We will use one of the most famous stories on the subject as an example:
John 13:1-12
Jesus washes his disciples feet.
Now Jesus, who at this time was an acknowledged prophet, humbled himself and did the work of a servant, anointing the feet of his followers. Although I have never been to Isreal or Judea, I have been to the desert of the middle east and let me tell you something; it is hot. I never went a day without sweating, my feet most especially. There is dirt everywhere, picture a field covered in light fluffy snow and now imagine that snow is dirt and sand. Commonly referred to as "moondust" this dirt gets into everything. For me, it was my eyes, mouth, fingertips, nose, boots, because even though I wore boots this "moondust" made it into them, and if I wanted to keep my feet healthy I would have to clean them with baby wipes every night and put lotion on them because they would dry out so bad they would start cracking, and that was with boots on. There was also the garbage, where I was there is certainly no public works department and trash collectors, so the garbage was scattered anywhere and everywhere. On top of all this, there was also no sewage system, so as you can imagine, there were a few times that I found myself searching someones bathroom, but not knowing it until it was too late. I traveled around in boots and I am happy for that. In the days of Jesus, the wealthy had sandals, but most of the general population most likely spent their everyday lives barefoot, having to work and live with their feet in this environment. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of why it was such a big deal to have your feet washed or indeed do the washing. I believe this was an incredibly humbling experience, to wash someones feet. Jesus knew the importance and representation of what he was doing and at the end of the passage, Jesus asks his disciples "Do you understand what I have done for you?" I believe that with his actions, Jesus was saying, As I have just made myself the lowest among you and washed all the dirt, garbage, and stench from your feet, I will indeed go ahead of you and wash you of all your sin. As we know, Jesus taught in parables and metaphors and I think this scenario was no different. In this way, he used the tangible (dirt and mud) as an example for the intangible (sin).
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Now Jesus, who at this time was an acknowledged prophet, humbled himself and did the work of a servant, anointing the feet of his followers. Although I have never been to Isreal or Judea, I have been to the desert of the middle east and let me tell you something; it is hot. I never went a day without sweating, my feet most especially. There is dirt everywhere, picture a field covered in light fluffy snow and now imagine that snow is dirt and sand. Commonly referred to as "moondust" this dirt gets into everything. For me, it was my eyes, mouth, fingertips, nose, boots, because even though I wore boots this "moondust" made it into them, and if I wanted to keep my feet healthy I would have to clean them with baby wipes every night and put lotion on them because they would dry out so bad they would start cracking, and that was with boots on. There was also the garbage, where I was there is certainly no public works department and trash collectors, so the garbage was scattered anywhere and everywhere. On top of all this, there was also no sewage system, so as you can imagine, there were a few times that I found myself searching someones bathroom, but not knowing it until it was too late. I traveled around in boots and I am happy for that. In the days of Jesus, the wealthy had sandals, but most of the general population most likely spent their everyday lives barefoot, having to work and live with their feet in this environment. Hopefully this gives you a better idea of why it was such a big deal to have your feet washed or indeed do the washing. I believe this was an incredibly humbling experience, to wash someones feet. Jesus knew the importance and representation of what he was doing and at the end of the passage, Jesus asks his disciples "Do you understand what I have done for you?" I believe that with his actions, Jesus was saying, As I have just made myself the lowest among you and washed all the dirt, garbage, and stench from your feet, I will indeed go ahead of you and wash you of all your sin. As we know, Jesus taught in parables and metaphors and I think this scenario was no different. In this way, he used the tangible (dirt and mud) as an example for the intangible (sin).
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