For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Christ's washing of His disciples' feet is a literal, binding pattern to be copied by washing one another's feet, established as a consecrated religious ordinance to call His humility to mind and not merely customary cleansing for dusty feet. It was spoken at the last Passover supper on the night He was betrayed before offering Himself as a sacrifice, when the disciples came with selfish hearts disputing who should be greatest, and without rebuking their contention He laid aside His outer garment, girded Himself with a towel as a servant, and washed their feet to fill them with astonishment, shame, and a lesson remembered for life. Though Lord and Master, equal with God and infinitely superior, His stooping to the humblest service did not lessen His dignity but showed that no one is too exalted to serve, and since the servant is not greater than his lord His servants ought to do as He did. It teaches humility and loving, unselfish service instead of competing for honor or place, counting others better than self, serving even those deemed unworthy as He washed His betrayer, and patiently bearing with the erring, faulty, and perverse rather than separating from them. It appoints this memorial of His humiliation to be observed first as preparation before communion, as a season of self-examination, confession of sins, forgiveness of injuries, and clearing away of misunderstandings, so that pride and strife do not keep the heart from fellowship with Christ, and when rightly celebrated He is present by His Holy Spirit to soften hearts, sweep away selfishness, and draw believers together as one.
Historical Setting at Supper
The words were spoken at the last Passover supper with the disciples in the last hours before Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. It was the night He was betrayed, in the week before His suffering, as He prepared them for the coming trial and separation. That final gathering before the crucifixion was the setting for His example of humility and loving service for His disciples to follow.
They came to that supper with selfish hearts and tempers heated by strife, stirred by Satan to contention. They were disputing who should be greatest and most honored, arguing over who would be most honored and who would have the highest place, and so they missed the blessing they could have received. His taking the lowliest form of service answered their rivalry and taught each to count the others better than himself, to walk humbly and recognize what God had done through the gift of His Son.
Without a word about their contention, though He heard their whisperings and saw their flushed faces, He laid aside His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel as a servant and washed their feet. That humble, servant-like action opened their eyes and showed them themselves in a new light, revealing the pride in their hearts. They were filled with astonishment, bitter shame and humiliation at their pride in a lesson they would remember as long as life lasted.
In doing so, though He was Lord and the pure, spotless Lamb of God presenting Himself as a sin-offering, He took the office of a servant. By that act He ended the sacrifices offered for four thousand years and the national Passover festival kept with His disciples. In its place He instituted a memorial service of feet washing joined with the sacramental supper, left as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, to be observed through all time and in every country, so that all may see that true service calls for unselfish ministry.
The verse belongs to the instruction of John 13-17, where God's will is plainly set out and plainly outlines what His servants are to do. Ministers are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers, serving as coworkers in unity and love. The chapter needs careful study and earnest practice, because Christ specified duties that His followers must not neglect and their actions show whether they honor God.
Example He Commanded
Christ gave footwashing as a literal, binding pattern to be copied by washing one another's feet, establishing it as an ordinance to be kept and its words to be brought to remembrance on every occasion of its observance. It is a humble service to recover man from sin, in which believers stand in Christ's place and come into close relationship with their Lord, who is present as witness to impress hearts while angels watch and the atmosphere of heaven surrounds them. Its real object is to teach humility, and it is not to be treated in a mechanical way or as merely a form but as a season of self-examination to become acquainted with the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another, exposing pride, selfishness and hatred and leading to mutual confession, increased forbearance, forgiveness of errors and true love. Kept in the evening service before communion and to be practiced more frequently with simplicity and humility instead of pride, it brings blessing, holy solemnity and a felt sense of the Lord's presence, melting hearts with gratitude and love as they remember His sufferings for sins and the dear price paid to ransom them from Satan's power and hopeless misery. Those who know and do these things are happy, keeping fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, praying that the feet washed may run in the way of God's commandments and travel the whole Christian road until laying off the armor at the Redeemer's feet and standing upon Mount Zion, and called to love one another as He loved them even to death.
