# 389 Washing Feet Is More About Forgiveness

The Book of Genesis

Day 389

Ge 41: 32 "And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

We  are taking a little break from the study in Genesis to pursue the importance of repetition in the Scriptures. In particular we are looking at the “verily, verilies” found in the Gospel of John. When God repeats things, He is merely underlining or highlighting them for us. He gives them an extra sense of urgency.

Today we will look at Joh 13:5-17,  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.  6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.  10 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.  11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.  12 So 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?  13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  16 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.  17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Most everyone is familiar with this story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. We usually come away from this account with the idea that it is important that we humbly serve one another. Of course, that’s fine and a wonderful way to put loving thy neighbor into action. But I think footwashing has a lot more to do with forgiveness rather than service.

Jesus stated at the beginning that His disciples would not understand what HE was doing at this time, but they would be given understanding later on. Peter immediately protested, (proving he didn’t understand) not desiring that the Christ would stoop to such a state as to wash his dirty feet, and Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part of Me. He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; And you are clean, but not all of you.”

Just as in natural life, a man who is bathed needs only to wash the dust off his sandaled feet when he returns home from his daily travels, so in our spiritual life. A man who has been cleansed from sin in the waters of baptism, need not think that all is lost when he sins again in his daily life. He only needs to confess those sins, (wash his feet of the accumulation of his daily dirt) and he will be entirely clean again! 1Jo 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus demonstrates this truth as He washes their feet, but then adds in verse 14, “You ought to wash one another’s feet.” In other words you ought to forgive one another.

Hmmmm, maybe this footwashing has a connection to service after all! I mean, there is no greater service rendered to each other than forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us!