Feet Washing

Have you ever wondered where “churches” get their foot washing ceremony from? Have you ever pondered why this tradition or religious practice is taught? Well, look no further. I am going to try to explain this as best as I know how, so hang on tight, and open up your mind and heart! Grab yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, and enjoy the read.

"And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet." (John 13:14)

Well, that sums it all up right there. That was the quickest article I have ever written! Y'all have a fantastic rest of your day and enjoy your coffee!

WAIT! Not so fast, I was just kidding. I got you, though, didn’t I? lol

Lets Get Into It

I ain't much for keeping up with Sports for sure but I normally do watch the Super Bowl, but this year I didn't even have a chance to do that, but I did hear people talking about the commercial "he gets us" and in this commercial it's talking about feet washing because Jesus did feet washing and we need to too.

(Lets be clear I ain’t in any way condoning or supporting this movement or religion, I’m using it as a example)

If you're brought up in "church", most of y'all are going to know what feet washing is and how to do it, and y’all may or may not know that its a man-made tradition that goes along with the man-made religion.

I started writing this article before the Super Bowl commercial came out but when I heard this and seen their commercial then I thought this was a perfect time to go ahead and finish it up.

There are a lot of things I could say right off the bat, but before you get any ideas, let’s read the Bible and see what it actually says. Open your mind and heart to what God will tell you, (not what man’s rules and regulations religion, pastors, “churches” say you should do or how you should think.")

"Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them." (John 13:2-17)

Jesus washing the feet of the disciples was amazing, and it’s a famous story as well, that gets thought by “churches” everywhere. But again, we’re taking a couple of verses out of the Bible and making it an ordinance for the “church”.

Simple explanation from a school drop out

Let’s see if I can explain this a little bit better to you so you can understand the concept here. You have to remember I am just a poor country boy that did not even finish high school, and I have a hard time spelling my own name, so if I say something, it's going to be pretty simple because, to be honest with you, I don't even know how to spell complicated. It's a good thing Siri is dictating this, or I would be lost for sure 🤪.

But seriously folks, It’s pretty simple when you read your Bible. God will just open up your eyes and ears for understanding, especially if you ask him for that. First of all, Jesus told Simon Peter, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but someday you will.” If it’s as simple as we’re supposed to wash each other’s feet, just like Jesus washed their feet, then all we have to do is put a towel around our waist, fill up a bowl with water, and go to work! And if it was that simple, then why couldn’t Peter just do exactly what Jesus did? Have you ever thought about that? I can answer that, probably not! He definitely had a deeper meaning in mind, not just washing dirt off of someone’s feet. But some folks thing its that simple and that’s why they make stupid commercials like “He gets us” Let’s dig a little deeper and see what interesting things God shows each and every one of us.

Back Story

Back in the day, Jesus and his disciples either walked barefoot or wore sandals. They walked for long distances on dusty or muddy roads, probably even walking through camel and donkey shit. And when they got to their table, they normally sat down at a very low table, and their feet were in pretty close proximity to the other people at the table. So what they did was they would have a lowly servant do the despicable job of washing their feet before they sat at the table, so they did not make anyone vomit all over their delicious food that was prepared. Especially at this moment, I mean, it’s the Lord's supper. So instead of them washing their own feet, or trying to hire a servant to do this for them, especially after the disciples were just arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus, who is the Lord of lords and King of all kings, stooped all the way down to perform the despicable job of the servant and wash their nasty feet. In the same way, like Jesus says: “the first will be last and the last will be first, the greatest among you must become the lowliest” (Matthew 20:16, 23:11)

Jesus was giving them an example to follow, not by washing people’s feet that don’t need to be washed, but by stooping down and doing the dirtiest, nitty-gritty job possible just to show God’s love to someone. And this is not in 2024 when people get out of the shower, put on new socks and shoes and perfume, go sit in "church" for a one-hour service, and then have to take off the socks and shoes, get their feet washed in the ritual, then put their socks back on when their feet are still a little damp and aggravating to try to pull your sock on, and the whole time during the process you’re sitting there trying to be nice and solemn and trying to not say anything about the person needing to cut their toenails, and lets not forget to make sure as a man that you’re not washing a woman’s feet so nobody thinks you’re sexually assaulting them.

Or some folks maybe sitting there all proud, with your chin up thinking to yourself this is a wonderful tradition we still do and our ancestors would be so proud. (Luke 18:11)

Are you kidding me folks? Please, please, I mean I beg you with all my heart, PLEASE read your Bible and at the very least try to understand that when you’re a follower of Jesus, it is as simple as following Jesus!

King Milkers

But hey, if you don’t like that, well, I’ve got a better idea. there is a verse in the Bible I think we should go ahead and take out of context, of course, and make our own new religion or denomination, should I say. Let’s name our group the "King Milkers" Why would I name it this crazy name? Well, it’s very simple. God commanded us to nurse on the breast of kings. I mean, he said, “You shall” – if that’s not a command, then I don’t know what is. Don’t believe me? Here is part of the Bible verse to back the whole religion!

"You shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Isaiah 60:16)

I know some of you are probably thinking, “Oh, you’re so stupid, Joe. That’s not what that means at all. How could you be so shallow? What a fool!”

And you would be correct. If I were to take a part of a verse from the Bible and try to make a religion out of it or a denomination, it would be absolutely absurd and ridiculous. Only a true idiotic fool could come up with something like that. Yet, we have over 45,000 Christian denominations in this world today. All I can say is there were and are at least 45,000 idiotic fools in this world!

Are you a part of a religion? Are you a part of a denomination? Or do you consider yourself non-denominational now, with only a few church standards? Remember, if you add one rule to the free gift of Jesus Christ that he gave us, we are telling Jesus he did it all in vain!

I’ll say this again: if we are a born-again, Bible-believing, God-fearing, Jesus-confessing, sin-forgiven person, and we are not a part of a religion, then we are a part of the church of Jesus Christ. We are His body, we are His bride, we love Jesus, we put our faith in Jesus, and we follow Jesus. What does following Jesus mean? Well, that’s a tough one, but here it is: it means that you’re following Jesus! Shazam!

Okay, I am done for real now, no more tricks!

Until next time and from now on, may the good Lord bless you!