Why did Jesus wash the feet of his disciples? Why did Christ wash the disciples' feet? The Great Teacher gives a clearer idea of the Creator

Let us read an excerpt from the Gospel of John 13:1-17: “Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father, showed that, Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given everything into His hands and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the supper and took off with yourself on top clothes and, taking a towel, girded himself. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.” Peter says to Him: You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head. Jesus says to him: he who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all. For He knew His betrayer, therefore And said: not all of you are pure. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them: Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know this, blessed are you when you do it."

How much has already been said about this. How much has already been heard about this. And yet we, people, today, now again for the tenth, hundredth, thousandth time, turn to the gospel event, which is often associated with the unpopular and even somehow inconvenient word “washing of the feet.”

A moment later, after the twelve disciples had washed their feet, historical fact, Jesus said: "And you must wash each other's feet."

“Well,” someone will say, “how beautiful and sublime it all began: I loved, I loved to the end, and it ended with the “cast iron” word “must.”

Alas, the concept of duty today is not in honor among either the older generation or the younger. Moral duty, duty towards God, towards people, towards our daily duties, like an annoying fly, we drive away from everywhere. No wonder the poet lamented: “A terrible age, terrible hearts!”

“I don’t owe anyone anything” - this is the formula for how the modern brain works. Isn’t that the reason for the painful abundance of declarative love? It pours into our ears from almost every wave of the airwaves. Any radio station today sings about love more than the Christian church. And against the backdrop of this pop culture of love, there is an absolute lack of truly high relationships between people. Exactly this weakness in man. The gap, the abyss between the demand for love and the desire to give it.

Only in God does the unity of love and duty find its highest and most delightful expression: “But God demonstrates His love toward us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

How few people in the world know that love must be proven all the time.

“But God demonstrates His love toward us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

He tirelessly proves this attitude to us.

“A friend was waiting for the two disciples at the city gates, with whom everything had been agreed upon in advance. It was agreed that he would carry a jug of water and by this sign Peter and John would recognize him. This friend laid out a carpet on the second floor of his house and placed it around a low table pillows and slain a ritual lamb in the Temple, as it should be.

Love filled Jesus' heart. “Before the feast of Easter,” writes the Evangelist John, “Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, loved them to the end.”

Before they could enter, the disciples began to challenge each other for the right to recline next to Him, the right to primacy, not realizing what kind of day it was, what kind of hour it was. John lay down on the right. The man from Kariot apparently was closest to Jesus on the left, otherwise He would not have been able to hand him the piece of bread that he had previously dipped into his dish.

I really wanted to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.

John's head fell on the shoulder on which the heavy log of the gallows would soon fall. According to the ritual, Jesus blessed the first cup... But the dispute resumed: everyone wanted to be first. Then He reminded that the first among them should be the last:

And I am among you as one who serves."

And showing Himself an example of true primacy in His Kingdom, primacy in which the one who seeks to serve his neighbor is ahead, Jesus stands up, takes off His outer clothing, takes a towel, girdles on, slowly pours water into the washbasin... As if spellbound, the disciples silently watching and not daring to look at each other. And suddenly the Lord stretches out his hands, on which there are still no marks of nails, to Judas!

What is He doing? Can't be! Dream! Error!

Touching your feet brings you back to reality. Bowing, bending his knees, bowing his head, the Creator of life washes the feet of his traitor. Angels hide their faces. The universe freezes.

"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt above the stars of God my throne and I will sit on the mountain in the assembly of the gods, at the edge of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will like the Almighty"(Is. 14:13), - this is how the devil once dreamily declared, deceiving people of God's likeness. "I will ascend into heaven...” He was late. Heaven preceded him, descending to us.

“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” Proving their superiority to each other, challenging their primacy, the disciples of Christ allegedly also climbed to the mythical stars of glory. And they were like blind kittens looking for a big and warm chair. But the splash of water between the palms of Christ brought them back to earth and opened their eyes. However, not everyone.

"Will similar The Almighty"?! Then get on your knees, bow your head, wash the feet of twelve proud people who will not respond in kind... From that moment on, the devil stopped dreaming of being like the Almighty. Well, who knew that God is like that? Yes, He is exactly like that. From that moment on, the desire to become like the Almighty left the devil. Fallen Angel remained endlessly alone in his insane hope of climbing to a non-existent peak. God was where Satan did not want to go. And the father of lies irrevocably and forever became the son of death.

