Why did the disciples' feet need to be washed after they had already been bathed?
Though they had already been fully cleansed—not by water but by the blood of the Lamb—their feet still became dirty as they walked home through dusty streets. That is why Jesus said they needed only their feet washed, illustrating that a complete cleansing does not prevent later contact with dirt.
Les explains that in verse 10 Jesus said one who has been washed needs nothing more except to wash his feet. The prior cleansing was not by water but by the blood of the Lamb. The lesson is that although they were cleansed at the central bath, as they walked home through those dusty streets, their feet became dirty and consequently needed washing. So the foot washing addresses the dirt acquired on the walk, not a repeat of the whole cleansing.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
More Questions
Why did people in Bible times need their feet washed after they had already bathed?
Foot washing was necessary in biblical times because after bathing at public baths, people walked home on filthy, dusty streets with only sandals, so their feet became filthy again; they needed only their feet washed, not another full bath.
Why did people in Jesus' day need their feet washed after taking a bath?
Foot washing was needed because the Jews of Jesus' day bathed primarily in a public bath, and given the poor sanitation and filthy streets, their feet became filthy again by the time they walked home, so they needed their feet washed.
What did Jesus mean when He said 'he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet'?
Jesus taught that a person who has already had a full bath does not need another bath, only to wash his feet — just as a priest who had bathed still needed to wash his feet and hands.
Why did people need foot washing after taking a bath in biblical times?
Foot washing was needed after a bath because, after leaving the public baths and walking home on filthy, dusty streets with sandals, a person's feet became filthy again, so they did not need another full bath but needed their feet washed.