Footwashing in the Filipino Culture

Jn 13:12 –Jn 13:17 (GWT)
After Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothes, he took his place at the table again. Then he asked his disciples, “Do you understand what I’ve done for you?
You call me teacher and Lord, and you’re right because that’s what I am. So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you must wash each other’s feet. I’ve given you an example that you should follow. I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them. If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example.

Foot-washing is not a ritual to show humility. Nor is it a means to humble oneself. It is a cultural expression of hospitality and humility. In Israel, it was a job for the lowest slave. It was accorded to all honored guests. Guests who were not welcome were not given the honor. Note the lack of respect by one of the Pharisees who hosted Jesus. Yet among the women believers, "washing the feet of the saints" is equated with hospitality.

The cultural equivalent of foot-washing among modern Filipinos is offering (and actually cooking) a meal and a place to stay for the night. Among expat Filipinos (and OFWs), the equivalent could include offering to tour and even provide transportation to a guest.

The offer of hospitality has to include doing something that is commonly done by household helpers. In the Philippine provinces, this would even include personally harvesting fruit for take-home by the guest. It is the act of taking a servant's job and doing it for a guest. Of course, if a person is poor or does not have hired help, then he/she has to do the act himself regardless. (I guess that's the advantage and "higher position" of the poor.)

What Jesus is calling for here is for us His servants to humble ourselves before each other, to welcome each other wholeheartedly, and to serve each other humbly. By welcoming and serving each other, we are actually welcoming and serving the Lord. "Whatever you have done to the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me."