“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded” (John 13:3-5).
In the hours leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus gathered with His disciples. Much of the time was spent teaching to prepare them for what was to come and how they were to carry out the work He called them to do (John 13-16). However, He also did something that likely seemed surprising, given the circumstances – He washed their feet. This was an act of humility that was designed to teach them a lesson:
“So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you’” (John 13:12-15).
When Jesus told them to “do as [He] did” and “wash one another’s feet,” did He mean that this was a practice to be passed on to every future generation in the church? Are we to “wash one another’s feet” today?
Traditionally, this practice has not been observed by our brethren, yet we occasionally hear of those who advocate for foot-washing to be done by Christians today. Some go so far as to argue that it should be something we do in the assembly of the church. They may even point out that Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during the same gathering with the disciples (Matthew 26:26-29). Therefore, they reason that if the church still observes the Lord’s Supper, we should still practice foot-washing.
Whether foot-washing ought to be done by the church today should not be determined by what has traditionally been done (or not done). Instead, we must use the New Testament to determine whether this practice was intended for us today. Let us consider a few points.
First, the apostles understood that there was a fundamental difference between the Lord’s Supper and foot-washing, even though they were done during the same gathering. We can conclude this by examining how the two practices were discussed in the New Testament.
The Lord’s Supper was practiced when the church assembled, such as what happened in Troas (Acts 20:7). Paul gave instructions to the Corinthians about how they were to practice the Lord’s Supper when they would “come together as a church” (1 Corinthians 11:18).
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Churches continue to observe the Lord’s Supper “until He comes.” They do this when they gather for worship on the first day of the week.
However, the only other time foot-washing is mentioned in the New Testament is in Paul’s discussion about widows in his first letter to Timothy:
“…having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work” (1 Timothy 5:10).
All the things Paul mentioned in that verse pertained to her work at home, showing hospitality, and helping those in need. None of them are about what happens when the church assembles. Washing feet was an act of hospitality. It was never intended to be an act that is performed in the worship assembly.
Besides that, there was a practical need for this, given the footwear and common method of transportation in the first century (walking). In the twenty-first century Western world, there is nothing hospitable about foot-washing. It is unnecessary from a practical standpoint, and would be unwelcome and even off-putting for many. Therefore, to continue the practice is to turn it into an empty religious ritual that Jesus never intended for it to be.
Instead, we should follow Jesus’ example and do what He intends for us to do. This means we are to show kindness and hospitality to others, providing them with help and comfort today. That is the point of Jesus’ lesson in washing the disciples’ feet. We should “do as [He] did” and show kindness and hospitality to our brethren in a way that is welcome and beneficial to them.
