Sermon Tone Analysis

Many practice as a part of worship

Catholic - Maundy Thursday, during Holy Week (Thurs before Easter)

Maundy - from Latin Vulgate, for ‘command’ (mandatum)

“A new command I give to you, ...”

Jn 13:14–15 —“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

The Ordines Romani (if the twelfth and thirteenth centuries show the ceremony in use at Rome), where in fact there were two washings of feet.

The Pope in person first washed the feet of twelve subdeacons at the end of the Mass of the day, and, after the repast, he and his whole court washed the feet of thirteen poor men.

The latter ceremony alone survives to-day.

Some Early Practiced foot washing in conjunction with Baptism - Africa, Gaul, Germany, Ireland

3rd or 8th day following

Today many practice as a cerimony/symbol - one foot, poured water on.

>>> The question: is it a command?

The Biblical Background

Washings

Many washings in the Bible

Leppers after clean were to wash their body and clothing

Washing hands before meals - in the time of Jesus

etc

Why wash feet?

Because they are dusty and dirty

There is no religious significance given - unless that is given by Christ when He washed the disciples feet

Jesus washes the Disciples Feet

Observations (from His teaching)

May have been shocking to the disciples

part of Peter’s reaction

Do you know what I have done?

washed our feet, duh.

No, this they would have understood, but Jesus asked repeatedly, “Do you understand what I am doing?”

What was He doing?

Leaving an example - based in, I the Master have served you

You also ought to wash oneanother’s feet (I believe this goes with the next observation

He gave an example to follow (remember this point)

an example, not of action, but of attitude and spirit

Even Judas

Others

Many times in the OT as an act of hospitality

Priest in OT washed their own hands and feet before entering the Temple

Obviously not what we are talking about here

A Widow Indeed

1 Ti 5:9–10 —A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

An act of Service and Hospitality

A Command to Follow

The command was Not Washing feet

The Scriptures

Nowhere in John 13 is it stated to follow as a rite/ritual/service

There is no other scripture teaching or giving an example to be followed

For instance - The Lord’s Supper has both teaching and example

It is given at the same time as He washed their feet

Where are the Biblical examples of Christians gathering to wash each other’s feet?

the only mention of foot wasing is concerning Widows to be put on a list to support (1 Ti 5:9–10)

where it is clearly an act of service and hospitality, not a religious event

Where it is Personal - an action of an Induvidual rather than a communal even of some type

No instruction is given concerning it’s practice

When is it to be done?

Why Maundy Thursday?

Why because it coinsides with the passover?

Why Not at the New Year?

Wat is it’s purpose?

Who is to be involved?

Where is the instruction?

Teaching concerning the Lord’s Supper has all of these

Certainty not as practiced today

Catholics - not ‘oneanother’ but those chosen specifically for the task but washing and being washed.

Rather it is the Pope, and a select few Church officials washing the feet of the poor

Denominations - commonly wash just one foot, by pouring some water over - done this way since it is viewed as a ritual service

The Command; Follow my example of Humility and Service

Humility and Service

They needed to see a lesson of Greatness

This event could not have illustrated this point any better

While we are not given any further teaching concerning Washing Feet, we are given an immense amount of teaching concerning Humility and Service