In the quiet moments before His betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus knelt before His disciples and performed an act so countercultural it left them stunned. The Master became the servant, washing the dust-covered feet of those who called him Lord. This powerful scene culminates in Jesus’ command: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

But what exactly was Jesus asking of His followers—both then and now? Are we to establish foot washing as a regular church ordinance, or was Jesus pointing to something deeper? Join us as we explore the Reformed tradition’s best insights into this radical command and its application for Christians today.

 

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: WHY FOOT WASHING MATTERED

To grasp the significance of Jesus’ actions, we must first understand the cultural context. In first-century Palestine, roads were dusty, and people wore open sandals. Foot washing wasn’t just a nicety—it was a necessity. Yet it was a task typically performed by the lowest servants.

“By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus reversed the social order,” explains Reformed theologian DA Carson. “The one whom they rightly called ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ (13:13) took the role of the lowliest slave.”

The timing adds even more weight to the gesture. This wasn’t just any moment—it was during the Passover feast, on the very night of Jesus’ betrayal. As John’s gospel tells us, Jesus acted with full awareness that “the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God” (John 13:3). From this position of divine authority, He chose to serve.

 

THE REFORMED UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS’ COMMAND

The Reformed tradition has historically distinguished between sacraments explicitly instituted by Christ (baptism and the Lord’s Supper) and other symbolic teachings. While some denominations practice foot washing as a third ordinance, Reformed theology typically understands Jesus’ command differently.

John Calvin, in his commentary on John, notes: “Christ does not command us to wash feet, in the outward manner, but he refers to all the duties by which members of the Church assist each other… the meaning is, that no service will be thought mean by a pious man, provided that he knows that it is pleasing to Christ.”

Modern Reformed scholar Michael Horton echoes this interpretation: “Jesus is not instituting a new sacrament but illustrating the servant leadership that should characterise his followers.”

This doesn’t diminish Jesus’ command but rather expands it. If we reduce “washing of feet” to a ritual performed occasionally, we may miss the broader call to a lifestyle of humble service in all areas of life.

 

THE HEART OF THE MATTER: HUMBLE SERVICE

At its core, John 13:14 reveals the heart of Christian discipleship—sacrificial love expressed through humble service. This aligns perfectly with Philippians 2:5-8, where Paul writes:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

The foot washing exemplifies this kenosis—this self-emptying. Jesus demonstrated that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through serving others, not being served.

Pastor and author Tim Keller notes: “Jesus redefined greatness. The world defines greatness by how many people serve you. Jesus defined greatness by how many people you serve.”

 

NON-LITERAL APPLICATIONS: MODERN “FOOT WASHING”

If Jesus’ command transcends literal foot washing, how might we apply it today? The possibilities are endless, but they all involve stooping low to meet the needs of others:

• Caring for those society often overlooks—the elderly, disabled, or marginalised
• Performing menial tasks without complaint or recognition
• Serving in ways that may feel “beneath our dignity”
• Putting others’ needs ahead of our personal comfort
• Offering forgiveness when we’ve been wronged
• Listening deeply to someone struggling with pain

 

Kevin DeYoung suggests: “The point is not that we need another ceremony, but that we need Christ’s example of sacrificial service to shape all our relationships.”

Such service flows not from obligation but from grace. We serve others not to earn God’s favour but because we’ve already received it. This transforms foot washing from a burdensome chore into a joyful response to Christ’s love.

 

WHEN LITERAL WASHING OF FEET STILL CARRIES MEANING

While the Reformed tradition typically doesn’t practice foot washing as a church ordinance, there are meaningful contexts where the literal act powerfully communicates spiritual truth.

In some seminaries, graduation ceremonies include the moving ritual of professors washing the feet of graduating students. This powerful symbol communicates theological education at its best prepares one not for status but for service. As the senior professor kneels before future pastors, both parties are reminded that leadership in Christ’s kingdom means following the Master in becoming a servant of all.

For the professor washing feet, the act says: “I model for you what true spiritual leadership looks like—not lording authority but serving with humility.” For the student receiving this ministry, it communicates: “I am being commissioned not to a position of honour but to a life of service.”

