Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:8b
“Mary uses expensive oil (symbolic of death) to wash Jesus’ feet, but Jesus uses water (symbolic of life), the symbol of baptism, to cleanse the disciples in love and service. It is truly the bath that makes us dirty with all of our neighbor’s needs.
All of these images explode onto the act of footwashing on Maundy Thursday amidst the backdrop of confession and forgiveness, the Exodus story’s recounting of the Passover, Paul’s recollection of Jesus’ words at the Lord’s Supper, the prayers of intercession, the Eucharist, the stripping of the altar, and the chilling silence of Good Friday and “My God, my God…” Augustine said, “For when the body is bent at a brother’s feet, the feeling of such humility is either awakened in the heart itself, or is strengthened if already present.”
Martin Luther once said, “When you read in the gospel or hear it read that Jesus Christ comes here or goest there, that He heals the sick and raises the dead and forgives sins, you are to understand that He is coming here, that He is forgiving you, raising you from the dead, and healing you.”
This is what each Gospel book intends. In fact, this is what footwashing does. Christ, who ‘had all’ from the Father in His hands, became a servant, and invited all of us to have a share with Him (John 13:8). Jesus says He is “the Lord and Teacher” (John 13:14) and He washes the feet of the disciples, effectively becoming a slave on account of love.
He then says, “Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them” (13:16). Jesus takes the form of a slave and washes the feet of others effectively making them His master, but Jesus asks them to do this to each other (Maundy = command in Latin) which effectively makes the disciples the slaves of all if the feast is kept. Christ’s first act of freedom is to make Him a slave to all. Consequently, Christ then asks His disciples to be slaves of all as well, today, to your neighbor, to the least of these.
Footwashing is primarily observed on Maundy Thursday. The image of footwashing is transformed by its use on this particular night in this particular context. Footwashing is different than other symbols in that the act of footwashing, or receiving footwashing, gives the actor direct access into one of the primary messages of the act, humility and service.”
Carmine Pernini in “Footwashing in the Old and New Testament, the Graeco Roman World, the Early Church, and the Liturgy” posted on 15 April 2014.
Whenever we follow the commands of Jesus we discover life and joy. The command in view — footwashing — is one that transforms us through the act of humility and service. But how doe it relate to the plague season in which we find ourselves?
Two dear friends recently shared with me the impact of washing the hands of the homeless during this COVID-19 crisis. It blessed the recipients with unexpected joy and touched the washers deeply. Think about it.
There are germs everywhere. Imagine how good it felt for the homeless person to see the layers of dirt wash away. What a picture of the cleansing the Jesus does to our lives!
People need help now in a variety of ways, especially the homeless. What might it look like to bless someone in way that exhibits humble service? Sit and ponder this with the Spirit, and then go do one act of humble service today with joy.
Remember, the path of obedience to Jesus results in life and joy! I pray your act of humble service, as Augustine so aptly put it, either “awakens” or “strengthens” you for a lifetime of generous living that looks like Jesus.