Foot washing: beyond ritual
“Jesus said to [Peter], “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”
When Jesus washed his disciples' feet, foot washing was a normal part of everyday life. Not so today. So how do we follow Jesus' example in ways that go beyond ritual?
Jesus served. Washing feet was a way of serving people. In fact servants did the washing. Today, we can follow Christ's example by serving others in normal, everyday, practical, ways.
Jesus stooped. Jesus broke with social convention. People on the bottom rung of society washed feet—not masters, teachers, or leaders. Certainly not lords! Today, we too can do the unexpected. Elites, the powerful, and the esteemed can serve the poor, the powerless, and the unseen.
Jesus shifted. So typical of Jesus, he speaks on multiple levels. When Peter resisted the idea of Jesus washing his feet, Jesus challenged him. And Peter's response was "then not just my feet, but my head and hands too!" To this Jesus alludes to our complete, forever cleansing by his coming death. Still, walking in this world, we will pick up worldly residue. And together we must help each other recognize what's clinging to us, then help us deal with it. What an amazing picture of Christian community!