To become like Christ... Then, on that very Thursday, not everyone succeeded in this in the upper room. Today?

"To him who overcomes I will give to sit with Me on My throne, just as I conquered and sat down with My Father on the throne Him" (Rev. 3:21).

The Lord calls those who overcome themselves. It is possible to share a place with Christ on His throne today. And please don't make a fuss. There is enough room for everyone next to Christ the Servant. Who wants to be first? This is our day. This is our time. Let's borrow their places.

Christ says: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17).

I don’t pray to the One who barely dares

Call my soul, confused and amazed,

And before whom my mind falls powerlessly silent,

In thoughtless pride, striving to comprehend Him;

I pray not to the One before whose altars

The people, prostrated, lie in humility,

And the incense flows in fragrant waves,

And the lights flicker and singing sounds;

I'm not praying to the one who's surrounded by crowds

Spirits filled with sacred awe,

And whose invisible throne is behind the bright stars

Reigns over the abysses of scattered worlds, -

No, I am dumb before Him!.. Deep consciousness

My insignificance closes my lips, -

I am attracted to a different charm -

Not royal power, but torture and the cross.

My God is the God of the suffering,

God, stained with blood,

God-man and brother with a heavenly soul, -

And before suffering and pure love

I bow with my fervent prayer!..

S.Ya. Nadson (1862-1887)

In the footsteps of Christ

Let's read an excerpt from the Gospel of John 13:1-17 (see the beginning of the previous chapter).

Who among us would not like to visit the Holy Land? This refers to modern Israel and places dear to the hearts of all Christians. Nowadays, this opportunity is generally open to everyone. Although, for obvious reasons, not everyone can use it. But, perhaps, everyone would like to go there. And this is easy to explain. Wander through the narrow streets of old Jerusalem and at the same time be mentally transported into the past! Isn't this exciting? After all, the foot of the Savior Christ himself stepped on the pavements of that city. There His apostles walked, there the voices of His enemies were heard, there began Christian church. It is not for nothing that tens and hundreds of thousands of people visit the Holy Land every year. For what? Walking in the footsteps of Christ is the reward for every pilgrim.

However, there is another way to follow Christ. And it is available to everyone. But what’s surprising is that much goes this way less people. Why? The tourist is only expected to pay a certain amount. And a few hours later he is already following the guide, the road along which Jesus walked. But in order to follow this other path, it is not money that is required, but something incomparably greater. Our Lord and God expects the most precious things from us. Ourselves, our heart, thoughts and feelings. To follow in the footsteps of Christ, imitating His actions and attitude toward others, is the Christian path.

Let's take a closer look at the Gospel description of the last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The Lord speaks of the example left for us (John 13:15). This is His trace. In the actions of Christ we must recognize the trace of our Lord and Teacher. Will we follow in His footsteps?

The Apostle Peter, in his First Epistle, encourages each of us to delve deeper into the story of Jesus. Having been a participant in the events in the upper room, the apostle, years later, wrote the following: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Did you notice? We follow in the footsteps of Jesus when we follow His example. “If you have had to suffer for God’s sake, do not be sad,” Peter admonishes. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.” What purpose did the Lord pursue by leaving us the example of foot washing? Only one. We must follow the example left. And this is a wonderful Christian duty. Beautiful and Christian because it is the duty of love - the only duty of a Christian. Another apostle of Jesus, Paul, remarked on this matter: “Do not owe anything to anyone except mutual love..." (Rom. 13:8).

And by washing each other’s feet, we repeat the path of the Lord. This is how Christians differ from tourists. Christians have different routes. Their ways are spiritual. The world is diligently looking for traces of great teachers left on stone, wood, and canvas. Christians are busy with a different search. They follow in the footsteps of Christ spiritually. In other words, they strive to imitate the actions of Jesus. They seek the relationship found in Jesus. And this desire is very expensive in the eyes of God. In order for it to arise in us, Christ went to suffering and death.

In the book “The Desire of Ages,” in the chapter dedicated to what happened in the upper room, there are the following words: “Christ thus instituted a church rite.” And on the next page we read: “For those who are imbued with the spirit of this service, it will never become a simple rite.” In other words, when we become imbued with the true spirit of the rite of foot washing following the example of the Savior, then more than a formal rite occurs. At this moment, holy relationships with God and others are born. By following in the footsteps of Jesus and acting according to His example, we become a living blessing to each other. No, not an empty ritual, but a meeting with Christ in the Spirit awaits us now.

