IMO this is much more than just a practice of "humility" as most teach.
Spiritual truth is like unto the different layers of the earth. It is all earth, sand and decaying matter on the surface, good soil beneath, layers of different rock and stone, minerals, oil, gas, water, ect., but its all earth. Ezekiel came to a river, it started out only ankle deep, then it got to the knees, then to the loins, until it was swimming water, then a river that no man could swim. Lets call it the "River of truth", how far have you ventured from the bank? How deep have you gone?
Jesus came to give life and that more abundantly.
John 13:3-17 Jesus washes the feet of the disiples. In those days IF one had shoes, they were sandals, a sole with straps to secure them to the feet. Dust, dirt, animal waste, ect. was everywhere. Mud when it rained, and dust when it was dry.
Washing the feet was the job of the lowest servants.
John 17:20+21 When one is born again from above, he is part of the body of Christ. We are His feet upon the earth! Luke 1:79, Ro.10-15, Eph. 6:15, Heb. 12:13, Matt 3:3, ect.
Water is used to represent the "word of God". Feet are connected to the means used to walk the "spiritual pathway".
Washing is the concept of cleansing from the filth, corruption, and most importantly, the removal of false teachings and concepts taught by blind leaders. The hardest aspects of groweth is the removal of false perceptions and teachings of men.
Heb. 9: 7-10 teaches that the sacrife offered once a year could not clear the conscience of the worshipper. Self condemnation brought about through actual sin, or what we are told is sin, hinders the walk with God Greatly.
Denial of our short comings doesn't bring the victory over sin that Jesus promised, having our bodies washed with pure water does. Heb. 10:16-22
The Holy Spirit within us will search the deep, dark, secret places of our being to expose and bring to light the harmful things that hinder our walk and fellowship with God. God doesn't expose to put one under condemnation,but to cleanse one from the contamination resulting from our walking in this sinful world.
The "law" in the Christian life isn't a "dead letter" from a tablet, book, ect. It is a personal word from God to the believer in his current situation. We must allow the "Spirit of the Life in Christ Jesus" to cleanse us daily.
John 8:36 Whosoever the Son sets free is free indeed. He hath cleansed us when we were born again. We don't require that cleansing again, just to have our feet washed to remove the filth and contamination from the contact with the world.
The actual act of washing the feet of the brethern isn't being condemned, rather this is intended to point to deeper waters to swim in.
Feel free to add to, or correct if needed.
In this day an age foot washing without a reason but just to show humility is just plain Hypocritical, IMO.
Humility should be an automatic response to every aspect of your life, not when you chose to show Humbleness, IMO
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
I'm feeling kind of wierd here, I agree with both of you. I see both sides and agree that humility should be in all areas of our lives, and yet I can see it being biblical as well.
John 13:14 teaches that we should wash one anothers feet. Just as the communion, "as oft as ye do eat". Both are scriptural IMO and are to be practised, but not for the sake of tradition of the keeping of an outward "show" of being a believer. Both have a very serious function and is very important in the continuing relationship with our Lord.
God gave his children "manna". The priests (Ye are a royal priesthood) were given the Shewbread. Jesus was the manna from heaven and the Bread of Life. These substained life, BUT the life was in the blood! Jesus is life and the substance for life to continue.
After they had eaten, Jesus then washed their feet, not before eating, but after they had eaten. This all took place under the time of the Law. The New Covenant was at hand, but had not been ushered in yet. Jesus spoke of that future time that they would no longer be under the Old, but under the New saying, "as oft as ye do these things". Remember the New was to be brought into being in a matter of only hours and he say, when ye do them, ye do show my death.
There is a spiritual application as many teach, as we partake of the word, (eat the bread) it shows us the "memorials" set forth in the word.
Washing of the feet, IMO is a continuation of the communion.
Those who have been washed and made clean, can and will get their feet soiled as the travel through this sinful life. There is however a high priest in the heavens who maketh atonement for us! An advocate between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Must one start all over everytime he steps in the mud? No, He is clean and only needs his feet washed.
Is this the answer or "middle ground" between the "Once saved, always saved" teaching and the "one sin and you are lost" doctrine?
You do understand than feet washing was a middle East practice due to the non existance of shoes and sandalls allowed dirt and grime on the feet, do we need to wash our feet several times a day these days ? NOT!
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
You do understand than feet washing was a middle East practice due to the non existance of shoes and sandalls allowed dirt and grime on the feet, do we need to wash our feet several times a day these days ? NOT!
KB, you knowledge of the customs are much greater than mine. Could you share some light on the eating of the passover, and Jesus choosing this time immediatey after supper? Was that an established custom that all practiced after eating the passover?
foot washing
