Thursday, April 17, 2025

It is the 17th of April 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

It is Maundy Thursday across the globe for Christians who observe the church calendar, this year, Catholics and the Orthodox, and the rest of us low church folk who use the calendar at our own discretion. Last year's show, linked in the transcript at 1517.org (https://www.1517.org/podcast-overview/2024-03-28) discusses the general history of Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from a mandated commandment- Jesus gives his final commandment- to Love one another- to his disciples in conjunction with the washing of their feet and the Lord’s Supper). And so, in many churches, the Lord’s Supper is celebrated tonight; afterward, the altars might be stripped bare, the cross covered… the church gets really creative in how it dramatizes and reenacts these holiest days).  But you may have noted the other action happening amidst the “final commandment” is the washing of the disciple's feet. It is a custom in some church bodies, and while certainly not universal or universally interpreted it is a longstanding custom in the church.

Foot washing takes place in the Old Testament, and it is not dissimilar in how it is used across the ancient Near East and in other religions—it is a washing—sometimes more ceremonially than others. It was to show honor and respect. In the New Testament, we get that kind of cultural foot washing before Jesus shocks his disciples by insisting on washing theirs (an inversion of what they would expect). It is mentioned in 1 Timothy as a symbol of humility and hospitality.

Tertullian, in the 2nd century, mentions that foot washing was common. By the time of Augustine in the late 4th century and early 5th century, foot washing was especially associated with the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism during Holy Week. Foot washing on Maundy Thursday became, in the Western church, the standard fixed at the council of Toledo in 694. While it was associated with Maundy Thursday in the West, it was not seen as a sacrament, whereas in the East, it was accepted as a sacrament but not a commonly practiced sacrament.

It is an interesting argument- that foot washing would be considered a “sacrament,” the fact that it takes place around the institution of the Last Supper- that it seems to be “commanded” and it includes a spiritual promise (cleansing) and a physical element (water and washing).

From the Middle Ages it became prominent amongst some reforming communities and sects. Albigensians, Waldensians, and Hussites were among the ancestors of the Protestant reformers. After the Reformation, it would remain a central practice by those who traced their lineage back to the Hussites- the various Brethren groups and others associated with the Anabaptists and radical Reformation.

It has historically been part of various offshoots of these churches in the Radical Reformation- often associated with the Lord’s Supper- but these are often practiced only twice a year. The Lord’s Supper in these rare but elaborate services includes a full meal, enforced lounging, and foot washing as part of that.

One study looked at 19 confessions of Faith written by Anabaptists and Mennonites between 1527 and 1724 and found 12 of them referencing foot washing as an ordinance- that is, something ordained by Christ for his followers to do- it is often a word used as a substitute for “sacrament.”

Regardless, foot washing has long been a practice in the Christian church as a symbol of humility- often practiced in conjunction with today- Maundy Thursday. If you observe, may it be a time of practicing humility, the way of Jesus, and the way of His cross?

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and John 13:

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.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 17th of April 2025 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man certainly starting this Holy season on the right foot… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man… sorry… I couldn’t avoid the foot puns. Go Clippers. I’m Dan van Voorhis. 

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.