Would you wash someone's feet? - A Radical Acts of Jesus post by Kay Olson, CSB - Michelle Boccanfuso Nanouche, CSB Christian Science Practitioner & Teacher

7/13/2012

Would you wash someone's feet? - A Radical Acts of Jesus post by Kay Olson, CSB

Some years ago, when I was teaching Sunday School, one of our lessons included the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet.

The students wondered: “Why did Jesus do this, anyway?" Well, he had met his disciples for an important meal and they had neglected to wash his feet. This was a natural, hospitable act in those days of sandals and dirt roads. Feet could be very dusty in dry weather and muddy in wet weather!

After their meal together, Jesus kneeled down in front of his students and began to wash their feet. You can imagine their discomfort. Their Teacher, not a servant, was on his knees performing this menial duty!

When Jesus finished the washing, he asked: “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and you are right for that is what I am. So, if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master, an employee does not give orders to the employer. If you understand what I am telling you, act like it, and live a blessed life. (John 13:12-17 New Living Translation, The Message.)

Did we understand what Jesus was telling them? I decided we could try this out for ourselves. The following Sunday, I carried a large bowl and a towel to the class. The students were wide-eyed. One of them said: “Not my feet!” She decided, though, that she would go outside with the rest of us and watch the proceedings. I washed their feet and they washed mine.

Still, they were puzzled. Jesus taught that we should follow his example but we weren’t seeing any foot-washing going on in our community! Should we be doing this today? If we got on our knees and began to wash our friend’s feet, they would think we were crazy!

Finally, we came to the conclusion that Jesus’ example was one of humility. Perhaps he was asking his followers to see everyone as “dust-free”. In other words, we should understand that each of us is a child of God. We are equal in His eyes. After all, each of us walks on the same ground - each of us has the same relation to God - and each of us has the same need of Christ, the spirit of God.

So, I just washed my husband's feet. I simply asked if I could, and he said yes. At first, he thought I'd lost it! But then he loved it. What he might not have known is, I have been seeing him as dust-free for a long, long time. The foot bath was just a tender way to say "I know who you are, and I love you."

Kay Olson CSB is loving blogging on the Radical Acts of Jesus that are part of a summer project on Time4Thinkers.com. Kay is a Christian Science practitioner and teacher in Pennsylvannia, USA. Click the following link if you are interested in reading up on this, or one of the other 17 Radical Acts being practiced this summer.

Love it? Please share it for others to enjoy.
Let's work together to share the love.

Also, if you aren't yet a subscriber,
a full-text version of the blog can be delivered to your email inbox.
It's easy to sign up in the sidebar.

You may also wish to:
VISIT MY WEBSITE HOME PAGE
READ MORE BLOG POSTS
FIND A LIST OF MY OTHER PUBLISHED CONTENT

Kathleen

7/13/2012 10:26:48 am

This is a beautiful perspective on what can be awkward to give to another -- a foot washing. This is not usually done in our culture, though it was in Jesus' time. But what a lesson in humility, for both the washer and the one on the receiving end. For the person whose feet are being washed, a certain amount of humility is needed to agree to a washing. I would like to wash someone's feet, and have my feet washed.

Kay

7/14/2012 11:06:19 am

You are so right! Humility all around.

Tiffany

7/13/2012 11:14:02 am

This is one of the ways I love to serve as a Christian Science Nurse. I agree with Kathleen about this act requiring humility on both the part of the washer and the "washed". It breaks down any resistance to being loved. You'd be surprised how we do that sometimes! I suggest we do this for/to ourselves every once in a while too. Just soak your feet in a tub of water. Ahhh.....

Kay

7/14/2012 11:08:50 am

And, we can practice tender "'washing", by prayerfully identifying each one as "dust-free" - innocent.

Thanks, Tiffany

nancy

7/13/2012 12:42:48 pm

These are interesting comments. Especially the one about humility on the part of the one being washed. I'll bet most people would find it easier to wash than to be washed.
I wonder if in Jesus' time, the relation to one's body was different from what it is today. (In a town in the south of France, Vaison-la- Romaine, so named because of extensive ruins of a Roman city still visible, among which are latrines, where they sat side by side, and didn't think a thing of it). Perhaps at that time no one was upset at having his feet washed; it was considered normal courtesy. But there's something about feet--the most lowly, and neglected part of our bodies, often unsightly because of corns, or deformed toes, and who really wants to exhibit them, not to mention having them washed?

Kay

7/14/2012 11:12:43 am

Last summer, my granddaughter polished my toe nails with silver sparkle polish - and I loved it! I felt my feet were more glamorous - but you are right - feet aren't usually the first appendages that comes to mind when we think "glamorous!

Heather

7/13/2012 01:34:47 pm

I went to a wedding a little over a year ago where the bride and groom washed each others feet as part of the ceremony. Rather touching!

Kay

7/14/2012 11:14:19 am

I would have loved to have been there. Lovely!

Amy

7/13/2012 05:55:43 pm

Such good to think about, and I especially love the end. What true love. Thanks for sharing

Kay

7/14/2012 11:16:45 am

It really was a tender moment. I remember reading about a healing a woman had when her sister washed her feet. So, the heart behind the action can be powerful as well as tender.

nancy

7/14/2012 06:32:27 am

Heather, That it SOOOO wonderful, it gives me goose bumps. I can't think of a more moving, committed, inspired way to celebrate a wedding (from Middle High German, meaning to pledge).

Kay

7/14/2012 11:18:05 am

" To pledge" I live that meaning and will remember it. Thanks, Nancy

Comments are closed.

YOUR CART