FOOT WASHING & COMMUNION
Updated January 20, 2012
The Biblical practice of Foot Washing and Communion has been steady dissipating
from the church over the years. Yet we find regardless of how simple we might
view this ordinances, like all simple duties, it dovetails with deeper scriptural studies.
We will first study Foot Washing.
Foot washing was one of three ordinances given to the church (water baptism and
taking communion was the other two ordinances). The foot washing was given directly
by Jesus Himself and His demonstration has been correctly understood. For "after
supper" is mention in John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments;
and took a towel, and girded himself. Showing that foot washing has nothing to do
(other than to practicing humility) with the Jewish customary foot wash flunky servants
who was the first to welcome visitors. The ordinance of washing feet is not a
carry-over of the Jewish tradition into Christianity. It is the commandment of Jesus
for His church to keep.
In the study of the communion (correctly called "The Lord's Supper") ordinance,
Luke 22:20 says; Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But we find that Saint Paul when
bring Light to the Corinthian group (who were trying to keep the old Passover by
having a big feast) said he received this revelation of how to take the communion
direct from the Lord Himself and not from the disciple witness of what Christ had done
in keeping the Mosaic Passover ceremony. For Paul set in order for the early church was
just the partaking of bread and wine. I Corinthians 11:23 For I have received
of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night
in which he was betrayed took bread: We believe as Saint Paul received from the
Lord the revelation of communion completely apart from the Passover, Brother Branham
also received from the Lord the revelation of communion apart
from denominational customs. Apart of this revelation is, taking these two ordinances as one ceremony.
In church history, we find out that during the dark ages the truth concerning
foot washing and communion vanished. When the truths begin to return during the
reformation it returned little by little, for some took just the communion while
others took just the foot washing. Some groups only washed one foot and others
substituted grape juice for the wine. But few if any at all, took it according to
our prophetic example. So this is a lost truth that is to be restored according
to Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall
begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to
his servants the prophets.
We do not believe that the bread is the literal body of Christ or the wine is the
literal blood of the Lord. These are symbols that we are commanded to do to testify
of what is a reality in our hearts. Just like water baptism in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ does not save you. It is as Paul said in Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that
so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection: Like water baptism, we are commanded to take
foot washing and communion to show the reality of Christ in our lives.
Reviewing, we see it is scriptural, we see it is a restored truth, and we see it is a
symbolical ceremony. Now, let us examine why some believers have quit taking foot
washing and communion.
Saint Paul mention in I CORINTHIANS 11:25-26 After the same manner also he took the
cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye,
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Paul is repeating what Jesus spoke
to His disciples. For at the time of these words, Jesus had already die and rose again
and returned on the day of Pentecost. Yet, Paul was preaching communion as the Word of
God to be kept. Let dig deeper, According to 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16 For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: So, before we meet the corporeal
body of the Lord Jesus in the air (another dimension) the Lord Jesus comes among His
people in 3 different ways. 1.) He comes in the Shout which is the Message/the Prophet
2.) He comes in the Voice which is the Revelation of the Message in the Bride of Christ
3.) He comes in the Trump to the Jews as He is rapturing the gentile saints from the earth.
(these 3 event are natural things, there are spiritual application to these same 3 events)
The point is, the coming of the Lord is not complete till He does all three things. Jesus said,
MATTHEW 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine,
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. MATTHEW 26:29 will
be fulfilled as we take communion at the Marriage
Supper of the Lamb in the sky when the journey is over with.
As Paul brought a holy reverence to the communion service so did the foot washing revelation
bring again sacredness to this same order. COMMUNION 1962 on this communing we find out
that there was a--a foot washing and things associated with that, also, to wash our feet, as
a symbol of the cleanliness of the Holy Spirit. Another question we would like to put
before you, why did those in the message who quit taking communion (claiming the coming of the Word was
fullfilled) also quit having foot washing?
In closing, why do we wash feet and take communion. 1.) We do this in remembrance of Christ's
broken body on Calvary. 2.) It build our faith in Jesus the only worthy one as we examine
ourselves and take inventory of our lives 3.) We discern the Lord's body by tarrying for
one another (waiting for each member to search their hearts and confess to another any
wrong they might have done.) 4.) After, Moses completely washed
Aaron and his sons for service in the priesthood; they were to just wash their hands and
feet in the laver to carry out their priesthood duties. In communion, we wash our hands
by washing our brother's feet, and our brother washing our feet. Thus our hands and feet
get washed not our whole body. Which completes the Moses' type of the new priesthood (saints of God).
JOHN 13:9-11 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet
only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not
save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean... Soon after these words of
Jesus the disciple when forth to spread the message as we do today with the new revelation
from our prophet on footwashing and communion.
So this is not just an simple unimportant subject but something as the Prophet said you've
got to be sincere. God wants the depths of your heart. You remember, the very God that
brought you here on earth is the One you're serving. See? You're doing this because He
said so, because it's His order. Then we want to come up with deepness and sincerity,
knowing that by God's grace that we have been saved. And we love Him and we feel His Presence.
Eagle Christian Church ' P.O. Box 1510 LaVergne, TN 37086 USA
Pastor James Tidwell
Pastor James Tidwell