Was John 13:9 ("Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.") ever used to justify baptism by effusion on other body parts than the head?

I'm currently studying John 13:1-20. I go to a church where they believe that foot washing is an ordinance similar to baptism and the Lord's supper. I personally disagree and believe that as Jesus said, v.15 (ESV) > For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I > have done to you. I believe that Jesus is demonstrating that if the greatest (being Jesus) is willing to serve the lowliest of tasks, we too should be willing to serve one another in humility. So I understand that as acts of kindness and service (which can obviously take many forms). Where I'm really struggling from an exegetical perspective is in v10 which says > Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. My assumption is that Jesus meant by you are already completely clean, is that by faith in Christ they have been cleansed of all sin, and have transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. So my question finally is, what connection does the symbol of washing only the feet have to do with the cleansing of the overall body. If the cleansing of the body is the forgiveness of sin by grace through faith, then what does the washing of the feet symbolically represent, and how does that link back to forgiveness of sin? I hope that makes sense. If you need any clarifications please let me know.

The two links below are examples of many, many Roman Catholic resources explaining the origin, significance, and liturgical format of foot washing (The Mandatum) which takes place during Maundy Thursday services. Holy Thursday Mandatum Mandatum: Liturgical History The biblical text undergirding this practice is in John 13: > Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. - John 13:1-17 I will pull excerpts from this passage as I try to clarify my questions (asked of Roman Catholicism). a) "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." Since this took place during the same Passover meal that Christ eagerly desired to eat with His disciples and during which the Lord's Supper was instituted, and since the act appears preparatory to that first Eucharist, why does the Roman Catholic Church only incorporate this into one liturgy each year while the Eucharist takes place during each liturgy? b) "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." Given that Jesus washed the feet of everyone there (apparently even Judas) and given that Jesus commanded them to likewise wash one another's feet, why does the Roman Catholic celebration of this event involve only the principle celebrant (Bishop, Priest, or those he designates) doing the washing to only a certain number of chosen congregants? An ancillary question here is; Are Catholic parishioners likewise encouraged to wash one another's feet going forward? c) "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." I guess this question is more overarching. Given the tight Scriptural linkage (not just by proximity but by intentionality) between the foot washing (I have given you an example that **you should do**) and the Lord's Supper (**Do this** in remembrance of me), why does Roman Catholicism hold the latter as the literal and indispensable centerpiece of each liturgy while the former is only remembered yearly and symbolically?

Is there any historical evidence for the practice of “foot washing” during the first centuries of Christianity? My question to the practice of foot washing based on John 13: > John 13:12-17 (New International Version) > > 12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

On Holy Thursday I watched a broadcast from the liturgy in a small religious community in Brasil. The liturgy was led by an elderly priest. Because of the pandemic, there were less than 12 persons to have their feet washed. A lay brother was doing footwashing and at the end, a girl who was helping was doing the footwashing to the brother who was washing the feet of everybody. Another year I saw another variation of feet washing ritual on Holy Thursday, whereas in very big congregation, about 60 lay brothers were washing the feet of all people participating in the liturgy. Did it go "too far" at some point or there is no law which would forbid such practices? Where the documents explaining the current position of The Catholic Church on this ritual are to be found?

How is the feet-washing ritual observed during Lent? How many denominations actually do this, besides the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England? What is significance of maintaining this tradition to the modern era, and can *anyone* get its feet washed or wash the feet of others?

Jesus said to Peter that his feet must be washed to "have part with Jesus" (John 13:9). Jesus also commanded all disciples to wash each other's feet (John 13:14). Our church practices foot washing as a sacrament (must do to be saved). I know that we are probably the only church that treats foot washing this seriously. How do other churches approach the subject of foot washing and is it taken as seriously as our church?

In John Chapter 13, Jesus tells us to wash each other's feet, and that we will be blessed if we do so. Why do most churches do not practice this? How did this relatively easy and straight-forward task not become common practice in Christendom? This answer does point out there are references of early Christians practicing footwashing, and there are few denominations still practicing footwashings. Why is this not as common as communion? (Note: I'm NOT looking for why it is not part of the communion.) >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. Might it be a possibility that only John refers to footwashing and not the other Gospel writers? If we compare this to communion, communion is mentioned in all the Gospels except John. EDIT: I do not accept "Our feet are more clean nowadays" as an answer. Even though this might be true, it is still needed to wash your feet once in a while.

There was the fact of washing the feet of the disciples by Jesus. What does it mean ?

What was the meaning of that? I have read about this in the bible on numerous occasions.