Foot Inspection Time!
The children were told to sit down and take off their shoes and socks. The matron then proceeded to walk along the line inspecting our feet. What could she have been looking for? In the Bible, feet have a particular significance. They do need to be kept in good condition!
The apostle Paul was an admirer of beautiful feet.
“How beautiful are the feet of those . . .” Romans 10:15
Paul was quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, who was also an admirer of beautiful feet. Both recorded God’s perspective on feet. The beauty was in what the feet were doing – these feet were going about sharing God’s good news with others. Both teach,
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Isaiah 52:7
Nahum, another prophet in the Old Testament, also understands ‘feet’ in this way.
“Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace.” Nahum 1:15
Elsewhere in the Bible attractive feet is often a synonym for a person who is involved in ‘gospel ministry’. When Paul describes the armour of a well equipped Christian, he does not fail to mention the feet.
“ . . . and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
The complete Christian must be ready to share the gospel at all times.
This helps to explain why the Lord Jesus washed his disciple’s feet shortly before his crucifixion. John 13 begins with the story about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Why is this emphasised? When I was younger I was taught that this account emphasises the primary importance of humility that Christian leaders need. It was a tradition in those times to give visitors to your house some water to wash their feet when they first arrived from the dusty roads outside. In more affluent homes a slave would be delegated to wash the feet. This was considered a menial task and consequently Jewish slaves were not permitted to do this.
But is it just teaching the importance of humility? In John 12, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with approximately a pint of pure nard, a heavily perfumed ointment. In the records of Matthew (26:6-13) and Mark (14:3-9) it is stated that she poured the ointment on his head, though a subsequent verse says it was poured on his body. There is no disharmony here as it would be impossible to pour a pint of ointment onto someone’s head without it dripping over the whole body. The question is, “Why does John emphasise the feet?”
In the subsequent story of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet two other points need noting. Firstly this ceremony does not occur when they first arrived with dirty feet.
“The evening meal was being served . . . so he got up from the meal.” John 13:2,4
Secondly Jesus teaches that there is a hidden meaning in this that they do not understand at that time.
“You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7
What is this hidden meaning? It is clear that Jesus acted in this way because he understood his own authority.
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal . . . “ John 13:3-4
Then it says that Jesus “took off his outer clothing” (John 13:4). After washing the disciples feet John specifically says,
“. . . he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand . . ?” John 13:12
This must be a picture of the work of Jesus, leaving heaven, taking off his glory to serve us, prior to returning to be with his Father in heaven. Paul takes up the same picture when he describes Jesus,
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness . . .” Philippians 2:6-7
The disciples clearly did understand the anachronism of Jesus, their leader, washing their feet. Could it also be that John has a hidden emphasis on the word ‘feet’? Clearly Jesus is not concerned about head or hands, it is just the feet that need attention. If you look again at the story the word feet keeps being repeated – 8 times in all.
In verse 12 Jesus asks,
“Do you understand . . . ?”
The next phrase is interesting.
“You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. . . . you also should wash one another’s feet” John 13:13,14
Jesus is stressing that the disciples must serve one another and then clarifies what the context of this service is to be.
“I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:16
It seems to be all coming together – ‘feet’ are the key. Feet are the symbol for going out to tell and live for the gospel. This work is tough and Christians need all the encouragement and support possible.
This also explains the strange injunction to widows, who were only to be supported if they satisfied certain criteria.
“. . . well known for her deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” 1 Timothy 5:10
If washing feet was to largely demonstrate humility, why just the saints’ feet? Surely this contains the same symbolism about Christians’ feet. Their role is to encourage the saints to go out to live for Christ.
Jemari was a young Ethiopian man who had been raised in a village where fear was a major aspect of their heathen religion. The villagers feared Satan and other evil spirits and were especially afraid of the powerful witchdoctors. These witchdoctors repeatedly demanded gifts of animals to make blood sacrifices to appease the powers of darkness. Then an evangelist came to the area and Jemari committed his life to Christ, along with the witchdoctor, tribal chief and many others. Life was not easy for the young Christians; partly because of persecution from the Ethiopian Orthodox authorities. Prayer houses were destroyed and Jemari was imprisoned several times. Jemari then went to a Bible School and learnt how to share the Bible’s message. He joined a team of evangelists. His problem however was an inordinate fear which incapacitated him. He did not have the courage of the other evangelists. It became such a problem that he had to be sent home. They thought that that would be the last they saw of Jemari. A few months later one of his fellow evangelists, Tekka, was murdered when going to share the gospel with an aggressive tribal group. Jemari heard of this and immediately began to shake and cry. He went into the local woods, confessed how his fear had debilitated him, and asked God to take this fear right out of his life. He told his Lord that he couldn’t go on as he was. Suddenly a great peace swept over him and he was filled with great joy. The fear left him. He walked the long way back to join the small group of evangelists again and announced with a great shout,
“I have come to take Tekka’s place.”
The scared rabbit of a man had now completely changed. He was rejoicing is his Lord’s strength. He went openly and alone to the very people that Tekka had wanted to reach. He sat outside the huts of the warriors to tell the story of a God of love who had entered this world to save all people. Jemma never looked back, he joyfully endured hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.i
Too many professionals, such as doctors, teachers and lawyers, become so concerned about reputations and the status of being respectable that we are afraid to talk readily about the Lord Jesus and the possibility of being in His kingdom. Christ’s glory and the salvation of those we meet take a low priority. This spirit of fear of man has always been a common problem for Christians – it stops us praying for opportunities to step out for him.
Timothy had this problem so the apostle Paul wrote to him,
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and of love and of self discipline. So do not be afraid to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. but join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God who has saved us and called us to a holy life . . .” 2 Timothy 1:7
How does the Lord Jesus see our feet? Some Christians’ feet seem to resent the role they have been given by their Lord! To share the gospel is surely a major reason we have been called to be Christians.
A readiness to share the gospel is not the monopoly of extroverts. Anyone who regularly prays for opportunities to point people to Jesus will find they are given them. I have become convinced that it is a matter of prayer and not of personality. How are your feet?
BVP
i Dick McLellan, ‘Warriors of Ethiopia’, Lost Coin Books 2013 p. 103-108
