Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Micha van Wyk - 1 year ago
    Is the washing of the saints feet amongst each other as explained in John 13, compulsory or not...?
  • THE CUSTOM OF FEET WASHING and JESUS - In Reply - 1 year ago
    The Old Testament references ( Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Judges 19:21; 1 Samuel 25:41; 2 Samuel 11:8; Song of Solomon 5:3; Psalms 58:10) show that the washing of the feet was the first act on entering the tent or house after a journey. The Orientals wore only sandals, and this washing was refreshing as well as cleanly. In the case of ordinary people, the host furnished the water, and the guests washed their own feet, but in the richer houses, the washing was done by a slave. It was looked upon as the lowliest of all services ( 1 Samuel 25:41). Jesus pointedly contrasts Simon's neglect of even giving Him water for His feet with the woman's washing His feet with tears and wiping them with her hair ( Luke 7:44). On the last evening of His life, Jesus washed the disciples' feet ( John 13:1-16). Their pride, heightened by the anticipations of place in the Messianic kingdom whose crisis they immediately expected, prevented their doing this service for each other. Possibly the same pride had expressed itself on this same evening in a controversy about places at table. Jesus, conscious of His divine dignity and against Peter's protest, performed for them this lowliest service. His act of humility actually cleansed their hearts of selfish ambition, killed their pride, and taught them the lesson of love.
  • Alex N - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Micha ya gotta realize Jesus shed his blood on the Cross to give us a Clean heart....A new heart and a new spirit....Has absolutely nothing to do with our literal feet....If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a New Creature.

    Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world...Its our sins that defile us....As Jesus said its the things that come from the heart of a man that defiles him.

    As Jesus said outta of the HEARTS ( OUR MINDS ) of a man proceeds all manner of evil.

    But b/c of Psalms 41:39 An old friend (Judas ) that eats at my table has lifted up his HEEL Against me....Thus he washed their feet their heel....He cd not offend in any place till all was fulfilled including Psalms 41:9....He did every thing in parables and metaphors to hide it from the wise and prudent....And we see that there are still folks who think we are made clean by a literal foot washing....Making his blood of no effect....We cannot mix 2 Covenants....Calvary was a New Covenant in his blood making everybody clean....The thief on the Cross was made clean by hearing his Words...You are made clean by the words i have spoken unto you.....ok GBU Micha
  • Alex N - In Reply - 1 year ago
    No we don't need to wash any bodies feet....But Jesus wanted to show folks what his words does to our hearts....Satan had entered the heart of Judas to betray him....Not his feet but Jesus washed their feet....He was trying to show them what his Words does to our hearts.....An old friend who eats at my table has lifted up his Heel ( our hearts.) against me....But Judas neva did assault Jesus with his feet or Heel...Judas assualted Jesus with his heart....Its our hearts that defiles us as Jesus had said....Satan had entered the heart of Judas to betray him.....Thus when Jesus washed their feet it was a Hearts Washing....Its the things that came from the heart of a man that defiles him....Not our personal hygiene...Our feet or hands....Jesus had said to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man...Its our hearts that defiles us....But Jesus did everything in metaphors trying to hide it....Everything was hid from the wise and prudent but revealed unto babes...The babes and sucklings he mentions.

    ......Jesus cd not wash their literal hearts or minds ...But b/c of what is written in Psalms 41:9...An OLD FRIEND that eats at my table has lifted up his HEEL against me....He washed their feet ( Heel )...To show them what the Word, His Blood does to our hearts and minds you are made clean by the Word i have spoken unto you....Jesus knew that all of his disciples had been water baptised but he still had to wash their feet....Which speaks volumes of a greater baptism coming of his Blood....That New COVENANT...As Jesus was the living Word made flesh and blood....That New Covenant in his blood that will make us all clean Internally...our hearts and minds....And we are gonna speak the cleansing word to anybody that needs spritual cleansing....We should plead the blood on everybody that needs spritual cleansing.....But we don't need to wash any bodies feet with h20 ....We need to wash their hearts....Giving them a new heart a new spirit....With his Words...The BLOOD..THE BOOK..GB
  • GiGi - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Alex, thanks for such a good explanation.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Micha van Wyk,

