On Maundy Thursday this year, we will have a foot washing service following our Agape meal. Foot washing has not been a practice in our culture and is not only foreign to us, but uncomfortable. Why do we do it then?
The most straight forward reason for having a foot washing service is that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples on the Thursday before he was crucified. He did this in order to demonstrate to them that they ought to serve one another as he served them. Washing another’s feet was a menial task given only to servants. It was for those in the lower class. It was unthinkable for Jesus, the teacher, to do this to his followers. They were shocked. Peter wanted to stop him from doing it. Yet Jesus washed their feet. As disciples who follow Jesus, various Christian traditions have ceremonially followed Jesus’ amazing servant actions and washed feet themselves.
The reason for foot washing does not translate well into our culture. The discomfort that the disciples felt at what Jesus was doing does not even translate – but we do have discomfort for another reason. This is an unusual thing. It is usually more difficult in our culture to have your feet washed than to wash someone’s feet. In this sense, we can perhaps hear St. Peter’s protest a bit better as he was not comfortable with what was going on when Jesus washed feet (albeit for a different reason). Are you willing to be uncomfortable for your faith? Are you willing to have someone else do this for you? One of the reasons foot washing can be a challenge is it is a humbling thing to have someone else ceremonially wash your feet. Are you willing to allow Christ to wash those parts of you that you would rather not expose? Are you willing to be served by Jesus and to be vulnerable in that? The foot washing service pushes us in this way.
While it is an unusual practice for us to consider today, there can be great value in a foot washing ceremony. As any worship event during Holy Week, the goal is to get us into the story and focus our eyes on Christ.