Question:
John 13:1-17 describes Jesus’ washing of the disciples feet. Some feel that this is to be taken as a lesson in humility, as Jesus placed Himself in the position of a slave in doing the foot washing. Others see a deeper meaning; that Jesus’ washing of the disciples feet was a figure of how the Word washes us. In verse 17, Jesus says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Those who believe in the first meaning, say simply, “OK, practice humility to one another.” [See also verse 14.] And the second, “Exhort one another with the Word as the opportunity presents itself.” What about others though, who practice the literal, and actually wash feet? Is this something believers ought to do? The meaning of baptism, for example is figurative to a point, but there is value in the literal practice of water baptism. What to think??

Answer:
It is important to understand what the Lord meant when He said to Peter: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me.” Peter’s communion with the Lord depended upon Peter having the cleansing power of God’s Word done in his soul. This is the only way Peter could, and all of us can, be kept clean from the corruptions of this world. If the corruptions of the world are in our souls, the joy of our fellowship with Christ is destroyed. Christ’s washing of His disciples’ feet is a picture of His present ministry to us in this regard.

It is also important to understand what the Lord meant when He said to Peter: “He that is washed needeth not…” The Lord is here speaking of our being born again by the Word of God. “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). We are born again once and forever. But we need the cleansing of our souls daily. It is all accomplished by the Word of God, without which nothing can be accomplished.
The conclusion, then, is that feet washing is a picture of spiritual cleansing and it is not meant to be carried out literally. A spiritual Christian can be of great help to other believers as the Lord leads him or her to bring just the needed Scriptures. But the literal practicing of washing others’ feet has little or no spiritual value.As to baptism, it IS a figure (1 Peter 3:21). And those who professed to believe in Christ were baptized, identifying themselves with Him. A believer should gladly identify with Christ in baptism, figuratively going down into death with Christ (Romans 6:3, 4). It is, therefore, an important thing for believers to be baptized.