The purpose of this lesson: To stress the fact that Jesus act of washing the twelves feet was unusual, extreme, and emphasized Gods concept of humble service.
In the first century and before, feet or the foot served many purposes. It could be used in a demeaning way. A conqueror was usually depicted as having his foot on the neck of the conquered. To go barefoot in public might be an indication of mourning, especially if you were wealthy and typically wore sandals. As we might say, Where is your restroom? they might indicate the same need was cared for by the expression of covering the feet. The feet could be used to indicate disgraceful rejection of responsibility. (A relative was to marry a deceased, childless relatives wife and continue the dead mans lineage. A refusal of that responsibility gave the living relative the name of The house of him whose sandal is removedsee Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and Ruth 4:7-12. Feet could be used as a disgraceful sign of rejection (shaking the dust off your feet). The feet could be used to indicate the learning of a disciple as he submitted to the knowledge of a teacher (to sit at the feet of).
Feet or a foot carried great symbolism in the societies and world of Bible writings (Old and New Testaments). Ask your students if they are aware of symbolism associated with feet today?
Care for a visitors feet was a necessary and understood act of hospitality (consider Luke 7:44). People commonly walked to destinations. At best they walked in sandals. Roadways or paths were commonly unpaved. Many roads or paths had stones or garbage (such as bones from things eaten) in them. Socks had not been invented. By our standards, the sandals were poorly made.
Walking was much more essential to life and common functions than it is now. Ask your students to think of modern ways todays world compensates for a persons inability to walk. Today not walking is a major inconvenience. Then walking was commonly critical to life.
People arrived withat besttired, dirty feet. If the journey was long (a few miles), the travelers feet might be bruised or cut. Taking care of ones feet was critical. A common act of hospitality was to have water available to wash the persons feet, or, if you were wealthy, to have water available with a servant who washed the travelers feet. Remember, there was no running water or hot water, but carried water!
Emphasize two points. (a) Feet were easily injured and required care and awareness. (b) It was not convenient to be hospitable. Making water available required preparation and labor.
Washing feet was considered a lowly task. Commonly, foot washing was a slaves work (though occasionally a superiors feet might be washed as a sign of respectsuch as a disciple for a respected teacher). Typically, the youngest and least experienced slave washed feet. It truly was a task for the lowest of the low!
Especially in Jewish society with their religious emphasis on religious cleanliness (purity), washing feet was risky. There was no way to know where the feet had been or what the feet had contacted. It was not a task in Jewish society that was easily done!
There are records of one of lower position washing the feet of one of higher position, but no records of one of high position washing the feet of someone lower than heuntil we encounter Jesus act. When Jesus took off his robe and tied the cloth around him to dry the washed feet, Jesus looked like a slave, not a Master! The scene was shockingly inappropriate! Jesus even washed Judas feet after Judas had decided to betray Jesus! One can imagine the uneasy silence that fell on the twelve as they participated in the grossly inappropriate.
Jesus did something that was considered inappropriate and socially unacceptable. Because most people do not practice the act today (the need does not exist in this society), and because the act does not today have the religious impact it did then (for religious uncleanness), it does not carry the repulsiveness and inappropriateness that it did then. We, today in this country, are not aware of feelings then associated with the act of foot washing.
So shocking was the scene that they did not know what to say or do! Then Jesus came to Simon Peter, the man who said something even when he should have said nothing! His immediate reaction was refusal: Are YOU going to wash MY feet? or, as we might say, Whoa! This is not going to happen!
The entire event was so unthinkable there had to be an atmosphere of stunned shock and silence as Jesus did something that was completely inappropriate. It was so inappropriate that Peter thought he had to stop to the event.
Jesus said two things to him: (a) You will understand later, and (b) If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. In (b) Jesus said that if he did not wash Peters feet, their relationship was over.
It was Jesus second statement to Peter that emphasized the gravity of the moment. Also note the confusion of the moment would become later wisdom.
Peter then said he wanted Jesus to wash more than his feet. Jesus said he did not need a bath. There is much more involved here than cleaning dirty feet! There was the cleansing of receiving an act of humility as well as taking dirt from feet. Were these twelve not the men who argued shortly before about which one was the greatest (see Luke 22:1, 3-6, 24)?
Peter misunderstood. He, coming from a religious perspective that emphasized the importance of physical acts and correct procedures, thought the significance of the event was understood in the act. Jesus point was that the significance of the event was determined by the meaning of the act, not just the act itself. A bath would not have made Peter more clean than washing his feet.
There were crushed egos in this happening as well as a huge dose of the meaning of humility. Jesus, the Master, did what they all were unwilling to do. Jesus was willing to be an example of what he taught them about significance and Gods values! There was more than outside dirt involved on this occasion!
The event redefined both Gods concept of arrogance and humility. The twelve understood the religious meaning of both as they had been taught. Jesus presented, by example, Gods meaning of both.
Only a unique God would demonstrate His values in a slaves work!
The fact that God could use the act of the lowest slave to define His concepts of arrogance and humility demonstrates His uniqueness. Had the twelve been asked if this was an appropriate way to illustrate a divine concept, prior to Jesus death they would have said, No!
For Thought and Discussion
1. List some of the purposes feet or foot served in the first century and before.
a. The act of conquest
b. The act of mourning
c. The act of discharging bodily waste
d. The act of rejection
e. The act of refusing responsibility
f. The act of willful submission
2. What two things made caring for a visitors feet important?
The two things were it was a necessary act and it was an understood expression of hospitality.
3. Why might feet be bruised or cut when a visitor arrived?
The visitor might have been bruised or cut by a stone or piece of garbage as he or she made the journey.
4. Depending on the prosperity of the host, what might be provided?
A poor person might provide a basin and some water. A wealthy person might provide a basin, some water, and a slave to do the washing and drying.
5. Washing feet was considered what? Whose work was it?
Washing feet was considered a lowly task. It commonly was the work of a slave, the least significant slave.
6. There is no record of what happening?
There is no record of a more significant person washing the feet of a person of lesser significance.
7. When Jesus prepared to wash his disciples feet, he looked like what, not what?
Jesus looked like a slave, not a Master.
8. When did Jesus wash Judas feet?
Jesus washed Judas feet after Judas decided to betray Jesus.
9. What was Peters first reaction? What was his second reaction?
Peters first reaction: Jesus, you will not wash my feet! Peters second reaction: Wash my hands and head as well as my feet!
10. What two things did Jesus say to Peter?
First thing (to everyone): You will understand later.
Second thing: Peter, if I do not wash your feet, our relationship is over.
11. What two things occurred in this event?
There was a redefinition of humility and dirty feet were washed.
OR
Egos were crushed and humility was redefined.
12. Jesus, the Master, did what?
Jesus did what the twelve were unwilling to do.
13. Only a unique God would demonstrate what?
Only a unique God would demonstrate His values by using a slaves work.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 9