or sacrament.
1)
Was it instituted by Christ?
2)
Is it universal for all believers?
3)
Is it a permanent application?
There are arguments both ways; a Church
may participate in this without it being an ordinance or sacrament, however the
remaining fact is, that those who participate in this action are blessed and
are deeply touched by its significance; I certainly was.
The Take Away
While Humility is central and
certainly important in the sacrament of foot washing, the lesson brought home
is the SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE of the water
baptism of the lowly feet which washes away the dust.
It is
the SYMBOLIC cleansing of the believer from the
defilement of his present SIN, (which is partial and temporary) just as
Baptism of the Believer symbolizes the cleansing from all GUILT (complete
and permanent).
[2] Genesis 18:4 – Bring some water; wash your feet and rest yourselves -- Genesis 19:2 - Wash your feet, spend the
night, rise up early and go -- Genesis
24:31-32 – He fed their camels and gave water to wash
the feet -- Genesis 43:24 – Fed their donkeys and gave water to wash their feet
[3] Joshua 10:24 – Put your feet on the neck of the enemy
[4] Matthew 10:14 – Shake the dust off your feet
[5] Mark 5:22-23 – Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus
[6] Acts 4:34-35 – Laid their offerings at the
Apostles feet
[7] Luke 10:39 – Mary sat at the Lord’s feet
[8] Luke 7:38 - Love is shown by washing, anointing,
kissing the feet
[9] 1 Corinthians 15:27 - God has put all
things under his feet
[10] Luke 7:44-46 – The Pharisee lacked hospitality; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet
with her tears
[11] Exodus 30:18-19 – The Levite priest wash their own feet
[12] John 12:2-3 - Mary washed the feet of Jesus
and wiped them with her hair
[13] John 12:6-7 – The anointing of
Jesus feet was a shadow of the His death and burial
[14] John 13:1-15 – Jesus set the example of foot
washing when He washed His disciple’s feet
[15] 1 Timothy 5:9-10 – Early Church practice was to wash the feet of the
Believers
[16] John 13:15 – Jesus said; I have given you an example of humility -- John
13:7-9 – Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my
feet only but also my hands and my head
[17] John 13:34 –A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another
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