John K. Smarth

Although foot-washing continues to be an essential ordinance in many denominational churches today, I am baffled by their literal understanding of Christ’s exemplary demonstration of love, humility, and service among believers. After witnessing a foot-washing ceremony in a particular Orthodox Church on one Sunday, I was left confused about the interpretation of Christ’s demonstration of love through foot-washing on the night he was betrayed.

Looking at what I was able to gather from reading Köstenberger’s, concerning the Jewish culture and religious practice of foot washing, it is clear that foot-washing in ancient Israel and the Palestine was an integral social norm that had been in existence since the patriarch, Abraham, offered to wash the feet of the angels invited to his tent while on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:1-4). Lot also offered the same hospitality to the men while they were in Sodom; “My Lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” (Genesis 19:4).

Due to the rough terrain of Palestine; dry wind, desert storms, and other weather elements that can pose challenges to navigate, made the feet of travelers to be constantly covered with dust. Sandals being the Jews common footwear. Therefore, it was important for one’s feet to be washed before sitting at the table to dine, made foot-washing a necesity. Köstenberger explains that “since people did not sit on separate chairs at the table, but reclined side by side by leaning back close to one another” [1] as exemplified in (Jn 13:23), it was important that the master washed the feet of his guests in the absence of a slave or servant. Though the act seemed trivial, good hospitality was predicated on it in the Jewish cultural and religious setting and its “breach was a serious affront.” [2]

Conversely, we can conclude that Christ washing the feet of his disciples was no coincidence or an insignificant act. He wanted to instruct his disciple on the differences between biblical and worldly leaderships. While worldly rulers lord over their subjects, biblical leaders are to rule from God’s perspective; serve their subjects. They are servants instead of rulers. Jesus says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Seeing what their master had done and their acquaintance with their cultural practice, baffled them. They could not understand the significance of Christ’s action until he spelled it out to them.

Jesus’ demonstration of foot-washing was to instruct his disciples and contemporary believers about loving one another. Serving the body of Christ. Being humble for the Good of the Covenant Community. Paul said it explains it much better for our understanding today, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Gal 5:13).

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1. Andreas J. Köstenberger. Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.132.

2. Ibid.

Bibliography

Köstenberger, Andreas J. Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.