The act was more than customary hospitality for dusty feet, for He made it a consecrated religious ordinance and a sacred appointment to call His humility and lessons of humility and service to mind. It was intended to test and prove loyalty and to precede the sharing of the emblems of His death, teaching His followers to put away self-exaltation and serve one another. Remembering His humiliation leads to examination and confession of sins, receiving forgiveness, being united by His love, and going on to unselfish ministry like His. He delegated power to His ministers, who have the treasure in earthen vessels, to superintend this appointment to the close of time, and on His own appointment He meets with His people and energizes them by His personal presence, so that even when hearts and hands that administer are unsanctified He is in the midst to work on human hearts.
Its meaning is not limited to the single act of outward cleansing but takes in the whole scene and the whole life of humble, faithful ministry through His grace. Christ, though equal with God, set the example to keep His people from being misled by the selfishness dwelling in the natural heart, showing what believers through His grace are to be in their dealings with each other. When rightly celebrated the children of God are brought into holy relationship to help and bless each other and to make the entire life one of humble, faithful ministry, serving one another unselfishly and extending that ministry to all who need help. Those who know its purpose are happy when they put it into practice.
Though He was Lord and Master, equal with God and infinitely superior, His stooping to the humblest service did not lessen His dignity or diminish His authority but gave grace and significance to the service and showed that no one is too exalted to perform humble service for others. He made Himself one with people of every rank and condition, and because the servant is not greater than his lord, His servants ought to do as He did instead of disputing who should be greatest or quarreling over honor or position, each counting the others better than himself. His example included washing even the feet of His betrayer, and those who know this lesson are blessed when they do it. Its ceremony brings the Holy Spirit to impress hearts, sweep away selfishness and offense over the highest place, and make striving for greatness look insignificant and shameful, so that he who humbles himself to do service has the Spirit of Christ and is placed where the Lord can safely honor him, for he that is greatest shall be servant.
His entire life is the pattern, for He lived what He taught and gave His disciples His own life to follow. His life gave His words perfect illustration and support, for what He taught He was, His words being the expression of His own life-experience and character, and He did not only teach the truth but was the truth, which gave His teaching power. His whole life unfolds love and reveals the character of God, whose Fatherhood He shares with believers, and through His ministry of serving others He rightly represents the Father and demonstrates true service in human life. That service counters the selfishness of the natural heart and shows that self-serving does not bring happiness, and remembering His words helps believers take part rightly and find happiness in doing them.
Humility and Mutual Service
The verse calls for humility and loving, unselfish service instead of competing for honor or place. Its followers are to serve one another as they were served, to count others better than themselves, to put away self-exaltation and striving to be first or to seek a higher position, and to walk humbly before God in recognition of what God did for them through the gift of His Son. The conduct shown is the pattern for how disciples are to treat one another, requiring a pure, consecrated life dependent on Christ rather than self-seeking.
The example was given to keep His people from being misled by the selfishness dwelling in the natural heart. It cures the disposition to esteem self above brother, to work and serve for self, to seek the highest place, and to allow evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, putting away bitterness, strife, and unfair dealing. The ordinance tests heart and mind, leading participants to examine whether they love fellow believers and are willing to serve them.
True humility consists not in mere profession of discipleship but in true, humble, loving service. Such service kindles love in the heart and enables understanding of His teaching. When rightly entered into, it brings the children of God into holy relationship to help and bless each other, making the entire life one of humble, faithful ministry through His grace.
The example includes washing even those considered unworthy. He washed the feet of His betrayer, though He knew he would leave to betray Him, making the act a tender final appeal of love that was rejected. Since human beings cannot read hearts or the secrets of the soul and cannot tell who is worthy or reliably distinguish the unfaithful from the faithful, no one is to be barred from the service, refused a place at the table, or refused the ordinance because another is present, nor may anyone decide who shall present themselves.
The same example teaches patient forbearance toward people who are erring and sinful even when their wrongdoing is known. His treatment offered opportunity to receive Him, repent, and be cleansed from sin. Following Him means bearing patiently with those who are at fault, even when they seem especially difficult, disappointing, and perverse, rather than carelessly separating from one believed to be in error and leaving that person exposed to temptation or driving them toward Satan.
Those who know this lesson are blessed and happy only in doing what they know. Following the example through the ordinance of humility expels selfishness, softens and subdues the heart, and sweeps away selfishness and offense over the highest place, making striving for greatness look insignificant and shameful. To the contrite He gives His Holy Spirit to impress hearts, with love, grace, and peace. He who humbles himself to do service has His Spirit and is placed where he can safely be honored, for he that is greatest shall be servant.
