Jesus washed the disciples' feet to illustrate the difference between the once-for-all cleansing of salvation and the need for continual cleansing from the defilement of daily life in the world.
In John 13, Jesus tells Peter that 'he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.' Les Feldick teaches this means believers have already been washed by an act of God at salvation, but as they walk in a defiled world they get their feet dirty and need daily cleansing, not another bath. Judas was the one who was not clean.
John 13:4-10 — This is the passage where Jesus washes the disciples' feet and explains to Peter that one who has been washed only needs his feet washed.
Jesus rose from supper, laid aside his garments, took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, wiping them with the towel wherewith he was girded. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter refused, saying, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus replied, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Peter then asked Jesus to wash not only his feet but also his hands and his head. Jesus said 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." The Gospel of John records that Jesus said this because He knew who would betray Him.
Les Feldick teaches that the foot-washing is a picture of the believer's salvation and daily walk. He draws a parallel with the Old Testament priesthood: the priest would take a bath (the central bath) and then wash his hands and feet before ministry. In John 13, Jesus is showing that the disciples have already been 'washed' — cleansed through their relationship with Him — but because they live in a defiled world, their feet get dirty as they walk. They don't need another bath; they only need their feet washed. Les emphasizes that this cleansing is not by water but by an act of sovereign holy God, referencing 1 Corinthians 6:11: 'washed, sanctified, justified.' He also points out Peter's overreaction in asking for a whole bath, and clarifies that Jesus' statement 'ye are clean, but not all' referred to Judas, who would betray Him.
In John 13:10, Jesus tells Peter that someone who has already been washed does not need a whole bath, only his feet washed. Les explains this using the imagery of the Old Testament laver: after the initial 'central bath,' a priest would need only to wash his hands and feet as he served. In the same way, a believer has been completely cleansed at salvation, but as he walks through a defiled world, his feet become dirty and need daily cleansing. This is not a second salvation but a daily restoration.
Peter first refused, then, when Jesus said 'If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me,' Peter overreacted and asked for a complete bath. Les says this is classic Peter — 'putting his foot in his mouth.' Jesus corrects him by showing that he has already been cleansed; he doesn't need hands and head washed, only his feet. The exchange reveals the lesson: believers are already clean in God's sight, but they must deal with the defilement they pick up along the way.
Jesus said to the disciples, 'ye are clean, but not all.' Les points out that the one who was not clean was Judas, because Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him. This is confirmed in John 13:11, where the Gospel says Jesus said this because He knew who should betray Him. Thus the foot-washing scene distinguishes between the eleven true disciples, who were cleansed, and Judas, who was not.
No. Les emphasizes that in the spiritual realm we are not cleansed by water. The washing Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 6:11 is 'washed, sanctified, justified' — an act of God done in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. The foot-washing is a physical picture of a spiritual reality, not a reference to water baptism or any human ritual.
What 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Really Says About Who Goes to Heaven
wealth and culture and all the rest of it. But the main thing you have to understand as you read Corinthians is that the city of Corinth was steeped in paganism, in pagan idolatrous and the worship of the Greek gods and goddesses and what have you. So with that kind of a background and such gross immorality, now of course we think it's getting bad in America, but listen.
Peter's Objection and Misunderstanding
Les walks through the foot-washing narrative, highlighting Peter's refusal to let Jesus wash his feet and Peter's overreaction in asking to be washed all over.
He That Is Washed Needeth Not Save to Wash His Feet
Les explains Jesus's reply to Peter: a person who has already received the 'bath' of cleansing only needs his feet washed, and Judas was the one who was not clean.
The Whole Lesson in Foot Washing
Les ties foot-washing to the daily defilement believers experience in a sin-filled world, saying believers are already saved but get their feet dirty and need daily cleansing.
The Setting of the Foot Washing
Les reads the scene from John 13 where Jesus rises from supper, girds Himself with a towel, pours water into a basin, and begins washing the disciples' feet.
'What I Do Thou Knowest Not Now'
Les explains Peter's natural objection that the Lord should not condescend to such a lowly task, and that Jesus tells Peter he will understand later.
The Central Bath and Dusty Feet
Les uses the illustration of a bath and dusty feet to explain that a believer cleansed by the blood of the Lamb only needs his feet washed as he walks in the world.
Cleansed by the Spirit, Not Water
Les connects the 'washing' in John 13 to 1 Corinthians 6:11, emphasizing that the spiritual washing is an act of God — 'washed, sanctified, justified' — and not actual water.
John 13:4: He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Jesus prepares to wash the disciples' feet, taking the role of a servant.
John 13:5: After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
The physical action of washing the disciples' dusty feet.
John 13:6: Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Peter questions why the Lord would perform such a lowly task.
John 13:7: Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Jesus indicates Peter would later understand the spiritual meaning.
John 13:8: Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Jesus links the washing to having a part with Him.
John 13:9: Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Peter overreacts and asks for a complete wash.
John 13:10: 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.
Jesus distinguishes between the complete cleansing and the need for foot-washing.
1 Corinthians 6:11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul explains the spiritual washing believers have received through the Lord Jesus.
According to Les Feldick, the foot-washing pictures the fact that believers are already fully cleansed at salvation, like a bath. But as they walk in a defiled world they get 'dirty feet' and need daily cleansing — not another bath.
No. Les emphasizes that in the spiritual realm we are not cleansed by water. The washing is an act of God — 'washed, sanctified, justified' by the Spirit of our God, not by water baptism.
Jesus meant Judas, who would betray Him, was the one not clean. The other disciples had been washed through their relationship with Jesus, but Judas had not.
Watch the Teaching: What 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Really Says About Who Goes to Heaven