Wash One Another's Feet

Dear Brethren,

Once each year at Passover, Christians are instructed to wash one another’s feet. Jesus Christ gave us the footwashing ceremony the night before He died. What are the spiritual lessons we are to learn from the footwashing?

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.”(John 13:14 )  Right there, Jesus established the footwashing according to His example and instructions for Christians.

But, what is the significance of the footwashing – what are we supposed to understand spiritually from this very physical activity? What are the spiritual lessons and principles the footwashing symbolizes?

We find instances of footwashings throughout the Bible. When David sent for Abigail in order to make her his wife, she washed the feet of the messengers. “Abigail arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (1 Samuel 25:41)

Too many people draw the conclusion that footwashing is a menial task that is beneath their dignity that should be shunned and avoided. Is footwashing a duty for slaves, or is it an act of hospitality and caring service?

Jesus chose footwashing as an example to teach the Godly attribute of service to one’s fellow man. God is humble, and there is no function He will not perform for our benefit. Footwashing is not a humiliating and degrading action in God’s eyes because selfless service is one of His characteristics. The Passover service footwashing is more than just a lesson in humility.

Besides recognizing that in lowliness of mind we are to willingly esteem others better than ourselves, what spiritual lessons are we able to draw from the footwashing (Philippians 2:3)?

The footwashing illustrates the self-sacrifice of laying down our lives for each other.  Jesus was laying down His life that very Passover. He said: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you… Jesus answered Peter, Will you lay down thy life for My sake?”  (John 13:15, 38)

The footwashing is also the renewal of our baptismal covenant to sin no more. It is the annual reminder of our continual need to be washed from the sins committed after baptism.  “Jesus said to Peter, He that is washed needs not to be washed, except to wash his feet, but has already become clean.” (John 13:10)

The footwashing is a reminder of our obligation to love and to forgive one another.  “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”   (John 13:34-35)

The overall theme of the footwashing is the essential truth that we must be servants to our fellow man.

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Sermon:

"Wash One Another's Feet"