Have you ever washed another person feet in an act of humility?

Question

Did you know that Jesus instructs us to wash each others feet?

Answer 1

I was at a Bible study once and had my feet washed.

While I think that the saying to wash others feet is more symbolic of being a servant on the lowest levels, it was a pretty amazing experience to have somebody wash my feet. It was very humbling and reinforced that serving others is more blessed than being served.

Answer 2

Yes, but, I no longer do it as part of some big "religious" ceremony. I do not see where having an ordinance for folks to wash each other's feet shows or teaches humility. All that really truly amounts to is peer pressure, not wanting to be different from the folks we attend services with. It is an ordinance designed to please men with outward shows of humility. It is not what Christ was trying to do. What Christ was showing was not a new commandment but the proper attitude we should have towards each other.

Why did He do it for His disciples? You got several good answers about the act of pure love it showed, and it really was that too, but what was going on that it became necessary for Him to do it? What, exactly was He teaching the disciples?

Please read the accounts of the Last Passover of Christ and see what the disciples were arguing about amongst themselves before and after the meal.

Edit: Hi Bob d, you think that is bad? The group I used to attend with made no provision for us to wash our hands afterwards. The last time I participated in a big gathering doing this the guy whose feet I washed lifted his toenails to show me the black rot or whatever it was underneath them...and laughed...........I almost puked in the water. Last time I participated in this false show of humility.

Answer 3

Yes I do know that and have done that,but not lately. The church we are in now doesnt do that. But, where I used to go, did do that, and it is Biblical and it is very important. Tho some still dont get it. I have seen it where the rich go into one room to do each others feet, and the poor end up all together. This totally misses the point of Gods message.
IT is to humble us to remember that none of us are God, and we are all His servants, and that He sees us all as equal and loves us the same. When this is done properly, I can only tell you it is such a blessing. Gods presence is so there, and it is quite a loving experience to go thru. And surely, if one has had a small disagreement with one another, that is the one to pick to wash their feet, and watch the healing begin. I wish all churches would go back to this today. Some worry about the germs and all. But, God will take care of us when we are honoring and blessing Him and each other.
Great question. I pray many will ask their pastors about bringing this symbol of humility back. IT is just incredibly awesome, as all things of GOD are.
Great question. I pray you have started a new movement back to the things of God.
So much of the old church that I do miss, but they became so legalistic and it wasnt about love, it was duty to impress God.
But, all churches should have this, for us to do in true humility of who God is, who we are in Christ, and that we are to be as brothers and sisters together in the body of Christ. WE are all Gods family.. lets remember that.
God wants unity, but only if it is in love and truth. Faith in action.
Thanks for the great question. God bless you.

Answer 4

I have washed other peoples feet: * in church services (a good humbling experience), * my daughters' feet when they were babies, * my wife's. Jesus did to teach their disciples that even the person in the highest position will be a servant of the rest. If you cant do this with a true hearth you can not lead.

Answer 5

During the era that Jesus was upon earth, people walked everywhere they went. Only the elite or rich had an animal to ride upon, even so, wandering through the desert led to dirty, dirty feet.

Washing your visitors feet was a social act of hospitality, much like we invite our visitors who have traveled a great distance to make use of our indoor plumbing to "freshen up".

From my understanding, it is not the physical act of washing your feet, that is important, it is the gift of hospitality and attending to another's needs.

I have washed the feet of my children, shaved the faces of each of my grandfathers, once the legs of another woman. It was never an act of anything, I was simply doing for someone what they could not do for themselves. Is that not the essence of humility and service to others?

Answer 6

Yes...we do it at my church every time before we do our communion service. It is called the Ordinance of Humility. I am a Seventh-day Adventist. I wash my wife's feet usually...but sometimes I will wash someone with whom I had a disagreement before...sometimes that might be my wife too...it helps to bring healing to the situation.

Answer 7

As an act asking for 'forgiveness' I washed a person's feet.

My intuition led me to perform the ritual. That, and the fact that Jesus DID proclaim it a 'commandment'. Which the church (the vast majority) has steadfastly ignored and dismissed.

For me the feeling was one of humbling (not humiliation - two totally different concepts). Although, I guess if one is full of hubris, to do something humbling would feel humiliating. But, that is not the connotation nor the right interpretation of: humbling oneself or being humbled.

Excellent Question.

Maranantha

Answer 8

Yes, Jesus said, If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. It is such a humbling experience, but many of your answerers would have cringed at washing Jesus' feet, if he'd had toenail fungus. Isn't that shameful.

Answer 9

Washing of feet is symbolic of going out of your way to help someone we wear shoes today unlike back than but can you imagine the King of Kings the Lord of Lords washed His disciples feet. I t just blows your mind just how much He loves us.

Answer 10

nope, i can't say i've washed someones feet in a show of humility but i have washed someones feet because they were freezing and the tepid water helped prevent frostbite.