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Washing of Feet: Ancient Traditions to Modern Practice

Desiree Ferwalt

Spirituality in Nursing (Summer 2011-SOL1)

June 22, 2011

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Absract

Foot washing is an ancient religious ritual dating as far back to times in the Old

Testament. It is still observed as an ordinance by many Christian denominations today used to

establish our biblical roots. In this paper I will describe feet washing, its history, where it is

practiced, how it is done, and a controversy that is going on about it.

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Washing of Feet: Ancient Traditions to Modern Practice

What is the Washing of the Feet? What is the point of this very old ritual? Where is its

relevance in this technological age? In this paper I will describe feet washing, its history, where

it is practiced, how it is done, and a controversy that is going on about it.

Foot washing also called “washing of the saint’s feat” is a religious ritual observed as an

ordinance to many Christian denominations, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the

Mennonite Church. (Bender and Klassen, 2011) The ceremony of washing feet has a long history

and even biblical roots. In the Bible especially the Old Testament you can find several references

to washing a person’s feet. Here are some reference points to look at Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32;

43:24; Judg 19:21; 1 Sam 25:41; cf. 2 Sam 11:8 (Coloe, 2004, pg.413). In ancient times

performing or offering this service was a sign of hospitality. The guest to a household would be

offered a bowl of water and towel to perform this task. The host, one of the host’s servant, or the

guest themselves would perform the custom depending on circumstance or the guest’s

importance. The reasoning for washing a person’s feet back then other than it was a sign of

welcome was that the ancient people wore sandals and their feet became dirty very quickly

(Coloe, 2004, pg.400). This is a time honored tradition that is still being practiced by some living

in the Middle East as well as in some Christian denominations in remembrance of Christ’s

teachings.

Christian churches associate foot washing as part of the Mass of the Lord's Supper. This

is a celebration of the Last Supper, where Jesus washed the feet of his twelve apostles (Bender

and Klassen, 2011).One of the most famous foot washing scenes in the Bible can be found in the

Gospel of John 13:1-17(King James Version):

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Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he

should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the

world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put

into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father

had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He

riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciple’s feet, and to

wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and

Peter said unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him,

What I do thou knowest not; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou

shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with

me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

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. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he,

Ye are not all clean. So after he 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? Ye call me Master

and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. I then your Lord and Master, have washed your

feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye

should do as I have done to you. 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. If ye know these things,

happy are ye if ye do them.

Normally a person would wash their own feet or have a servant do it for them. The

literary author of Welcome into the Household of God: The Foot Washing in John 13 Mary L.

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Coloe, P.B.V.M. goes into great detail about this scripture in the bible. She states that Jesus is

humbling himself by washing the disciple’s feet for them instead of letting them do it

themselves. Jesus is stating here that all men are equal in God’s eyes. The foot washing can also

be seen as an expression of love in this scripture (2004, pg.408-412). Mary L. Coloe describes

this passage on foot washing as “…an invitation to the disciples to become participants with

Jesus in his ‘hour’” (2004, pg.409). The author further describes how by Jesus washing the

disciples feet he is showing hospitality by “…welcome[ing them] into the Father’s household

that will be accomplished at the cross” (2004, pg.412)

As stated in the article “Feetwashing” by Harold S. Bender and William Klassen discuss how

some congregations practice washing of feet immediately following the communion twice a year, once

during the spring and again in the fall, feetwashing also came twice a year. service. The Franconia

Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC) have been practicing this tradition since the 1950s. (2011)

Other Christian groups such as the Lutheran, Methodist, and Eastern Orthodox and many

others practice an alteration of washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday at the end of their

Liturgy. There are many variations used. Some churches will have a bishop wash twelve

laypersons feet. Others include the entire congregation in the practice (Bender and Klassen,

2011).

How do you perform washing of the feet? Harold S. Bender and William Klassen discuss

in the article “Feetwashing” how this is performed. As stated previously in this paper feet

washing will vary upon congregation and denomination. After communion is given the

ceremony is started by reading from the book of John. Then each member of the church will take

turn washing the feet of another church member. One at a time you place the feet are placed into

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the metal or wooden basin of warm water and then are washed by cupping the hand and pouring

water over each foot. Then the foot is dried with towel around usually worn around the waist

representing how Jesus girded himself. It is then sometimes ended with a holy kiss and a God

bless you. It is believed by the authors that this teaches the congregation humility and equality.

(2011)

In the article written in 2004 Coloe briefly states of another instance where you might see

washing of the feet done is before baptism in some European and Asian countries (pg.407)

In the United States the communal practice of congregation members has been of great

debate. Here there is some controversy on whether or not women and younger people should be

excluded from this practice. In the article Women Included and Excluded in Holy Thursday Foot

Washing states that many church leaders have been advocating “…for limiting the ceremony to

men in accord with the example of Jesus at the Last Supper”. (2004, pg.5) While other churches

choose to include the entire congregation in this ceremony. At the moment whether or not the

entire congregation including women and younger members of the church can participate is up to

the individual pastors (“Women Included and Exlcuded…”, 2004, pg. 5)

Though I have a personal discomfort with handling feet I can see the significance of

wanting to practice this ancient custom if only to remember its biblical roots and meaning that

lay behind this ritual. It is a right that should not exclude anyone from the ritual since it is not

only the older men who faithful followers in Jesus Christ. As stated before in the book of John

13: 16(King James Version) “The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent

greater than he that sent him.”

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In this paper I have described what feet washing is, its history, where it is practiced, how

it is done, and a controversy that is going on about it. Though the reasoning for doing this

ceremony has changed over the years what it symbolizes stays the same: hospitality, equality,

humility and love.

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References

Bender, Harold S. and William Klassen. (2011). Feetwashing. Global Anabaptist Mennonite

Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 July 2011, from

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/F44ME.html.

Coloe, M. L. (2004). Welcome into the Household of God: The Foot Washing in John 13.

Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 66(3), 400-415. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from Academic

Search Premier.

Women included and excluded in Holy Thursday foot washing. (2004). National Catholic

Reporter, 40(24), 5. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from Academic Search Premier.