Washing feet

Standing on holy ground

Both Moses and Joshua were told to remove their shoes for they were standing on holy ground. (Joshua 5:13; Exod. 3:5). Just what does this mean?

Laver of Brass: wash your hands and feet or die

“Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal; and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat;

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not; and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.” (Exodus 30:18-21).

The washing of hands and feet by priests and Levites was essential  before entering they entered the Temple to carry out their duties. 

Removing ones shoes is symbolic of removing the profane things of the world. It acknowledges that one is entering into the presence of the Lord.

Priests, especially the High Priest on Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, went barefoot in the Temple for they were afraid of dying.

King David mourns

“And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.” (2nd Samuel 15:30).

David went up barefoot on the Mount of Olives to worship before the Lord God, lamenting he had to flee from his own son. Going barefoot, head covered, is a sign of deeply felt sorrow. It is interesting that David wept over Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, on the same spot that Jesus wept. David sorrowed over his sins along with many of his followers. 

When Jesus washed the disciples feet it showed them that they were to serve and not be served in an elevated position, Peter at first refuses,

then insists on his hands and face be washed too. Maybe he was thinking of Aaron and his sons and the Levites in the Temple service. Maybe it was not just an careless response on his part.

These references to feet gives us clearer insight to the scripture in Isaiah..

“And then shall they say, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7). The prophet Isaiah extols the feet of those, having come with great humility and solemnity, carrying the wonderful message of salvation to the world.

God reigns upon His holy mountain and sets us free as he did for Peter who was imprisoned in the world’s strongest prison, Fort Antonio, where 6000 Roman soldiers were permanently stationed. From prison Peter boldly carried the message of the risen Lord throughout Judea and beyond.