    There are denominations, (plural), that have foot washing instituted into their church. Some do it every Sunday under the belief that Jesus instituted it here in John Chapter 12 for the church to do. But it was a custom in those days. Not as a ceremony, but it was a custom as people traveled because there were dirt roads and people wore sandals. And when people came into your home, you as the host would have one of your household slaves sit down and wash that person's feet, dry them, and put their sandals back on for them, getting them ready for the visit and just to get the dirt off of their feet.

    This was a custom. It was not a ceremony. Jesus was not instituting foot washing for the church as a ceremony. It was an example of service and how His people should serve Him. What was the example that He was setting? If you notice, Jesus was the one doing the foot washing, the task that was given only to a slave to do. History tells us that the household slaves did the job of foot washing, but not a Hebrew or Jewish person. Even if a Hebrew or Jewish person was a slave, they did not lower themselves to wash someone's feet.

    Peter said to Jesus, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Peter is not trying to be rebellious. He is trying to be courteous in the sense that no Jew should be washing anyone's feet! But Jesus Himself, the Master, the Rabbi is doing it? Peter says "You are never going to wash my feet." Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

    The first indicator is in Verse 7, that what I'm doing up to now you don't know. Well, they knew what He was doing as far as the activity is concerned, but they didn't understand it. The second indicator to us is that Jesus is not talking about the custom of foot washing. He's talking about something that has to do with a personal relationship with Him. He is telling them that there is another message here. He says that if you do not let me wash your feet, you have no part with me.
  • Chris - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thank you brother Jesse. Jesus fulfilled His appointment perfectly by His position & attitude of servitude to all, so that we might learn from His example. Philippians 2:7; Matthew 23:11.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Amen my dear brother,

    I must say that I am somewhat embarrassed. I said John Chapter 12 but what was being discussed is found in Chapter 13. I was trying to go off memory without actually looking up the Chapter. Lesson learned!

    Thank you so much for those two pieces of scripture. They fit perfectly. Jesus always seemed to take the low road.

    Jesus said I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. I see Him talking about a spiritual cleansing, and that believers need to be cleansed. It is a symbol for cleansing. Feet signify the walk through this world, and the dirt is metaphorically applied to our walk through this world, and picking up the influences of the world.



    So if we bathe, and that would be salvation, but if we bathe, we have been cleansed all over, and the only thing we need from that point forward is to have our feet washed because as we walk through this world, we are going to be under its influence.



    I noticed that He did not say that you should do "what I have done" to you, but you should do "as I have done" to you. He I took the position and function, the menial task, the lowest task that even a Jewish or Hebrew person would not even do, and this is what we are to do for one another.



    We are to take the lowest position, what might embarrass us, and what might go against our pride! He says as I have done to you, not what I have done to you.

    Thanks again for your kindness. You are such an encouragement to many of us and truly blessed in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Christ!
  • Chris - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thank you brothers Jesse & S. Spencer for your further words of teaching & encouragement.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Amen Brother Chris.

    Great parallel verses and if that expression of humility and service can come from the Lord we should have no problem serving one another.

    John 13:12-17 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

    Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

    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.

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

    If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

    God Bless
  • Micha - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Spencer my concern is the mere fact that some people are denying the fact that the humanity factor should be tested amongst the saints so that pride do not creep in.

    So if we call Him Master and Lord shouldn't we not have a problem washing the feet of my fellow brother or sister...
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Micha.

    Absolutely! And I would take it one step further, We will wash one another's feet. "Humblely caring for one another in a way we be our brothers keeper as we walk through the filth of this world and pick up it's ways. We are to restore such a person as seen here in Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

    God bless.



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