White Robed Monks of St. Benedict

Chapter 17  Jesus washes our feet today (John 13:10)  

 John 13:10:
Jesus saith to him, "he that washed
(Greek Lou=to bathe the whole
body) needeth not save to wash
(Greek hiptO=to wash some part of
the body)his feet, but is clean every whit:

     The Eastern people bathe once in the morning and then wash their feet each time thay enter the house. They consider the dust to be symbolic of the defilement of the world. This was also necessary for the Levitical priests to do often as their service before the Lord.
     The brazen laver was a figure of the work of Christ. it was for cleaningg of the hands and feet in service of worship. The hands represented the service before the Lord, and the feet represented their walk or conduct. The laver was made of polished metal which reflected man's condition.
     The priest spent more time at the laver than at any other piece of furniture in the tabernacle. In their daily service to God they needed continual cleansing.

Exodus 30:20-21:
 When thay go into the tabernacle of
the congregation, they shall wash
with water, that they die not; or when
they come near to the alter to
minister, to burn offering made by
fire unto the Lord:

 So they shall wash their hands and
their feet, that they die not: and it
shall be a statute for ever to them,
 even to him and to his seed
throughout their generations.

        Today we are cleansed through the Word of God, not literal water in a symbolic manner.

John 15:3:
Now ye are clean thought the Word
which I have spoken unto you.

         Just as those in the East washed their feet many times a dayupon being defiled by the dust of the world, we seek forgiveness thoughout each day as we are defiled by doubt, fear, unbelief, selfishness and sin in the world.

 I John 1:9:
       If we confess our sins, He is faithfull
and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

      As we seek forgiveness throughout each day, Jesus is washing our feet of conduct in order for us to serve him.

   `  Copyright (c) 1996-1998, Bible Lands Teaching. All rights reserved. Orientalisms of The Gospel of John, Orientalisms of The Book of Revelation are copyrights and trademarks of Bible Land Teachings. Other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.