4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
2007-03-06 17:26:59 · 13 answers · asked by boatrights2003 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
2007-03-06 17:27:07 · update #1
yeah, a lot of the southern baptists here in alabama, commonly called the foot-washin' baptists.
2007-03-06 17:30:28 · answer #1 · answered by katy j 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
THe act of washing the feet was an actual act that was done and given as an example of how we are to treat one another.
It does not mean that we are to literally wash each others feet and be done with it.
It was and continues to be an act of submission and humility, an example of how we are to treat one another no matter what our "rank" or "position" in this world.
Modern day example would be
You are the owner of your company. You actually roll up your sleeves and go take over an employees job so that they can take a break or a lunch.
You are a pastor at a church. You personally visit each and every member of your church, not just the ones that are sick or homebound. You give yourself totally to your flock and deny your own fleshly desires.
You are an every day Joe. You see someone without a proper jacket, you give them yours and go get yourself another. You submit to their needs and take care of yours after this is done.
Someone asks for help, you take the time to help or actively find them the help they need. (this particular one is also found in the story of the samaritan)
So, yes, we can still perform the ritual of washing one anothers feet in the church, but without getting out there and taking care of real needs of one another, we have lost the lesson that we were given in the story.
2007-03-07 01:53:14 · answer #2 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church definitely does so every Holy Thursday. It reenacts Christ's command that we must be of service to others. That is the message of washing the feet of our neighbor. One must be a lowly servant to others. Jesus became a servant although He was the Master. It is purely symbolic.
2007-03-07 03:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by adonisMD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't Jesus wash Peter's feet as an example of how people are supposed to serve each other?
2007-03-07 01:35:10 · answer #4 · answered by DawnL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We do it every year on Maundy Thursday in Holy Week. I was at a Benedictine Abbey one year for Maundy Thursday and it was very moving to see the Abbot do it for the other monks and the quest.
2007-03-07 02:22:01 · answer #5 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe in it. This part of the Passover was instituted to show the humility with which we are supposed to come into God's presence and be humble servants to one another, especially in times of need.
2007-03-07 13:14:09 · answer #6 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't the feet washing that freaks me.....its the women drying feet with their hair--as some version have it.
2007-03-07 01:32:10 · answer #7 · answered by Terry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe in it and have been at more than one feet washings.
2007-03-07 01:44:05 · answer #8 · answered by wisdom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
and the question is?
Yes. Washing your brethren's feet is one of the ordnances of the Amish church. It is done at communion time.
2007-03-07 01:31:51 · answer #9 · answered by mourning my dad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A local Episcopal church does it every Maundy Thursday, and at least regionally, the Primitive Baptist churches here still practice it, among other groups.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_baptist
2007-03-07 01:31:34 · answer #10 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