Are You Washing Your Brother's Feet?

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. -John 13:1-17


In the above passage, we see Jesus washing his disciples feet. Now, I had always thought the entire purpose of this passage was just to demonstrate how we should serve one another in the Body of Christ, and I still believe that is a portion of its purpose. But the other day, it came to me that this also has to do with keeping each other clean. I am not talking in the physical sense, but spiritually.


The Bible says that the devil will accuse us (Revelation 12:10.) Galatians 6:1 says that we that are spiritual are supposed to restore those who have fallen. So, as I am thinking about all of this in context with the above passage, I think, "Is Jesus saying we are responsible for keeping our brothers "clean" and free from sin?"


Jesus taught them through something physical something spiritual that must take place. Now, this makes the second devotional I have written pertaining to what we say. I need to watch my mouth too. What do you think? Have you been washing your brothers feet today, or have you been doing the opposite and been an accuser?


Every time we remind our brothers and sisters who they are in Christ, we are washing their feet.