Feet Washing

Even though there are only a handful of small denominations which practice feet washing as a gospel ordinance, all Christians realize that John 13:1-17 is an important passage of Scripture. It is important because of what Jesus taught in connection with his washing the feet of the Twelve Apostles. Stained glass windows in churches, new and ancient, in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas depict Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. There are ancient frescos which also depict the scene. Such images helped teach the Bible during a time when many people couldn't read and/or didn't have Bibles of their own. Oil paintings of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples are common in museums, art galleries, and in private collections. In 2017 I was in Split, Croatia, where I visited the oldest church in Europe still in use, a Roman Catholic church. The church was part of the tour of Diocletian's palace. Carved into the thick wooden front door were more than a dozen scenes from the life of Christ. One of them pictured Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.These stained glass windows, frescos, oil paintings, wood carvings, bronze sculptures, or other forms of art, do not indicate that the churches, universities, or businesses which have them practice feet washing as a religious rite. It only means that those institutions believe in the important truths Jesus taught in John 13 in connection with the feet washing incident. The large Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, for example, has an outstanding wood sculpture of Jesus washing the feet of the Twelve, prominently displayed in the church, yet they do not practice feet washing. They do, however, believe in the important truths Jesus taught during the evening of the feet washing. Texas Highways magazine once featured a photograph on their front cover of a life sized sculpture of Jesus washing Peter's feet. The statue was in front of a business in Dallas. The statue didn't mean that the business literally practiced feet washing, it meant that the business was big on giving humble service to its customers.This book puts in the loose ends, the unconnected strings and other elements of the subject of feet washing in the Free Will Baptist denomination which has always been one of the larger denominations to hold it as a rite in the movement. The history of this movement has been seriously explored and referenced.