Fourth Key
Footwashing is a commandment (St John 13:1-17)
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50).
Footwashing, which is the last step of baptism (St John 13:10) is an ordinance that Jesus performed in the presence of all his disciples and left it on record that we should read and do as he did. There are some who say it is not a commandment and that they can still have part with Christ even without having their feet washed: But Jesus said to Peter, to whom he had given the keys to the kingdom and said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” St Matthew 16:19.
But when Simon Peter moment tried to resist this commandment and service, Christ said to him, ‘…If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.’
Therefore, if we don’t get our feet washed, we have no part with Jesus. If we have been baptized but not feet-washed, one thing is lacking, that is footwashing, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet….” (John 13:10). Footwashing can make us have eternal life if we uphold it, and it can also bring death to us if we disregard it.
Though he was given the keys, Peter almost lot part with Christ telling us that those who follow the same and resist this ordinance that Christ commanded, are also in the same condemnation. ‘And why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say?’ (Luke 6:46). (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13.
In addition to being a commandment which completes baptism, footwashing is a practice among saints when they visit each other. Jesus Christ in the house of Simon expected it and because Simon did not perform it to Him, Christ took particular mention on that: “And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.(Luke 7:44)”.
Paul writes that a widow cannot be regarded as one, unless she has, among other things, washed the saints’ feet: “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, [10] Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” 1 Timothy 5:9-10.
If one belongs to Christ, he hears His voice, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
And he that is of God, Jesus said heareth God’s words, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
To obey God’s commandments is better than sacrifice; “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.[23] For rebellion is as the sin of itchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Sam 15:22-23.
When God gave man the commandment and told him the consequence of disobeying it another voice found place in the heart of man, and man faced the wrath of God: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”. (Genesis 3:16-17).
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” Genesis 3:4. The scripture says: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.
And sin is the transgression of the commandment or law of God (1 John 3:4). But then the question comes:
How is footwashing a commandment? When did God command it? The answer is in the words of Jesus Christ that God gave it to him as a commandment:
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. ” St John 12:49-50.
Christ said he did nothing of his own, but those things which please the Father: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. St John 8:28-29.
Jesus commands his followers to wash one another’s feet as he had washed them: “ So after he had 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. If 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.” (John 13:12-17) Continue to the Fifth Key