THE ORDINANCE OF FEET WASHING

JOHN 13:1

A. "IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND MASTER, HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET; YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET. FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU."
  1. The institution of the ordinance of feet washing:
    1. Was one of the last commandments, given by our Lord before He sealed the New Testament with His own blood.
    2. It was to be associated with the Lord's supper - Compare John 13:1-26 with Matt. 26:20-28
  2. The ordinance of feet washing:
    1. Was not understood, at first, by the disciples - John 13:6- 12
    2. That shows its spiritual signification. Had it been a continuation of a menial custom of the Jews, our Lord would not have said, "what I do thou knowest not now" - John 13:7
B. PLACE AND PURPOSE OF FEET WASHING IN THE GOSPEL ORDINANCES
  1. He, who is called the Wisdom of God, had a reason for making feet washing one of the ordinances of the gospel:
    1. It is a memorial of the great sacrifice Christ made when He took the form of a servant (a slave) - Phil. 2:7
    2. It brought dignity and honor to an act performed by servants, considered below the dignity of a Master.
    3. Without this ordinance, we could not fully understand Christian humility.
    4. It is a test of our true attitude to one another. If there is pride, selfishness in the heart, feet washing has neither meaning nor appeal to the heart.
  2. But there are other implications in this ordinance:
    1. It symbolizes an inner washing or cleansing - Tit. 3:5; Eph. 5:26
    2. Water and blood are connected with the New Covenant - 1 John 5:6; John 19:34
  3. The ordinance of feet washing is:
    1. A reminder to the communicant to prepare to be clean when approaching the table of the Lord - 1 Cor. 10:21
    2. "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" - Ex. 3:5
    3. The people could not come into God's presence unless they were clean - Ex. 19:10
C. ITS PRACTICE BY THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
  1. Is a sacred and Christian obligation:
    1. This is true in spite of the attempt by some professed Christians to brush it aside as just a reminder to us to be humble.
    2. Their plausible explanations can in no way set aside the implication of our opening text - "For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done unto you."
    3. It is included in the Gospel Commission of which the Lord's command is, "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" - Matt. 28:20
    4. It belongs to the doctrine of Christ - 2 John 9; John 7:17
  2. There is a promise of a blessing:
    1. To those who know and do this commandment - John 13:17
    2. It is included in the commandments of which we read in the book of Revelation, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." - Rev. 22:14
  3. This commandment, like the other commandments, is based upon love; and when we love Him who loved us first, we will not doubt its wisdom: John 14:15
  4. My friends, do you see Christ's reason in giving us this seemingly menial ordinance? Have you received the blessing promised by our Lord?


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