What should happen to us? The same thing happened on that memorable day with the disciples of the Lord. They gathered for the Easter meal in anticipation of something important. But for some reason, at the same time, they looked at each other, like an appraiser in a pawnshop examines the item being pawned. Everyone looked for flaws in their neighbor, thereby, as it were, increasing their own selfish value.

Jesus could not help but notice how unkind and dangerous a spirit possessed His disciples. They sat around a low table, as is customary in the East. The first prayers were said, and people had already begun the Easter meal. Suddenly the Lord stands up. He could no longer remain in such an oppressive atmosphere of unlove. Christ felt cramped among such people. But He did not run out of the upper room in disgust and slam the door. He stayed so that the cramped hearts of His disciples would be transformed into spacious ones, so that selfish relationships would be replaced by saints, so that they would be seized by a thirst for purification, so that the purification of souls itself would take place.

And all this really happened. Shame, embarrassment, joy - all these feelings were mixed in the Lord’s disciples. The spirit of confession descended upon them. No, they did not interrupt each other and exclaim: “Lord, forgive me!” Their hearts were filled with prayers. Their thoughts turned to the Savior. The goal was achieved. The catharsis they needed so much now had occurred, purification had finally arrived. Consciousness opened to the transforming action of the Spirit of God. They experienced the realization of their sinfulness as never before, began to thirst for forgiveness, and felt the desired forgiveness in the behavior of Christ. Secret confession cleansed the most hidden corners of their souls. They became ready to receive the bread and cup of the Lord.

At the same time, it is worth remembering Judas. He also went through this ritual, but only through the ritual. He didn't ask for forgiveness. He did not survive confession. He did not accept forgiveness. He was not touched by purification. And after the bread was received from the hands of Christ, as Scripture says, Satan entered into him (see John 13:27). For him, everything that happened turned out to be in vain, empty, fruitless. Let this not happen to any of us!

Christ did everything so that the thoughts and feelings of His disciples would be reborn. Everything so that their behavior becomes different. And He managed to achieve great things by transforming His apostles. Confession, forgiveness, acceptance of forgiveness, and then unity in communion. Soon the disciples will leave their Lord. But then, in those minutes of their first communion, they experienced true, albeit fragile, unity. The power of life in Christ will yet come to them. At that time, the foundation for the experience of faith was laid in their souls.

Washing the feet is more than just a ritual and a symbol. By following in the footsteps of Jesus through faith and action, we come into contact with reality itself. Participation in the rite of washing the feet as a symbol of purification introduces us to the very reality of purification. The students truly became different. Following in the footsteps of Christ changes a person. By following the example of the Lord, we strive to restore His image and likeness in us. And this restoration does happen when we believe and act with the right attitude.

This is the way to follow in the footsteps of Christ according to His example. This path is not easy. And sometimes this can confuse us. We may be distressed by our own weakness. However, for now let's put aside thoughts about ourselves. And let us listen to the words of the Lord: “If therefore I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

To follow in the footsteps of Christ is the reward for every Christian. So let us follow His example.

You did not wash the disciples’ feet:

You made a covenant - to humble your pride,

And we are forever grateful to the centuries,

Son of God, You washed Judas' feet,

Although I knew that Judas would betray you.

Where can we mortals gain such strength?

Where can one get such holiness from?

But You said that our strength is in faith,

That we will perpetuate the spirit with love,

And, having overcome sins in the dead of night,

With You we will heal serious wounds.

O Light One, could a person

Want to experience love and happiness without You?

You have clothed the world in clean clothes

An example of victory and participation...

I.A. Yavorovskaya

Created: 06/24/2014, 20302 60

"...The blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit offered Himself blameless to God, will cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living and true God!"