Heart Preparation for Communion
The footwashing is a consecrated religious ordinance, not merely customary hospitality for dusty feet, appointed as a memorial of humiliation to be observed first as preparation for communion. Pride, conflict and striving for supremacy keep the heart from fellowship with Christ and from readiness to receive His body and blood, and therefore the example is to be followed by washing one another's feet before partaking of the Lord's Supper. It is practiced in connection with the sacramental service and the sharing of the emblems of His death, and is intended to test and prove loyalty.
It is a season of self-examination joined to the supper, by which believers become acquainted with the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another. It tests humility, faithfulness, loyalty, heart and mind, exposing pride, selfishness and hatred through the humble duty. It calls participants to examine whether they love their fellow believers and are willing to serve them, putting away bitterness, strife, unfair dealing and the desire for the highest place.
It leads to examination and confession of sins, mutual confessions, forgiveness of injuries and errors, and reception of forgiveness. It clears away misunderstandings, resolves disagreements, sets aside disputes, increases forbearance and true love, and makes peace. Those who gather at the communion table are thus to cherish no malice or hatred but to meet as equals purchased by Christ's blood in preparation for commemorating His sufferings and death. Remembering His humiliation unites by His love and keeps fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, even unto death.
Whenever it is rightly celebrated Christ is present by His Holy Spirit as witness to impress hearts, with angels watching and the atmosphere of heaven surrounding and messengers from the throne listening to confession and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit puts His seal to it, quickens sensibilities into spiritual channels, convicts and softens the heart, sweeps away selfishness and offense over the highest place, and brings committed sins to remembrance with greater distinctness. He breaks up the fountains of the soul, energizes the mind to break down every barrier of disunion and alienation, draws believers together and makes them one in heart, and clears away the rubbish accumulated to separate the hearts of God's children. Christ Himself is always present at this special season to lead each one to feel the pulse of conscience, to understand the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin and to receive penitential offerings, speaking to heart and moral and spiritual nature more than to intellectual capacity. Even when hearts and hands that administer are unsanctified He is in the midst to work on human hearts by His personal presence.
Disregard for His words leaves pride, self-sufficiency, evil thinking, evil speaking and planning without His help, with contention and strife where there should be oneness in Christ. His words oppose the defilement of unkind talk, gossiping and accusing of the brethren and passing judgment, which hurts souls, spoils God's work and handles strange fire on Satan's side. Heeding them requires the Holy Spirit to cleanse away that rubbish and to place the living coal upon the lips, for without that cleansing all counsels prove a detriment, a savor of death unto death rather than a savor of life unto life.
Living this instruction in practical life cures dissension and brings humility and unity with one another and with Christ, while dissension, self-exaltation and seeking the highest place leave weakness. Presenting Christ and working in Christian unity prevents parties from being set against one another and helps avoid serious evils.
Practicing the Footwashing Ordinance
The ordinance is kept together with the Lord's Supper and the breaking of bread in the same service, in the evening service before communion, kept on the Sabbath as part of practical godliness, and practiced more frequently to keep God's people humble and separate from the world and from backsliding like the nominal churches. Those who know and do these things are happy, and doing it brings blessing, holy solemnity, and a felt sense of the Lord's presence. It is to be followed as exactly as possible yet understandingly, judiciously, and with simplicity, not made a tedious ceremony causing confusion. Where people are uninformed about the example and teaching of the Lord or prejudiced against it through former trusted teachers, it must be introduced into new places, even where never done before, with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and manner. It lays a cross that glorifies God and humbles the one who performs it, and it calls for simplicity and humility instead of pride.
Gospel order gives an example for sisters to wash the feet of brethren but gives no example and no warrant for brethren to wash sisters' feet. Doing as He did means keeping the ordinance separate by sex, with men washing men's feet and women washing women's feet, done with solemnity that humbles before God. A man has no business washing a woman's feet; when a woman's feet are washed it is to be by a sister, and women and men washing each other's feet is not the right thing to do. His example also guides how the ordinances are conducted apart from unbelievers, for He took His disciples away by themselves before washing their feet and sharing the bread and wine and then shared the bread and the cup with them.
