October 17

Lowly Service

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. — John 13:14 BSB

Are we to take Christ’s command to wash each other’s feet literally? Some have interpreted it that way. Others say that He meant for us to do humble acts of service for one another. But what kind of service did Christ’s act of washing His disciples' feet represent? It was more than a small act of humility—it symbolized His work of cleansing their souls of the remaining faults and stains they had picked up in the world.

Our service to each other should be like this. We are to bring the basin and towel to one another, helping each other to be clean Christians. We should aim for the sanctification and strengthening of our fellow believers. Of course, we can’t wash away sins—only Christ can do that—but we can still contribute to each other’s spiritual growth. We can encourage others toward Christ, point out faults in love, and seek to help each other grow in purity and character.

This requires grace and wisdom, as well as humility and love. Before we can help cleanse others, we must first be clean ourselves. What if our hands, which are meant to wash the feet of others, are stained with sin? Instead of helping, we would leave more stains. So we must first make sure our own hands have been washed in Christ’s blood. Then, we must also be willing to let others wash our feet. The cleansing is mutual—we are to wash each other’s feet. The key to all of this is genuine love for one another.