“Jesus stood up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’
Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’
‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
A new commandment I give you: that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are mine— if you have love for one another.’”
John 13
So, this is the Quote of the Day on the first day I’ve visited the site in weeks. We lost connection during a storm and decided to leave it that way for a long, long time.
However, we finally gave in and got the dish aligned again. This quote of the day seemed to ask for my comment. It wasn’t too awful long ago that I mentioned to Stucky that I wasn’t so sure anyone’s feet ever got washed in the old testament. When David sent Uriah to get his feet washed by Bathsheba, there really was no foot washing intended on the King’s part. And when Uriah opted to keep his feet unwashed, and David had to send him into battle to die, lest it be discovered that he’d had his own feet washed by Uriah’s wife, the Lord wasn’t happy with the harp player Goliath slayer. Yet, Solomon was born and became Kind, asking for, and receiving, wisdom.
Now, I am in NO WAY suggesting our Lord’s gesture to his disciples was anything beyond the demonstration of humble servitude on the Master’s part. I am suggesting that there are a lot of unusual actions in the Book that take on symbolic meanings that were probably not linked in any way to original intent.
Hmmm… Original Intent. Where have I heard that before Admin? Is your original intent to make us wonder about the foot washing in context of current events? Or, are you just in an Eastery sort of mood?
And, of course, the Easter Holiday has absolutely NOTHING to do with salvation and everything to do with the Goddess of Spring.
I even came back to give myself a thumbs down. And, Anon? I agree that the Lord’s teachings were for His Purpose. I just think the foot washing terminology was overused.
welcome back maggie-
So how does everyone feel about that fool pope washing the feet of Muslims last year? Personally I almost lost my lunch. I don’t enjoy calling out religious people but wouldn’t Jesus had better served his flock by teaching them something of value? Something that would sustain them? Clean your own feet for Christ’s sake (sorry).
Since Christianity is still around after 2000 years in spite of everything from the Romans to Islam trying to stamp it out, I’d say he knew exactly what he needed to teach his flock that would sustain them.
Jesus was God come in the flesh, the Alpha and the Omega, and as God he knew a bit more than any earthly power would know either then or now.