Hebrews 9:14

One of the striking and very important teachings of Jesus Christ is the ruling on Communion, which symbolizes His suffering and death for the salvation of sinners. During his last supper with his disciples, shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples, as the Bible says: “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, stood up from supper, took off His outer garment, and, taking a towel, girded Himself. Then he poured water into the laver and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he girded” (John 13:3-5). This was a special moment when the Greater in position and status began to serve the lesser, and humiliated Himself to the level of a slave, setting an example of how to deal with one’s neighbors. However, Seventh-day Adventists, like some Pentecostals, imitate the example of Jesus Christ literally by washing their feet on the day of Communion. It must be said that there is nothing wrong with literally washing the feet of your neighbors, but the problem arises when this “rite” is elevated into a doctrinal framework and considered obligatory. So foot washing is one of the principles of faith of the SDA church, which sounds like this: “We believe that this decree of Christ is binding on all Christians (John 13:14-15,17). This ministry, which teaches humility, and which was instituted by Jesus, is not a Jewish tradition or an Eastern custom, but a new commandment. This is evident from the behavior of Peter and the other disciples, who initially resisted. The usual washing of feet was always done at the door of the house, and such a washing would not have caused any surprise to the disciples. “You do not know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” These words of Christ confirm that washing the feet is a holy act and should be done not spiritually, but literally. John 13:17 calls all those who follow the example of Jesus in washing their feet blessed.”. From this it is clear that Seventh-day Adventists teach that foot-washing is an obligatory act which they perform on the day of Communion.

Adventists place particular importance on the act of washing feet, which has an impact on a person's salvation and forgiveness of sins. They believe that foot washing is also an act that helps remove sins, as they say:“The understanding of foot washing as a symbol of the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is partly explained by the use of the word katharos in this verse. A word similar in meaning is also found in 1 John. 1:7–9, which clearly speaks of forgiveness of sin through the Blood of Jesus. Although sin is not explicitly mentioned in John. 13:10, his presence is implied. The idea of forgiveness of sin committed after baptism is quite consistent with the emotional words of Jesus in John. 13:8, where Peter is told that he will have no part with Jesus unless his sin committed after baptism is taken away by washing his feet" (Handbook on Theology. Bible Commentary ASD, Volume 12). This statement based on textual analysis ancient Greek text New Testament and is supported by the words of Jesus Christ from John 13:8. It should be noted that Adventists also recognize that Jesus Christ left an example of humility for the Church, but at the same time they emphasize the special importance of foot washing for literal fulfillment. This literal washing of feet is reinforced by the words of Jesus Christ:“So if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same things that I have done to you" (John 13:14,15). It is also a serious statement that failure to wash feet is interpreted as a voluntary break with Christ, as Adventists say:"From In. 13:14 also makes it clear that Christ commanded His disciples, both the apostles and the wider Church, to wash one another's feet. The washing of feet should express the believer's sacrificial love for his fellow men. Stubborn, willful refusal to participate can be interpreted as a voluntary break with Christ (13:8)” (The Theological Handbook. SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 12). Such a statement shows that foot washing affects salvation, since refusing it is a break with Christ, which in turn means the loss of salvation. It follows from this that all Christians who refuse to perform the “rite” of washing their feet lose their connection with Christ, which ultimately is a loss of salvation. Thus, Adventists emphasize the special importance of the “rite” of foot washing, which leads to cleansing from sins, and at the same time is necessary for salvation. However, such statements must be considered in the light of the Bible, which reflects God's will.

Before starting a Biblical analysis of the doctrine of foot washing, let's look at what the Bible says about the event when Jesus Christ washed the feet of the disciples:“Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.” Peter says to Him: You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head. Jesus says to him: he who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all of you" (John 13:5-10). Here we see the importance of the event when Jesus Christ had to wash the feet of the disciples in order to set an example for them. Adventists take as a basis the case of the Apostle Peter, when he did not want the Teacher to wash his feet, where Adventists point out the importance of the “rite” itself. In addition, Adventists, to defend this doctrine, strengthen it with the text John 13:14. But here we need to figure out why Jesus Christ specifically washed the feet of his disciples, and emphasized that they should wash each other’s feet? The fact is that in ancient times the Jewish people washed their feet every day, since the main shoes then were sandals, and the feet became dirty every time a person walked down the street. Poor people washed their own or their daughters' feet, while richer people had their feet washed by slaves. This was a common daily activity for Jews. When Jesus Christ began to wash the feet of the disciples, He showed an example of humility, that being higher in status and nature, He performed, in essence, a slave’s work. Foot washing was not used as a “rite” but as an example that Jews encountered on a daily basis. It was common practice for the disciples of Jesus Christ to wash their feet, but they did not do it to each other. That is why this example was used, showing that they should serve each other as slaves serve their masters by washing their feet. In this regard, Jesus Christ tells them:“If therefore I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14), showing that now the disciples, when they wash their feet, should not do it each for themselves, but one should wash the other, showing love and humility. The emphasis here is not on the “rite”, but on the essence of serving each other.

