Washing Feet

            Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (Matthew 13:10-14)

 

This is one of those pieces of Scripture that sound strange to us, like someone removing a sandal and handing it to someone to officially transfer the right of ownership (of something other than the sandal) to someone else (Ruth 4:7-8.) It made perfect sense in the culture. People who bathed in preparation for a feast still had to walk to the site. To be ceremonially clean, they had to wash their feet. That task was left to the lowest of the lowly of the servants or household members. All of this makes what Jesus and Peter talked about to make more sense.

There are some people for whom foot washing has become a ritual. In some situations, it makes sense for the same reasons it did in Jesus’ time, but four questions come to mind.

What task in hospitality do we delegate to the least and lowest in our households?

What task in hospitality do you least like to perform?

What task do we tend to consider as necessary for a guest to be ceremonially clean, so to speak?

What task in hospitality would you feel embarrassed for Jesus to perform on your behalf?

 

Do you need to do something? Allow God to do something? And, supposing that the hospitality was not in your home but in public – would your answers change?