Washing Each Other's Feet- Maundy Thursday Reflection

This Maundy Thursday, we remember an important event that has influenced billions of Christians around the world to follow. We remember the promulgation of Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you”—John 13:34. In this verse alone, the term ‘love’ is broad and general that one might be asking how we should express it. At the deepest level, Jesus demonstrated his love through washing his disciples’ feet. A selfless, humbling act that will totally encourage us to emulate in showing care to each other. Hence, our worship that includes foot-washing is not just a ceremony. It is more than that. It is a symbol of God’s love and our love to all people regardless of any background or status.

We may even ask, “Why washing of the feet?” In fact, there are lots of ways how Jesus can exemplify what he meant by his new commandments. That’s perhaps in my own view, washing feet is a very menial task. Jesus took action without someone asking him to do it. He never waited for someone to do it first. He has done it not because it was really his job or that it was his responsibility but because of a clear purpose of showing his disciples what love really means. Like all of us who are reading this, I know that when candy wrappers are scattered on our floors, we immediately take action by picking it up and throwing it in the trash cans so that our purpose of cleaning the floor will be fulfilled. Very menial isn’t it? It doesn’t require practice, skill or effort to do that. It only needs our purpose and more so our love.

This proves that the level of task Jesus performed is the same level of love that we need to show to others. If it can take us easy ways to hate, then it should take us easier ways to love. The washing of disciples’ feet sets out a perfect example of our service and care to others. What he did may even seem odd because leaders should be the first to be washed since they are in charge. But because Jesus’ leadership is rooted on love and humility, he served his disciples first so that his favor to do the same will be followed.

In the story, Simon Peter was even bothered and confused, “Then Lord, wash not only my feet but my hands and my head as well,” but then Jesus replied, “Those who had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” In a literal sense, Jesus wants to point out that the hygienic care we give to our body is already our own responsibility, but the feet he washed was to let his disciples focus on the body part that can be easily stuck by dirt yet it can be easily cleaned through washing. A sign to recognize the importance of washing not only our hands or face but our feet as well. Imagine a king or a leader or a master doing such menial task?

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet not because his followers were the chosen ones or that they were worthy to be cleansed, but because of his scandalous grace that includes the undeserved like the apostle whom he knew would betray him- an unmerited favor. When we want to become more like Jesus, we need to give love unconditionally even if we think the person doesn’t deserved it. The mindset of our service should also fixate to his mindset, humbly stooping down to the feet of others.

We have to wash each other’s feet not for the advancement of our status but for the advancement of God’s kingdom.