Now consider the Seventh-day Adventist arguments in defense of the “rite” of foot washing. Let us begin with the argument that John 13:10 uses the word katharos, which is used in John 1:7-9, which in turn speaks of cleansing from sins. The Adventist argument says that if a given word is found in these two texts, then they have the same meaning in essence, namely cleansing from sins. The result of this thought is the conclusion:“...Peter is told that he will have no part with Jesus unless his sin committed after baptism is taken away by washing his feet” (Theological Handbook SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 12). However, this approach is fundamentally wrong, and moreover, washing the feet does not cleanse oneself from sins; it is simply an unbiblical teaching. To begin with, the word "katharos", which is translated as "pure" and means purity, cannot represent any doctrinal basis. There is nothing special about this word, and it is always used in texts that talk about purity, regardless of the essence of this purity, be it physical or spiritual purity. This can be observed in both the ancient Greek texts of the New Testament and the Septuagint, as can be seen in the following examples:

Scripture	Ancient Greek text	Context of the word "katharos"
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, then He, being faithful and righteous, will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all untruth	1 John 1:9: ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν πιστός ἐστι καὶ δίκαιος ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας	Cleansing from sins
Mark 1:42: After this word, the leprosy immediately left him, and he became clean	Mark 1:42: καὶ εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ εὐθέως ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα καὶ ἐκαθαρίσθη	Medical cleanliness of the body against illness
Matthew 23:26: Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and dish so that clean there was also their appearance	Matthew 23:26: φαρισαῖε τυφλέ καθάρισον πρῶτον τὸ ἐντὸς τοῦ ποτηρίου καὶ τῆς παροψίδος ἵνα γένηται καὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς αὐτῶν καθαρόν	It has double meaning, both the physical purity of the object and the spiritual purity of the person
Exodus 27:20: And command the children of Israel to bring you oil clean knocked out of olive trees, for illumination, so that the lamp burns at all times	Exodus 27:20 (Septuagint): Καὶ σὺ σύνταξον τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ λαβέτωσάν σοι ἔλαιον ἐξ ἐλαιῶν ἄτρυγον καθαρὸν κεκομμένον εἰς φῶς καῦσαι, ἵνα καίηται λύχνος διαπαντός	Oil purity from excess elements
Zechariah 3:5: And he said: Place it on his head clean kidar. And they laid clean a turban was placed on his head and they clothed him with clothing; The angel of the Lord stood	Zechariah 3:5 (Septuagint): καὶ ἐπίθετε κίδαριν καθαρὰν ἐπὶ τήν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ. καί περιέβαλον αὐτὸν ἱμάτια καὶ ἐπέθηκαν κίδαριν καθαρὰν ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου εἱστήκει	Cleanliness of a piece of clothing

From this table we see that the argument with the word “katharos” is meaningless, since this word and its forms are used in ancient Greek texts in different contexts. This means that John 13:10 does not talk about cleansing one's sins by washing one's feet.

The next unbiblical statement is that foot washing cleanses sins. This statement has no confirmation in the Bible, and also contradicts the text of Scripture, since only the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from sins, as it is written:“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Also, the way for the forgiveness of sins is not foot washing, but repentance:“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). From this we see that to cleanse sins we need faith in the Redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ and repentance before God. There is no reference in the Bible to the idea that foot washing provides cleansing of sins or any benefit to spiritual life.

Typically, Adventists wash their feet on the day of communion, considering this an obligatory attribute of the Communion process. However, the apostles never mentioned foot washing anywhere, especially the Apostle Paul, who fully described the process of Communion in his first letter to the Corinthians. He nowhere mentions the need to wash feet, nor do the other apostles. Also, the Bible does not contain a single mention of the apostles or their disciples washing their feet on the day of Communion. Here the question arises: if refusing to wash your feet can lead to a break with Christ, then why bother? important fact there is not a single mention in the letters of the apostles? Moreover, what should a person who, being disabled, has no legs, do? Is he really doomed? The answer here is clear: the Bible does not teach that you need to wash your feet, and moreover, refusing to wash your feet has no spiritual consequences, much less does it affect your relationship with Christ.

From all that has been said, we can conclude that foot washing is not a required Biblical “rite”, and the very teaching of the importance of foot washing is unbiblical. Adventists are mistaken when they teach the importance of foot washing, and especially when they claim that refusal of this “rite” can lead to a break with Christ, and therefore to loss of salvation.

