“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

In some churches, people observe and partake in washing each other’s feet like Jesus did for his disciples that last night he was with his beloved.  Judas was there as well, the one who Jesus knew had betrayed him for a few coins.  Jesus is the God who washes feet!  People do this act of loving sacrifice for each other today to remember.  The act of doing what Jesus did is done reverently as we take turns washing each other’s feet followed by a loving embrace and encouraging words for each other. 

We do this to remember the full extent of the love Jesus expressed and do what he did because—he said “do as I have done for you.”  The motivation is simply love.

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  John 13:12-17, NIV (Read the whole chapter to truly understand the motivation of this act of love for his beloved.)

The motivation of the Message, the Messiah, the Word who became flesh, is the pure and holy, unchanging, and relentless love of God expressed through Jesus.   

Got Questions?

Does observing the act of feet washing save us from our sins, securing our salvation?  No, only Jesus who died and rose again saves us from our repented sins.

Will washing each other’s feet secure us a spot in heaven?  No, only Jesus is The Way to eternal life with God.

By observing this act make me holier?  No, only Jesus makes us holy by his love, mercy, and grace as He forgives us.

Is this act a requirement of loving each other?  No, this is only one of a million ways to serve and love each other in the Name of Jesus and you will be blessed.  To be blessed is striving to be like Jesus in every way.

Above all, to observe this holy act or not, was not intended to divide us but as an example of a loving way to unite us as a blessing from God to and through us. 

Paul has now arrived in Jerusalem.  He is met with division among the Jewish believers who cling to old ways and require the non-Jewish believers to be like them in every way.  Led by God’s Holy Spirit of wisdom, Paul explains the motivation of love behind God’s Message of Salvation for ALL people through Jesus.  It’s not about the ritual or ceremony, it’s about the love of Jesus that motivates us to love like He loved us—unconditionally.

So, why do we do what we do?    

Acts 21, The Message

Jerusalem

^17-19 In Jerusalem, our friends, glad to see us, received us with open arms. The first thing next morning, we took Paul to see James. All the church leaders were there. After a time of greeting and small talk, Paul told the story, detail by detail, of what God had done among the non-Jewish people through his ministry. They listened with delight and gave God the glory.

^20-21 They had a story to tell, too: “And just look at what’s been happening here—thousands upon thousands of God-fearing Jews have become believers in Jesus! But there’s also a problem because they are more zealous than ever in observing the laws of Moses. They’ve been told that you advise believing Jews who live surrounded by unbelieving outsiders to go light on Moses, telling them that they don’t need to circumcise their children or keep up the old traditions. This isn’t sitting at all well with them.

^22-24 “We’re worried about what will happen when they discover you’re in town. There’s bound to be trouble. So here is what we want you to do: There are four men from our company who have taken a vow involving ritual purification, but have no money to pay the expenses. Join these men in their vows and pay their expenses. Then it will become obvious to everyone that there is nothing to the rumors going around about you and that you are in fact scrupulous in your reverence for the laws of Moses.

²⁵ “In asking you to do this, we’re not going back on our agreement regarding non-Jews who have become believers. We continue to hold fast to what we wrote in that letter, namely, to be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; to avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians; to guard the morality of sex and marriage.”

²⁶ So Paul did it—took the men, joined them in their vows, and paid their way. The next day he went to the Temple to make it official and stay there until the proper sacrifices had been offered and completed for each of them.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul did warn the Gentiles not to get involved in the old Jewish religion (Gal. 4:1–11), but he nowhere told the Jews that it was wrong for them to practice their customs, so long as they did not trust in ceremony or make their customs a test of fellowship (Rom. 14:1—15:7). They were free to observe special days and diets, and believers were not to judge or condemn one another. The same grace that gave the Gentiles freedom to abstain also gave the Jews freedom to observe.

All God asked was that they receive one another and not create problems or divisions.  Why do we do what we do?

The leaders suggested that Paul demonstrate publicly his respect for the Jewish law. All they asked was that he identify himself with four men under a Nazirite vow (Numbers 6), pay for their sacrifices, and be with them in the temple for their time of purification. Paul agreed to do it. If this had been a matter involving somebody’s personal salvation, we can be sure that Paul would never have cooperated because that would have compromised his message of salvation by grace, through faith. But this was a matter of personal conviction on the part of Jewish believers, who had been given the freedom to accept or reject the customs.

Why do we do what we do is a matter of the heart. God sees our hearts and knows the motivation behind all we think, say and do.  Nothing is hidden from God. 

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.” Psalm 139:1-4, NIV

There are many ways to respond to God in worship, praise, prayer, and service; but there is only ONE WAY to be saved with the promise of eternal life—Jesus! 

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Lord,

You are the One and Only Way to be saved from our sins.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, restore the joy and peace of you in us and us in you.  May your love in us motivate all we think, say, and do today.  Help us to love each other relentlessly like you love us.  You are not a program or even a ministry but the Message of the Way to a loving and lasting relationship that grows because of your love in us.  Hallelujah!  We’re redeemed!

In Jesus Name, Amen