He delegated His power to His ministers, who have the treasure in earthen vessels, to superintend this appointment to continue to the close of time. On this His own appointment He meets with His people and energizes them by His personal presence, and even when hearts and hands that administer the ordinance are unsanctified, He is in the midst of His people to work on human hearts. Humble confession of faults prepares believers for the ordinances, and the congregation joins in the practice in a solemn and humbling occasion. Observing them as He did brings comfort and peace, deep gratification and good spiritual work, weeping and rejoicing and lasting profit. It becomes an occasion to pray that the feet washed may run in the way of God's commandments, travel the whole Christian road, lay off the armor at the Redeemer's feet, and finally stand upon Mount Zion and walk the streets of gold.
Those who wash one another's feet are perfectly united, sealed, holy and happy, and loved by God. The 144,000 keep this example together with saluting the brethren with a holy kiss and the salutation. Their obedience to this example becomes evidence that compels the synagogue of Satan to know that God has loved them and to worship at their feet. When the wicked are enraged and rush to lay hands on them to thrust them into prison and fall helpless to the ground before the hand stretched forth in the name of the Lord, the synagogue of Satan then knows that God has loved these foot-washers. Celebrating the ordinances amid hardship and these circumstances recalled the time when He instituted them on the night He was betrayed as Lord and Master, and remembers His sufferings for sins and the dear price He paid to ransom them from the power of Satan and hopeless misery, melting hearts with gratitude and love.
Christlike Life Beyond Ordinance
The example calls workers to self-giving devotion without reserve, giving time, heart, soul, and strength for humanity as He did in laboring through weary days and praying through long nights for strength to fulfill His mission of uplifting people. Following Him in this way means accepting self-denial and His yoke, learning from Him, and carrying forward His work through sacrifice. His tireless labor, prayer for strength and endurance, and self-denial in fulfilling His mission to uplift others is the pattern His workers are to serve with.
Gospel ministers especially are to learn and practice His humble service, for the teaching of John 13-17 plainly outlines God's will and they are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers. They are to live His teaching before one another and serve as coworkers in unity and love, putting away self and learning His humility. A true minister works and acts as Christ did while carrying the message of salvation, and seeks the power needed to present the truth with simplicity, honesty, and humility.
He trained disciples by keeping them close to Him so they could continue His work after He left, knowing the Scriptures and doing works in His name while witnessing His self-denial, self-sacrifice, prayer, and goodness. That close connection fits followers to warn the world and win people from error to truth, even when that truth involves a cross. The chapter containing the example needs careful study and earnest practice, because He specified duties His followers must not neglect, and their actions show whether they honor God and bear witness to the world.
Following His steps means helping along every line in which it is possible to help, including Christian-help work for the needy such as the work being done in cities. Those who consecrate and submit themselves to take hold of this work will find Him a present help in every hour of need, and through the power of the Holy Spirit will be enabled to do the work that needs to be done. His conduct is the example for service including the physician's work, for He lived to help and save the needy and sinful and calls His followers to do as He did in being willing to serve and help others instead of seeking the highest place. As He showed deep concern for suffering people, His true witnesses are to work with the same care, not considering themselves superior to even the lowliest believer but serving others without regard to status. Ministers are not to neglect principles of health and life, but are to learn how to preserve health and teach through knowledge they have put into practice.
His example of traveling from place to place and laboring for souls, though equal with the Father, calls workers to engage in school work in needy communities. They are to continue faithfully in that small field without letting anyone discourage them by urging them to leave it for a larger and more important work in a broader field, while some must plan for a large work in response to general calls.
His service is the model because He came to serve rather than be served and made Himself a servant to all. His example means wealth is no reason to be ashamed of earnest, useful work or service to others. Copying Him requires denying self, taking up the cross, walking in His footsteps, and obeying the Father's commandments as He did. Drawing near to Him daily is how His love, tenderness, and compassion are copied, and He set the example in all things for His followers to represent Him by following.
Believers should consider what He would do in their circumstances and follow Him as the gospel Pattern. Their actions show whether they honor God, and presenting Him and working in Christian unity prevents parties from being set against one another and helps avoid serious evils. This humble service of washing one another's feet marks His followers as people who love and serve one another. It is practical godliness through serving others as He served His disciples.
