Our Lord instituted the rite of the washing of the saints' feet in order to represent the spiritual experience of the ____ of the disciples.

• A. Humility
• B. Cleansing
• C. Obedience
• D. Submission

Answer: (B)

The teaching focus is the symbolic meaning of the foot washing itself. Jesus uses this act to illustrate cleansing from sin and the ongoing purification believers need. He tells Peter that someone bathed is fully clean, yet still needs to wash his feet as he travels through a dirty world. This distinction shows that while a believer may experience initial cleansing from sin, daily fellowship with the Lord requires continual cleansing and sanctification. Therefore, the rite represents the spiritual experience of cleansing for the disciples, highlighting ongoing purification rather than just a posture of humility, obedience, or submission. Humility and service are closely connected to the act, but the primary imagery the rite conveys is cleansing from sin.