Does this characterize us as Christians, today? Would “foot washers” describe us, as Christians? Or is it a totally alien description of the modern Christian? Something so removed from the reality of how we live our lives?
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was seated again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord: and you say rightly; for so I am. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. John 13:12-17
Jesus doesn’t mean for us to perform a public stunt, and take a bowl and start washing feet in front of everyone. Jesus wasn’t performing a stunt. Their feet were dirty. Sandals are not as efficient as shoes and socks at keeping feet clean. There was no running water, also. This made water precious. There was no tap they could go over to and quickly wash off their feet. It was much more practical to have one bowl of water and someone go around and get the job done at one time.
So, washing feet today means truly serving our brethren, and serving in subservient ways : that is, without a stunt or a public show (which would disqualify us from any eternal reward). It means that we are ready and willing to help in the basest tasks and at the most inconvenient times : on call, as a servant.
Ian Vincent 
September 25, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Washing feet?
Let’s pray. Let’s wash one another’s feet in prayer, first.
Sometimes we are “called” to labor in prayer for someone. But we refuse to wash their feet that way. Washing feet is unglorious, and the short-sighted Christian may also think that private prayer is unglorious.
September 26, 2010 at 12:04 am
What an irreplaceable lesson for these Apostles to be!
What would they have been like without this lesson?
It’s a shame that christendom replaced this lesson with something else.
If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.
I think a lot of believers are not happy bcos they don’t wash feet.
September 26, 2010 at 9:29 am
Recently i came into contact with a guy who practices literal foot washng in meetings. I said to him, in essence, If people’s feet are not dirty then you are not serving them by washing them. The disciples feet WERE dirty, so Jesus really was serving them, by doing something that needed to be done, and should have been done.
So, if you are not serving them by washing their feet, why do it? He said he was spiritually serving them by doing it, but couldn’t explain just how they were spiritually served.
Then i pointed out to him that he/they only do the foot washing publicly, when there is a group to witness it. They would never visit someone and wash their feet in private. This indicates that the reason they are doing it is to be SEEN doing it. And Jesus said that if we do anything to be seen, then we have no reward from our Father in heaven.