Christ's washing of His disciples' feet is a literal, binding pattern to be copied by washing one another's feet, established as a consecrated religious ordinance to call His humility to mind and not merely customary cleansing for dusty feet. It was spoken at the last Passover supper on the night He was betrayed before offering Himself as a sacrifice, when the disciples came with selfish hearts disputing who should be greatest, and without rebuking their contention He laid aside His outer garment, girded Himself with a towel as a servant, and washed their feet to fill them with astonishment, shame, and a lesson remembered for life. Though Lord and Master, equal with God and infinitely superior, His stooping to the humblest service did not lessen His dignity but showed that no one is too exalted to serve, and since the servant is not greater than his lord His servants ought to do as He did. It teaches humility and loving, unselfish service instead of competing for honor or place, counting others better than self, serving even those deemed unworthy as He washed His betrayer, and patiently bearing with the erring, faulty, and perverse rather than separating from them. It appoints this memorial of His humiliation to be observed first as preparation before communion, as a season of self-examination, confession of sins, forgiveness of injuries, and clearing away of misunderstandings, so that pride and strife do not keep the heart from fellowship with Christ, and when rightly celebrated He is present by His Holy Spirit to soften hearts, sweep away selfishness, and draw believers together as one.
Historical Setting at Supper
The words were spoken at the last Passover supper with the disciples in the last hours before Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. It was the night He was betrayed, in the week before His suffering, as He prepared them for the coming trial and separation. That final gathering before the crucifixion was the setting for His example of humility and loving service for His disciples to follow.
They came to that supper with selfish hearts and tempers heated by strife, stirred by Satan to contention. They were disputing who should be greatest and most honored, arguing over who would be most honored and who would have the highest place, and so they missed the blessing they could have received. His taking the lowliest form of service answered their rivalry and taught each to count the others better than himself, to walk humbly and recognize what God had done through the gift of His Son.
Without a word about their contention, though He heard their whisperings and saw their flushed faces, He laid aside His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel as a servant and washed their feet. That humble, servant-like action opened their eyes and showed them themselves in a new light, revealing the pride in their hearts. They were filled with astonishment, bitter shame and humiliation at their pride in a lesson they would remember as long as life lasted.
In doing so, though He was Lord and the pure, spotless Lamb of God presenting Himself as a sin-offering, He took the office of a servant. By that act He ended the sacrifices offered for four thousand years and the national Passover festival kept with His disciples. In its place He instituted a memorial service of feet washing joined with the sacramental supper, left as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, to be observed through all time and in every country, so that all may see that true service calls for unselfish ministry.
The verse belongs to the instruction of John 13-17, where God's will is plainly set out and plainly outlines what His servants are to do. Ministers are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers, serving as coworkers in unity and love. The chapter needs careful study and earnest practice, because Christ specified duties that His followers must not neglect and their actions show whether they honor God.
Example He Commanded
Christ gave footwashing as a literal, binding pattern to be copied by washing one another's feet, establishing it as an ordinance to be kept and its words to be brought to remembrance on every occasion of its observance. It is a humble service to recover man from sin, in which believers stand in Christ's place and come into close relationship with their Lord, who is present as witness to impress hearts while angels watch and the atmosphere of heaven surrounds them. Its real object is to teach humility, and it is not to be treated in a mechanical way or as merely a form but as a season of self-examination to become acquainted with the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another, exposing pride, selfishness and hatred and leading to mutual confession, increased forbearance, forgiveness of errors and true love. Kept in the evening service before communion and to be practiced more frequently with simplicity and humility instead of pride, it brings blessing, holy solemnity and a felt sense of the Lord's presence, melting hearts with gratitude and love as they remember His sufferings for sins and the dear price paid to ransom them from Satan's power and hopeless misery. Those who know and do these things are happy, keeping fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, praying that the feet washed may run in the way of God's commandments and travel the whole Christian road until laying off the armor at the Redeemer's feet and standing upon Mount Zion, and called to love one another as He loved them even to death.
