A King Washes FeetSample

Washing Feet in India

I didn’t know what I was signing up for when Father Rob Galea invited me to join him for his “Something About You” music tour across India. I’d done ministry, I’d been on mission trips, but a tour . . . ? Completely new to me.

Father Rob invited me to join his team for the tour because he was familiar with my Footwashing Series artwork. Halfway through the concert, I walked on stage and spoke about Jesus washing feet, and then each night a different young person would have their feet washed by a bishop or priest.

One night the young woman whose feet were washed came down off the stage, visibly emotional, and said, “Something really happened up there. Something is different.” Another night a young person openly sobbed while a bishop washed her feet. Twice, visually impaired young people were selected, and one of those nights the room of 1,500 people spontaneously erupted into clapping and cheering after the footwashing. Before one of the concerts began, I walked out of a bathroom stall and found a young woman awkwardly trying to scrub her feet in the bathroom sink. I laughed as I realized quickly who she was and what was going on. “I didn’t know I was going to do this!” she said wryly as she tried to clean her feet before going on stage to have her feet washed.

God did something different and special in every person, every night. I knew He was handpicking each person for a reason, and it wasn’t just an act to inspire a stadium full of people— instead, a stadium full of people were witnessing a real encounter someone was having with Jesus. Across those seven concerts throughout India, approximately 20,000 people were reminded that Jesus washed feet, and that He still asks us to do the same.

Footwashing Today

I've seen a revival of footwashing, based on what Jesus first did as an example for us (John 13), sweeping across the globe. I've seen images of footwashing light up Times Square, commercials featuring footwashing play during the Super Bowl, and Baltimore Ravens players wash the feet of elementary school students.

I think we presume that the act of footwashing is something nice Jesus did during the Last Supper, but that it's no longer relevant today. But I propose that it's never been more essential. In a world of cancel culture, rejecting those we disagree with, and holding onto unforgiveness under the guise of healthy boundaries, Jesus offers another way; kneeling with a towel to wash feet.

Welcome to the footwashing revival. Drop the rocks used to stone people and pick up a towel - it's time to wash feet.

Do I know a King who washes feet? Do I need Him?