A woman pours ointment on Jesus' head

Woman washing Jesus' feet

Gospel	Description of the Anointing
From Matthew (Matt. 26:6-7)	When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vessel of precious ointment and poured it on His head as he reclined. Seeing this, His disciples were indignant and said: why such a waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a high price and given to the poor. But Jesus, realizing this, said to them: Why are you embarrassing a woman? she did a good deed for Me: for you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me; pouring this ointment on My body, she prepared Me for burial
From Mark (Mark 14:3-9)	And when He was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, and was reclining, a woman came with an alabaster vessel of ointment made of pure, precious nard and, breaking the vessel, she poured it on His head. Some were indignant and said to each other: Why this waste of the world? For it could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they grumbled at her. But Jesus said: leave her; Why are you embarrassing her? She did a good deed for Me. For you always have the poor with you and, whenever you want, you can do them good; but you don’t always have Me. She did what she could: she prepared to anoint My body for burial.
From Luke (Luke 7:37-28)	And so, a woman of that city, who was a sinner, having learned that He was reclining in the house of a Pharisee, brought an alabaster flask of ointment and, standing behind His feet and weeping, began to wet His feet with tears and wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet. , and smeared it with myrrh. Seeing this, the Pharisee who invited Him said to himself: if He were a prophet, He would know who and what kind of woman was touching Him, for she was a sinner. Turning to him, Jesus said: Simon! I have something to tell you. He says: tell me, Teacher. Jesus said: One creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty, but since they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me, which of them will love him more? Simon replied: I think the one who was more forgiven. He told him: you judged correctly. And turning to the woman, he said to Simon: do you see this woman? I came to your house, and you did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head; You did not give Me a kiss, but she, since I came, has not stopped kissing My feet; You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you: her many sins are forgiven because she loved much, but he who is forgiven little loves little. He told her: your sins are forgiven
From John (John 12:1-8)	Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they prepared a supper for Him, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who reclined with Him. Mary, taking a pound of pure precious ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the world. Then one of His disciples, Judas Simon Iscariot, who wanted to betray Him, said: Why not sell this ointment for three hundred denarii and give it to the poor? He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He had [a cash] box with him and wore what was put in there. Jesus said: leave her; She saved it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but Me not always.

Apocryphal stories

Divergence of Evangelical Testimonies

	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
City	Bethany	Bethany	Unnamed, in Galilee, possibly Nain	Bethany
Place	House of Simon the Leper	House of Simon the Leper	House of Simon the Pharisee	House of Lazarus from Bethany
Day	Wednesday of Holy Week		Long before Holy Week	Saturday, the day before entering Jerusalem
Woman	some woman	some woman	sinner from Bethany	Mary, sister of Lazarus
Actions	anointing of the head	anointing of the head	washing the feet	washing the feet

Such a number of discrepancies has long raised questions among researchers of the Gospel texts. Currently, a significant portion of secular scholars believe that behind the Gospel accounts of the anointing there are one or two actual events in the life of Jesus. Most believe that we are talking about the same anointing, the story of which was attributed by the evangelists to different moments in the life of Jesus. In general, preference is given to Mark's version, although the exact timing ( Holy Week) and place (Bethany) is considered by most secular historians as a late addition. Church tradition, on the contrary, recognizes the authenticity of the message of anointing during Holy Week.

Icon "The Raising of Lazarus". The sisters bowed at the feet of Jesus

In a painting by Jean Beraud, painted in 1891. "Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee" Jesus is depicted in contemporary interiors among the bourgeoisie, dressed in the fashion of the 19th century, and a fashionably dressed young lady prostrates herself at his feet.

In Orthodox iconography there is no Washing of the Feet as a separate subject, although it can be found in stamps. Additionally, an analogy can be found in the iconographic depiction of Mary and Martha of Bethany bowing in prostration at the feet of Jesus in scenes of the raising of Lazarus, who appear to anoint him on some boards.

And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, stood up from the supper, took off His outer garment, and, taking a towel, girded Himself.

Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded.

He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Is it for you? wash my feet?

Jesus answered him: What I do, now you do not know, but you will understand later.

Peter says to Him: You will not wash my feet forever. Jesus answered him: if I don't wash it you , you have no part with Me.

Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head.

Jesus tells him: He who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.

For He knew His betrayer, therefore He said: you are not all pure.