The act was more than customary hospitality for dusty feet, for He made it a consecrated religious ordinance and a sacred appointment to call His humility and lessons of humility and service to mind. It was intended to test and prove loyalty and to precede the sharing of the emblems of His death, teaching His followers to put away self-exaltation and serve one another. Remembering His humiliation leads to examination and confession of sins, receiving forgiveness, being united by His love, and going on to unselfish ministry like His. He delegated power to His ministers, who have the treasure in earthen vessels, to superintend this appointment to the close of time, and on His own appointment He meets with His people and energizes them by His personal presence, so that even when hearts and hands that administer are unsanctified He is in the midst to work on human hearts.
Its meaning is not limited to the single act of outward cleansing but takes in the whole scene and the whole life of humble, faithful ministry through His grace. Christ, though equal with God, set the example to keep His people from being misled by the selfishness dwelling in the natural heart, showing what believers through His grace are to be in their dealings with each other. When rightly celebrated the children of God are brought into holy relationship to help and bless each other and to make the entire life one of humble, faithful ministry, serving one another unselfishly and extending that ministry to all who need help. Those who know its purpose are happy when they put it into practice.
Though He was Lord and Master, equal with God and infinitely superior, His stooping to the humblest service did not lessen His dignity or diminish His authority but gave grace and significance to the service and showed that no one is too exalted to perform humble service for others. He made Himself one with people of every rank and condition, and because the servant is not greater than his lord, His servants ought to do as He did instead of disputing who should be greatest or quarreling over honor or position, each counting the others better than himself. His example included washing even the feet of His betrayer, and those who know this lesson are blessed when they do it. Its ceremony brings the Holy Spirit to impress hearts, sweep away selfishness and offense over the highest place, and make striving for greatness look insignificant and shameful, so that he who humbles himself to do service has the Spirit of Christ and is placed where the Lord can safely honor him, for he that is greatest shall be servant.
His entire life is the pattern, for He lived what He taught and gave His disciples His own life to follow. His life gave His words perfect illustration and support, for what He taught He was, His words being the expression of His own life-experience and character, and He did not only teach the truth but was the truth, which gave His teaching power. His whole life unfolds love and reveals the character of God, whose Fatherhood He shares with believers, and through His ministry of serving others He rightly represents the Father and demonstrates true service in human life. That service counters the selfishness of the natural heart and shows that self-serving does not bring happiness, and remembering His words helps believers take part rightly and find happiness in doing them.
Humility and Mutual Service
The verse calls for humility and loving, unselfish service instead of competing for honor or place. Its followers are to serve one another as they were served, to count others better than themselves, to put away self-exaltation and striving to be first or to seek a higher position, and to walk humbly before God in recognition of what God did for them through the gift of His Son. The conduct shown is the pattern for how disciples are to treat one another, requiring a pure, consecrated life dependent on Christ rather than self-seeking.
The example was given to keep His people from being misled by the selfishness dwelling in the natural heart. It cures the disposition to esteem self above brother, to work and serve for self, to seek the highest place, and to allow evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, putting away bitterness, strife, and unfair dealing. The ordinance tests heart and mind, leading participants to examine whether they love fellow believers and are willing to serve them.
True humility consists not in mere profession of discipleship but in true, humble, loving service. Such service kindles love in the heart and enables understanding of His teaching. When rightly entered into, it brings the children of God into holy relationship to help and bless each other, making the entire life one of humble, faithful ministry through His grace.
The example includes washing even those considered unworthy. He washed the feet of His betrayer, though He knew he would leave to betray Him, making the act a tender final appeal of love that was rejected. Since human beings cannot read hearts or the secrets of the soul and cannot tell who is worthy or reliably distinguish the unfaithful from the faithful, no one is to be barred from the service, refused a place at the table, or refused the ordinance because another is present, nor may anyone decide who shall present themselves.
The same example teaches patient forbearance toward people who are erring and sinful even when their wrongdoing is known. His treatment offered opportunity to receive Him, repent, and be cleansed from sin. Following Him means bearing patiently with those who are at fault, even when they seem especially difficult, disappointing, and perverse, rather than carelessly separating from one believed to be in error and leaving that person exposed to temptation or driving them toward Satan.
Those who know this lesson are blessed and happy only in doing what they know. Following the example through the ordinance of humility expels selfishness, softens and subdues the heart, and sweeps away selfishness and offense over the highest place, making striving for greatness look insignificant and shameful. To the contrite He gives His Holy Spirit to impress hearts, with love, grace, and peace. He who humbles himself to do service has His Spirit and is placed where he can safely be honored, for he that is greatest shall be servant.
