Article December 1, 2008 Issue

HUMILITY—AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOOT WASHING

BY BETH CAREY

Some Of The Most well-known Biblical accounts of humility include foot washing. Jesus washed his disciples' feet on the night of the Last Supper before he was crucified. And a "woman in the city, which was a sinner" washed Jesus' feet when he was a guest at the house of Simon, a Pharisee (see Luke 7:36–50).

Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet was followed by his comment, "Ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15). This has been referred to as an "acted parable," the importance of which lies in its depiction of the selfless love that is demanded in following the Christ.

In the Bible, foot washing illustrates the expression of several levels of love. A servant washing the feet of a master illustrates one level. A master washing the feet of a servant is a higher level. But Jesus' requirement that "ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14) takes this act to the highest level.