In the Gospel of John, at the Last Supper, Jesus did something different from what the other Gospels told. He washed the disciples' feet. But what did washing their feet mean? Aside from the obvious meaning that he who washes others' feet is a servant, and so, to imitate the Master, we should all be servants of each other, there seems to be another layer of significance. Peter did not want his Master to wash his feet, to take a subservient position as one of lesser status. But Jesus said that if He didn't wash his feet, he would have no part in the Kingdom. What does it mean to wash your feet?
The obvious meaning is to remove the dust of the road and the sweat of travel, allowing one to rest from the day's efforts. Leave your troubles of work and worry at the door, so you can prepare and enjoy your supper. So, is there a spiritual parallel to this mundane aspect? The early church practiced this on a regular basis. It must have meant something to them.
The Jews regularly washed their hands before each meal, to remove any incidental uncleanness. But this didn't necessarily mean to remove ordinary dirt, or simply pouring water over the hands would have been a poor method of cleansing. To remove dirt and grime, you have to scrub with soap. This had a ritual meaning. It seems likely that foot washing would have had a similar kind of meaning.
There is a not-so-subtle theme in Christianity saying that this world is not our home, but is an actual hindrance to holiness and virtue. The passage through the world involves us in worldly concerns and necessities, including the needs of our bodies to survive and then to raise our families. It is rarely easy to meet these requirements while maintaining a spotless morality, much less holiness, in our daily lives. The world and its systems are not set up for such expectations, and often demand compromises that cause us to come up short of our intentions. And then, there are certain influences that actually try to resist our intent to be good, like temptations to pander to our flesh, or to take advantage when we shouldn't. That is why Jesus made the distinction saying that although we are in the world, we should not be "of" the world, but different. And the world will despise and persecute us for that difference, because it strikes their conscience and denies them their profit.
So our daily walk down the road tends to cover our feet with earthly dust. We may try very hard to maintain a right demeanor and observe both the Law and Holiness, but it's just too complicated to consistently do everything perfectly. Even Saint Paul said, "the good that I would do I do not, and that which I would not, that I do." He saw this dilemma and called it a "thorn of the flesh." So long as we remain in this world, we shall contend with powers that wish to thwart our best intentions.
For this reason, there has always been a few who try to withdraw from the world, as hermits and monastics, so as to limit their exposure to temptation and instead organize their lives after a pattern that allows a more spiritual walk. They choose a life of prayer without ceasing and service to others, giving up all concern for bodily comforts and focusing on salvation, their own and the world's. But celibacy is not a vocation for everyone, or Christians would become extinct and the Gospel would not go out to all peoples.
Rather, Jesus asked the Father not to take us out from the world, but to send us the Holy Spirit, so that we should not be alone in the world. We are here to be a lamp to light the way for those who seek Truth, and a leaven to help our cultures to rise up toward better ways to live. But He also warned us against letting the world weaken our pursuit of righteousness. We must be the salt of the earth, never losing our flavor, or we risk being tossed out in the dirt. Jesus gave us the Spirit, and then promised that He would always be with us to guide and strengthen us, even unto the end of the Age.
So what is this foot washing business? Why did Jesus say that it was so critical to our being able to enter the Kingdom? We should wash each other's feet to remind ourselves to be humble servants, yes, but also to signify that we should be helping each other to put off the contamination of the way of the world. We must strive to help those in need, so that they can deny any undue concerns for themselves, both by our teachings and by sharing with them our daily bread. We should make sure that they do not need to sin from despair of meeting their own needs properly. Foot washing reminds us that we are one body with each other. We should care, like a family, as a community, sharing from each whatever we can bring, and to each whatever they may need, and providing employment for those who lack the dignity of wages.
In such a community, we can help each other to increase our practice of righteousness. We can observe and correct one another, when we step out of line. "Speak to one another in love" as Paul said, but not in judgment or condemnation. Jesus said, "judge not, lest you be judged," for with the measure you mete, so you also will be judged. If you see a "mote in your brother's eye," look first to be sure that you don't also have the same problem. Solve your own problem first, then help your brother with his. If you have fixed your own character, you will know how to help him better, and you will avoid being a hypocrite. This is yet anothet way to put off the old ways of the world, and become a new people in Christ. We lead each other with kindness and love, reserving judgment for the sake of compassion, but helping one another to strive to be the best lamps and leaven that we can be. And when the world despises us, we have each other, as well as the Holy Spirit and Jesus to give us strength.
So, in the Gospel of John, at the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples, He washed their feet, and through them the feet of all the future believers whom they would call. Jesus wants us to be able to put off the dirt and corruption of this world, and to live in community as brothers and sisters of one big family, sharing and caring for each other, and teaching one another how to live out our faith. That is the core of the Kingdom of God that He came to establish among us. Without that community, we may never be able to see the Kingdom spread out upon the Earth, and we will all look like hypocrites. But, indeed, if we are living as we should, we will show the unbelievers that it is possible to be in the world and still be pleasing to God. We will be truly the Light of the world.
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