Heart Preparation for Communion
The footwashing is a consecrated religious ordinance, not merely customary hospitality for dusty feet, appointed as a memorial of humiliation to be observed first as preparation for communion. Pride, conflict and striving for supremacy keep the heart from fellowship with Christ and from readiness to receive His body and blood, and therefore the example is to be followed by washing one another's feet before partaking of the Lord's Supper. It is practiced in connection with the sacramental service and the sharing of the emblems of His death, and is intended to test and prove loyalty.
It is a season of self-examination joined to the supper, by which believers become acquainted with the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another. It tests humility, faithfulness, loyalty, heart and mind, exposing pride, selfishness and hatred through the humble duty. It calls participants to examine whether they love their fellow believers and are willing to serve them, putting away bitterness, strife, unfair dealing and the desire for the highest place.
It leads to examination and confession of sins, mutual confessions, forgiveness of injuries and errors, and reception of forgiveness. It clears away misunderstandings, resolves disagreements, sets aside disputes, increases forbearance and true love, and makes peace. Those who gather at the communion table are thus to cherish no malice or hatred but to meet as equals purchased by Christ's blood in preparation for commemorating His sufferings and death. Remembering His humiliation unites by His love and keeps fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, even unto death.
Whenever it is rightly celebrated Christ is present by His Holy Spirit as witness to impress hearts, with angels watching and the atmosphere of heaven surrounding and messengers from the throne listening to confession and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit puts His seal to it, quickens sensibilities into spiritual channels, convicts and softens the heart, sweeps away selfishness and offense over the highest place, and brings committed sins to remembrance with greater distinctness. He breaks up the fountains of the soul, energizes the mind to break down every barrier of disunion and alienation, draws believers together and makes them one in heart, and clears away the rubbish accumulated to separate the hearts of God's children. Christ Himself is always present at this special season to lead each one to feel the pulse of conscience, to understand the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin and to receive penitential offerings, speaking to heart and moral and spiritual nature more than to intellectual capacity. Even when hearts and hands that administer are unsanctified He is in the midst to work on human hearts by His personal presence.
Disregard for His words leaves pride, self-sufficiency, evil thinking, evil speaking and planning without His help, with contention and strife where there should be oneness in Christ. His words oppose the defilement of unkind talk, gossiping and accusing of the brethren and passing judgment, which hurts souls, spoils God's work and handles strange fire on Satan's side. Heeding them requires the Holy Spirit to cleanse away that rubbish and to place the living coal upon the lips, for without that cleansing all counsels prove a detriment, a savor of death unto death rather than a savor of life unto life.
Living this instruction in practical life cures dissension and brings humility and unity with one another and with Christ, while dissension, self-exaltation and seeking the highest place leave weakness. Presenting Christ and working in Christian unity prevents parties from being set against one another and helps avoid serious evils.
Practicing the Footwashing Ordinance
The ordinance is kept together with the Lord's Supper and the breaking of bread in the same service, in the evening service before communion, kept on the Sabbath as part of practical godliness, and practiced more frequently to keep God's people humble and separate from the world and from backsliding like the nominal churches. Those who know and do these things are happy, and doing it brings blessing, holy solemnity, and a felt sense of the Lord's presence. It is to be followed as exactly as possible yet understandingly, judiciously, and with simplicity, not made a tedious ceremony causing confusion. Where people are uninformed about the example and teaching of the Lord or prejudiced against it through former trusted teachers, it must be introduced into new places, even where never done before, with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and manner. It lays a cross that glorifies God and humbles the one who performs it, and it calls for simplicity and humility instead of pride.
Gospel order gives an example for sisters to wash the feet of brethren but gives no example and no warrant for brethren to wash sisters' feet. Doing as He did means keeping the ordinance separate by sex, with men washing men's feet and women washing women's feet, done with solemnity that humbles before God. A man has no business washing a woman's feet; when a woman's feet are washed it is to be by a sister, and women and men washing each other's feet is not the right thing to do. His example also guides how the ordinances are conducted apart from unbelievers, for He took His disciples away by themselves before washing their feet and sharing the bread and wine and then shared the bread and the cup with them.