When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them: Do you know what I have done to you?

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that.

So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you.

Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.

If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.

I'm not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose. But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.

Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

I will speak for myself. I believe that the Lord Jesus taught the disciples a lesson about humility and serving one another, not just formal foot washing. And precisely - whoever wants to be big - be a servant. Jesus constantly reminded the disciples that the higher a person's position, those he must serve his charges more. Even before washing your feet, if there is a NEED for this, of course. Even the custom of Christian widows mentioned by Timothy" wash legs saints"(1 Tim. 5:10) does not speak of the existence of a corresponding church rite... And about serving widows with good deeds.

Jesus and His disciples walked a lot. Their shoes were ordinary for that time. Either barefoot or sandals... Feet were dirty. They needed to be washed.

The fact that the feet of everyone who came into the house was washed from (Luke 7:44):

I came to your house, you didn’t give me water wash your feet , she washes it with tears and wipes it with her hair.

If I walk a lot - barefoot or even in shoes, but my feet are dirty and sweaty and clearly show the need for ablution - then it is logical for someone to want to serve me in this.

But... There is also spiritual meaning done by Jesus - to have a part with Him.. The contamination of the feet symbolizes both our walk in this world and the contamination from it. And therefore we need daily washing of our “feet” - that is, daily confession of sins, repentance. And cleansing from sins - thanks to the death of Jesus in our place. This cleansing from sins was also symbolized by the washing of feet in the laver at the temple - for the priests serving in the temple.

It is unpleasant for me to remember my participation in the modern spectacle of washing the feet, when I was still unestablished in the Teachings of Christ. But then I was taught that this was God’s Commandment. How I then began to see clearly when I compared it without other people’s glasses through the Holy Letter - their words! I just gasped every time, seeing how the naively gullible were being fooled. But simply stupid. After all, only a fool would entrust his eternal things into the hands of a person. And I've fallen for this hook before. After all, she believed that those who carry the Word of God - the saints and the righteous and God - speak through them to us, the gray mass of sinners. But, fortunately, the Lord turned this for good: So that, having come to her senses, she could show others these intricate tricks of the erring (or liars) who pervert the essence of what is said in the Bible for their own gain.

Therefore, I advise you, Alexander, to read the Teachings of Christ yourself, and ask for revelation and guidance by the Holy Spirit - as our Savior Lord Jesus promised. And then you will be firmly confident in receiving answers from the Lord personally. And even if you make mistakes, you will have the confidence that you are not sinning, because you are learning from the Lord and He will in due time reveal to you what you do not yet understand. How children are taught everything in due time. Not earlier and not later - but everything in due time. Until that time, you just need to trust God's love- grow and strengthen in spirit through the assimilation of verbal milk - the Words of the Gospel teaching of Christ.

God's blessings to you in your discipleship with Christ.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, stood up from the supper, took off His outer garment, and, taking a towel, girded Himself. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel with which he was girded. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.” Peter says to Him: You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head. Jesus says to him: he who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all. For He knew His betrayer, and that is why He said: You are not all pure. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them: Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know this, blessed are you when you do

Symbolic meaning

Orthodoxy

Protestantism

IN Russian Empire During the formative years of Russian-Ukrainian Baptistism, a discussion about the need to adopt the practice of foot washing took place. In particular, this issue was discussed at the first congress of Russian Baptists in 1884: the first chairman of the Union of Russian Baptists, I. I. Viler, spoke in support, and I. V. Kargel objected to him. The congress decided to transfer this issue to the discretion of local communities. Subsequently, the practice did not become widespread among evangelical Christian Baptists.

In 1920, Pentecostal missionary Ivan Voronaev, during a forced stop in Istanbul, met the Turkish Adventist community who accepted the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this community he saw the ritual of washing feet and subsequently introduced it into practice Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith. Under the terms of the “August Agreement” on unification with Baptists in 1945, Soviet Pentecostals were actually required to stop washing feet. Unregistered Pentecostal congregations have retained foot-washing to this day.

Washing of feet by ordinary believers during communion is practiced in the following areas of Protestantism:

Apostolic Church of Ethiopia United Pentecostal Church International United Church of Evangelical Christians Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) Church of God of Prophecy Church of God in Christ in some congregations Assemblies of God in some congregations International Pentecostal Holiness Church

Typically, men wash the feet of men and women wash the feet of women. In some communities, it is customary for spouses to wash each other's feet.