AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU
[52]
JESUS WASHES HIS DISCIPLES FEET
Read John 13:1–17
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and--poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet… John 13:3-5 NKJV
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Jesus knew exactly who He was, where He had come from, and where He was going. In view of His coming crucifixion, how amazing that He does such a loving, comforting act in washing his disciple's feet. Peter, also knowing who Christ was said, "Lord, are You washing my feet? You shall never wash my feet!" (13:8a) But Jesus told him that if he did not allow his feet to be washed he would have no part with Him.
Peter said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" (13:9) With a poignant symbolism, Jesus told him he only needed his feet washed, because the rest of him was already clean, forgiven and eternally secure. Only Judas did not qualify as being so cleansed.
Peter said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" (13:9) With a poignant symbolism, Jesus told him he only needed his feet washed, because the rest of him was already clean, forgiven and eternally secure. Only Judas did not qualify as being so cleansed.
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Lord, I am so thankful for the daily cleansing You offer as I confess my sins and You are faithful to forgive them. Help me to follow this example of humility toward others, especially my own family.
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If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. John 13:14-15 NKJV
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Comments
This is funny......I don't mean that in a bad way about what you wrote.....I mean that my mother & I recently had this conversation about how some churches have "foot washings"........& how that in a church I use to belong to in another state, a lady was going from house to house of members and "washing feet" as an act of servitude........I remember telling my Pastor's wife that she better not come to my house and want to wash my feet (smile). (I have very, very sensitive feet, smile). No, no, no, I don't have anything at all against this.....just that I can't stand for anyone to touch my feet but me.
I have never been in a church that practiced this as an ordinance, but my mother grew up in a Brethren church that practiced it along with communion.
I don't think Jesus was talking about a church ordinance, but was teaching them a more important lesson in humility, and also of the need for Christians to confess our sins, in order to stay in followship with Him and with others.
I think this is a great lesson in the security of the believer as they were all "clean" (except Judas who was not saved) but needed to have their spiritual feet washed.
I suppose there are a multitude of ways to show humility without actually washing feet. But having said that, I love getting a pedicure! :)
The church I mentioned.....I don't know that it was an ordinance but the way the woman explained it to me......the men went into the little room on one side of the baptistery and the women went in the room on the other side and I believe she said they would start out singing some songs and who ever wanted to participate and either do the foot washing or have their feet washed could......if you didn't want to, you didn't have to. I really don't know of any church that practices this as an ordinance of the church. I really don't believe that was what Jesus was teaching here.