Baptism, Lord's Supper, Foot Washing
/ Ewald Frank
Jazyk: anglicky
Jiné jazyky
4. THE FOOT WASHING
After we dealt with the Lord’s Supper, we briefly must touch on the subject of foot washing. Before reading the rest, pertaining to this ordinance in the New Testament, we must see how the priests were commissioned to do things in the Old Testament. Before entering into the Holy of Holies, there was a laver available for the purpose according to the divine order. It was placed between the altar upon which the sacrifice was placed and the tabernacle. We shall read Ex. 30:19, “… For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat.” They could not enter the tabernacle, nor come near the altar without first washing their hands and feet (v. 20). Really, while washing the feet, one washes ones hands automatically. In the New Testament the true believers are called a holy priesthood. We must come to God and approach Him in reverence and have to respect His Word in all things.
In Jn. 13:4-10, our Lord gave the following example, “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments, and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash them with the towel with which he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter; and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered, and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not except to wash his feet …”
If we look upon this scripture just to be a recording of what took place, we don’t even feel that God is speaking to us. At that time the Lord spoke to those who were present, and today He speaks by the same Word in the same way to those who come to appear in His presence. Now for a moment, we must consider what Peter actually went through. He asked, “Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” The Lord answered, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.” Peter asserted his decision and thought to make it clear what he meant by saying, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” He didn’t want the Lord to humiliate Himself before him and do what the least of the servants was meant for, if somebody entered a house. But the Lord and Master gave His disciples a very practical teaching, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.” The Lord of glory served in humility, complete by surrendering Himself to service. He put off His clothes and took the apron instead, bowed down and became as one of the least of the slaves in a household. This was an example for His disciples that everyone should esteem the other higher than himself. Here in this case, He showed in a practical lesson how it is done.
When the Lord said to Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”, he was shocked and only could say with a deep desire the following words, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” How can we understand that he would have no part with Him, if this ordinance and commandment would not be kept? Does anyone have a part with Christ, the Lord, because of foot washing? The point here is obedience to what the Lord said. This we owe unto Him and also to one another. Even if something He says does not seem to be important, if He says it and it’s a request, or an ordinance, we must just do it in simple child-like faith without questioning Him why He requires it. We cannot ask, “Why must we do this?” If we don’t obey what He said, we cut the connection to Him, because He gave the ordinance. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Of us it is required to do according to every Word and ordinance, and we must do it willingly and seriously to please Him.
In Jn. 13:12-17, we read the following text, “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was seated again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye 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 ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
The words of the Master are very clear. They cannot be misunderstood by someone who takes them, as they were spoken. He said, “If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” There is no need for anybody to explain or to give his private interpretation. When the Lord said that we should wash one another’s feet, He meant what He said, “… ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” This has nothing to do with the oriental custom. He was not speaking of something that was generally practised. He knew about that, but very clearly He stated, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” That is a precise ordinance which cannot be questioned in any way. He emphasised this commandment with the words, “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.”
Every time the Lord said, “Verily, verily” we should take special heed and pay real attention what He said, because He was emphasising something of importance. Here in Jn. 13, He did it a number of times.
About the foot washing nothing much can be said. At the beginning of the New Testament church, it was understood and practised without it being mentioned too often. Paul once refers to the conditions the widows who should be taken by the local church for support. And this was one condition laid down by him as found in 1 Tim. 5:10, “… well reported of for good works, if she hath brought up children, if she hath lodged strangers, if she hath washed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.”
We showed according to the Bible that our Lord inaugurated the foot washing and gave the practical example Himself. Therefore, no one who is truly honest could discuss these things away. They must be done and obeyed. If somebody explains any scripture and guides the listeners into disobedience to a commandment He gave, what is motivating him? To every believer, the Word of God should be holy and we must be ready to obey and do the least commandment. In such a case, the word of the Lord applies, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The blessing from beginning to end rests upon those who do the Word of God, and not on the listeners only who disobey. May the Lord make us such a people who follow in His ways and do as He commanded us, even in this case. Don’t ask why, don’t say it is foolish, and don’t believe that it is not necessary. The Lord said it, He commanded it, He practised it, and He said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do to one anther as I have done to you.” That is Thus saith the Lord in His Word. Amen.
The same author has dealt with the most important subjects the Holy Scripture speaks about. These brochures are published worldwide in many different languages and have been a lasting blessing to many people.
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