He delegated His power to His ministers, who have the treasure in earthen vessels, to superintend this appointment to continue to the close of time. On this His own appointment He meets with His people and energizes them by His personal presence, and even when hearts and hands that administer the ordinance are unsanctified, He is in the midst of His people to work on human hearts. Humble confession of faults prepares believers for the ordinances, and the congregation joins in the practice in a solemn and humbling occasion. Observing them as He did brings comfort and peace, deep gratification and good spiritual work, weeping and rejoicing and lasting profit. It becomes an occasion to pray that the feet washed may run in the way of God's commandments, travel the whole Christian road, lay off the armor at the Redeemer's feet, and finally stand upon Mount Zion and walk the streets of gold.
Those who wash one another's feet are perfectly united, sealed, holy and happy, and loved by God. The 144,000 keep this example together with saluting the brethren with a holy kiss and the salutation. Their obedience to this example becomes evidence that compels the synagogue of Satan to know that God has loved them and to worship at their feet. When the wicked are enraged and rush to lay hands on them to thrust them into prison and fall helpless to the ground before the hand stretched forth in the name of the Lord, the synagogue of Satan then knows that God has loved these foot-washers. Celebrating the ordinances amid hardship and these circumstances recalled the time when He instituted them on the night He was betrayed as Lord and Master, and remembers His sufferings for sins and the dear price He paid to ransom them from the power of Satan and hopeless misery, melting hearts with gratitude and love.
Christlike Life Beyond Ordinance
The example calls workers to self-giving devotion without reserve, giving time, heart, soul, and strength for humanity as He did in laboring through weary days and praying through long nights for strength to fulfill His mission of uplifting people. Following Him in this way means accepting self-denial and His yoke, learning from Him, and carrying forward His work through sacrifice. His tireless labor, prayer for strength and endurance, and self-denial in fulfilling His mission to uplift others is the pattern His workers are to serve with.
Gospel ministers especially are to learn and practice His humble service, for the teaching of John 13-17 plainly outlines God's will and they are to believe it and live it out before their fellow ministers. They are to live His teaching before one another and serve as coworkers in unity and love, putting away self and learning His humility. A true minister works and acts as Christ did while carrying the message of salvation, and seeks the power needed to present the truth with simplicity, honesty, and humility.
He trained disciples by keeping them close to Him so they could continue His work after He left, knowing the Scriptures and doing works in His name while witnessing His self-denial, self-sacrifice, prayer, and goodness. That close connection fits followers to warn the world and win people from error to truth, even when that truth involves a cross. The chapter containing the example needs careful study and earnest practice, because He specified duties His followers must not neglect, and their actions show whether they honor God and bear witness to the world.
Following His steps means helping along every line in which it is possible to help, including Christian-help work for the needy such as the work being done in cities. Those who consecrate and submit themselves to take hold of this work will find Him a present help in every hour of need, and through the power of the Holy Spirit will be enabled to do the work that needs to be done. His conduct is the example for service including the physician's work, for He lived to help and save the needy and sinful and calls His followers to do as He did in being willing to serve and help others instead of seeking the highest place. As He showed deep concern for suffering people, His true witnesses are to work with the same care, not considering themselves superior to even the lowliest believer but serving others without regard to status. Ministers are not to neglect principles of health and life, but are to learn how to preserve health and teach through knowledge they have put into practice.
His example of traveling from place to place and laboring for souls, though equal with the Father, calls workers to engage in school work in needy communities. They are to continue faithfully in that small field without letting anyone discourage them by urging them to leave it for a larger and more important work in a broader field, while some must plan for a large work in response to general calls.
His service is the model because He came to serve rather than be served and made Himself a servant to all. His example means wealth is no reason to be ashamed of earnest, useful work or service to others. Copying Him requires denying self, taking up the cross, walking in His footsteps, and obeying the Father's commandments as He did. Drawing near to Him daily is how His love, tenderness, and compassion are copied, and He set the example in all things for His followers to represent Him by following.
Believers should consider what He would do in their circumstances and follow Him as the gospel Pattern. Their actions show whether they honor God, and presenting Him and working in Christian unity prevents parties from being set against one another and helps avoid serious evils. This humble service of washing one another's feet marks His followers as people who love and serve one another. It is practical godliness through serving others as He served His disciples.