“It was just
before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave
this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He
now showed them the full extent of His love” (John 13:1).
For the past
couple of months we have been considering the significance of understanding
cultural commandments. Cultural commands can be defined as: something
that applies to the letter of the law in one culture, yet only the
intent of the law applies in other cultures. Thus, because of cultural issues,
a person could follow the letter of the law and yet break the intent of the
law. That is sin regardless of one’s culture.
This month we
consider Jesus’ command to wash one another’s feet. Jesus clearly teaches that
we are to follow His example of washing one another’s feet just as He washed
the disciples feet (John 13:14-17). Perhaps you have attended one of the very
few churches who, as they celebrate the Lord’s Supper, wash each other’s feet.
Or perhaps you have seen a foot washing take place in a church service to serve
as an illustration (I have witnessed that a handful of times). Yet apart from
an illustration, for most Christians, the practice of foot washing is
nonexistent. But why is that the case? Are the majority of Christians blatantly
disobeying a direct command of the Lord Jesus Himself? Or is this an example of
a cultural commandment, and how would one know?
Applying the
eight question method that we have talked about for the past two months gives
us great clarity concerning this command. First, it important to note that
Jesus (who) was speaking these words to His disciples (whom too) some 2,000
years ago (when) in the land of Israel (where). During that time foot washing
was a common act that took place virtually whenever a person entered another
person’s house. People mostly traveled on foot in sandals across the dusty
roads of Judea. When entering a home, it was customary to wash one’s feet (portions
from Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible
Commentary: John). To not offer to wash a guest’s feet was considered a
breach of hospitality (see Luke 7:44). At a bare minimum, the host would
provide water for their guests to wash their own feet (Gen. 18:4).
Washing guests’ feet was a job for a household
servant to carry out when guests arrived (1 Sam. 25:41). If a person had more
than one servant, it was always performed by the one who had the lowest
position/seniority. Another clue is to see how the idea of foot washing is
conveyed elsewhere. When John the Baptist desired to give expression to his
feeling of unworthiness in comparison to Christ, he could think of no better
way to express this than to say that he deemed himself unworthy of kneeling
down in front of Jesus in order to unloose His sandal-straps and remove the
sandals (John 1:27). Thus, John the Baptist saw himself as even unworthy to be
considered the lowest servant with regard to Jesus’ greatness.
It is interesting
to note how the disciples responded to Jesus’ action of washing their feet.
Peter, as a representative of the twelve disciples was blown away by it at
first. Peter even explicitly said, “No...You shall never wash my feet” (John
13:8). Peter viewed himself as a servant of Jesus, not Jesus being his servant.
It was not until Jesus told Peter that if He did not wash Peter’s feet that
Peter would have no part with Him that Peter agreed to have his feet washed
(John 13:8).
By comparing the
timing of the event within four Gospels, another significant fact is revealed.
Just moments prior to Jesus’ washing the disciples feet they were arguing over
who was the greatest of the disciples (Luke 22:24). The Baker New Testament
Commentary said, “In the Upper Room everything was ready. There was water in
the pitcher. Yet no one stirred. Each disciple was hoping that someone else
would make the first move.” Included in that group was Judas Iscariot who would
soon betray Jesus. Jesus, the all-knowing God in the flesh understood that, even
still He chose to wash all twelve of the disciples’ feet, including those of
His betrayer.
In conclusion,
after considering the original context, the implications of Jesus’ actions was
a call to great humility and servitude on the part of His followers. And it was
a call to even serve those who hurt and betray us in unimaginable ways. Is that
what people think today about washing someone else’s feet? Does the idea of
washing another person’s feet in our 21st century American culture fulfill the
role of a lowly and humble servant seeking to put at ease another person, even
if that person is our betrayer? Hardly!!!
Typically, the
only people who have another wash their feet are those who are physically
unable to do it themselves. And I think that it is safe to say that even in
those instances it does not convey the same meaning that this command would
have had upon the disciples and others living in Israel in the 1st century A.D.
Thus, for most people in our culture, the idea of washing another’s feet,
regardless of one’s position is completely foreign. The average person does not
walk everywhere that they go down dirty, dusty roads wearing open-toed sandals.
It is for reasons
such as these that most Bible believing Christians contend that foot washing is
a cultural commandment. Additionally, there are other reasons to believe that
it is cultural. “There is never a record of it being done by any church in
Acts; (2) it is never advocated in the NT letters; and (3) it is never
specifically said to be an ongoing ordinance as are baptism (cf. Matt. 28:19)
and the Lord’s Supper (cf. 1 Cor. 11:17–34)” (Robert James Utley, The
Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III
John, vol. Volume 4, p. 120).
However, just
because there is extremely good evidence that this is in fact a cultural
command does not negate the spirit of the law. If you will recall from last
month, the spirit of the law points to the intent of the law. The intent, as we
have already seen, is a call to great humility and servitude on the part of
Christ’s followers. Furthermore, the inspired word of God calls Jesus’ act a
display of “the full extent of His love” (John 13:1). Thus, the full extent of
Jesus’ love shown in His humble service to people who are not worthy to be His
servants (which is true of every person who has ever lived). Jesus said that
the reason that He came was “to serve and give His life as a ransom for many”
(Mark 10:45).
Therefore, it is
possible for someone to fulfill the letter of the law by washing other people’s
feet yet fail to keep the intent of Jesus’ command. The application of this
command is: are you a humble servant? Are you willing to selflessly serve
others including those who have hurt you deeply? No doubt at this level it is
much more challenging to fulfill Jesus’ intent than to literally wash another
person’s feet. But that is the kind of service and humility that God calls us
as Christians to fulfill.
The following are
a few practical ways to fulfill the intent of Jesus’ command in our American
culture: Taking on a menial task or accepting a lesser role. Not insisting on
your “rights” or “privileges.” Meeting others’ needs before meeting your own.
Looking for a job no one else will do and cheerfully doing it.
And ultimately focusing on the results being
achieved, not who is getting credit (portions from Bruce B. Barton, Life
Application Bible Commentary: John). Therefore, may
we seek to follow Jesus’ example of love by being a humble servant.
In His service,
Matt
