Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

In my last post I showed that the phrase in bold above deals with the sanctification of the believer. Every believer in Jesus should immerse himself (wash himself) in God’s Word.  This is how we renew our minds and cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh.  Jesus gave us a poignant example of this in a “ceremony” which most have misunderstood.

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After 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. 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 save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. John 13:3-10

I have been involved in one or two “foot washings” and my best recollection is that people perform this ceremony in order to emulate Jesus’ humility.  Of course, Jesus, like Moses, was the most humble man in all the earth.  We too should imitate their humility.  But, Jesus did not wash his disciples’ feet to show them humility.  Why did he do it?

First, consider which writer and which book of the Bible gives this account.  John.  How does John begin his book?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4

John introduces us to the Word made flesh, Jesus the Christ, the anointed, the Messiah.  Jesus IS the WORD.  So, who washed the disciples’ feet?  The WORD did.  What did he use to wash their feet?  Water.  Jesus thus demonstrated “the washing of water by the WORD.”  Why did he wash them?  To “cleanse” their feet.  What do feet do?  They take you where you are going.  “Feet” deal with our Christian walk, our life, our experience as believers.

Like most everything else Jesus did or said, this foot washing ceremony was a parable.  It is not to be taken literally!  How often we miss God’s point by taking his words literally.  Are you going to literally pluck out your eye because you lust?  Of course not.  Jesus never meant us to.  Likewise he never meant us to do foot washing ceremonies to “emulate” his humility.  We might do it to show what he meant, i.e., that we ought to wash ourselves with the Word of God in order to cleanse our souls.  But, I have never heard of anyone doing it for that reason, have you?

The washing of water by the Word is all about renewing our mind and saving our soul.