Similarly, in some cultural wedding traditions, the bridegroom washes the bride’s feet, symbolising a commitment to sacrificial love and service within marriage. For the groom, it represents a pledge to love as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). For the bride, receiving this act acknowledges the beauty of mutual submission within covenant relationship.

Reformed theologian RC Sproul reflected on participating in such ceremonies: “When I’ve engaged in foot washing, it’s been among the most humbling experiences of my life. There’s something about physically kneeling before another person that bypasses intellectual defences and strikes the heart.”

 

WASHING OF FEET: THE ONGOING CALL

Whether or not we physically wash another’s feet, Jesus’ example calls us to a radical reorientation of how we view ourselves in relation to others. His command subverts worldly hierarchies and challenges our natural self-importance.

As Reformed theologian Sinclair Ferguson writes, “The foot-washing was not merely an example but an expression of the character of Christ’s whole ministry, and indeed his incarnation.” This is the wonder of our faith—that the One who created the universe knelt to wash dust from human feet, and then went further still, to the cross.

The question for us isn’t simply, “Should we wash feet?” but “Will we live as those whose hearts have been transformed by the One who washed ours?” May our answer be evident not just in ceremonies, but in lives of authentic, humble service that point to our servant King.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

 

WASHING OF FEET: ADDRESSING COMMON QUESTIONS

Why don’t most Reformed churches practice literal foot washing? The Reformed tradition typically distinguishes between the two sacraments explicitly commanded for ongoing observance (baptism and communion) and other teachings of Jesus that communicate principles rather than practices. As Michael Kruger explains, “Not every action Jesus performed was meant to be ritualized, but every action contains lessons to be applied.”

• Doesn’t taking Jesus’ words figuratively weaken their force? Actually, the opposite can be true. Limiting foot washing to a ritual performed occasionally may prompt us to compartmentalise Jesus’ teaching rather than seeing it as a way of life. The Reformed understanding calls us to “wash feet” daily through countless acts of humble service.
• How do we know when to take Jesus’ commands literally versus figuratively? Reformed hermeneutics emphasises reading Scripture in its literary and historical context while considering the whole counsel of God’s Word. We look at how the early church understood these teachings and whether other passages clarify their application. In this case, the broader New Testament emphasis on humble service supports understanding John 13:14 as exemplary rather than ceremonial.

What can we learn from denominations that do practice foot washing as an ordinance? Denominations that practice foot washing often demonstrate a beautiful commitment to embodied theology and humble community. Their practice reminds the broader church that Christian truth isn’t merely intellectual but lived and experienced. Reformed believers can appreciate this emphasis while maintaining that such practices remain beneficial traditions rather than universal requirements for the church.

• How might foot washing relate to Jesus washing us through His blood? The physical washing of feet serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual cleansing Christ provides. In John 13:8, Jesus tells Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me,” suggesting a connection between this act and our spiritual purification. This reinforces that our service to others flows from Christ’s ultimate act of cleansing service to us through His atoning sacrifice.
• Does our cultural distance from foot washing practices diminish our understanding of the passage? Our unfamiliarity with routine foot washing can actually heighten the impact of Jesus’ action rather than diminishing it. The cultural distance helps us see more clearly how shocking Jesus’ behaviour was to His disciples. Reformed scholar Karen Jobes notes, “The very foreignness of the practice to modern readers helps us recognise the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ example.”

How does the foot-washing narrative fit into John’s Gospel as a whole? In John’s Gospel, this scene forms a crucial transition from Jesus’ public ministry to His final teachings with His disciples before the crucifixion. The foot washing embodies themes central to John’s Gospel: Jesus’ identity as the serving Messiah, the need for spiritual cleansing, and the pattern of discipleship. Reformed theologian DA Carson observes this act serves as “an enacted parable of His entire humiliation unto death, even death on a cross.”

 

WASHING OF FEET: OUR RELATED POSTS

• The Kenosis: What Does It Mean that Jesus Emptied Himself?