Membasuh Kaki – Washing Feet (Bag. 4)

Historical - Background Interpretation: Menafsirkan berdasarkan bukti-bukti sejarah dan latar belakang (ekonomi, politik, budaya, tradisi , sosial, ideology, dan kekuasaan) teks. Konteks Budaya Harry Bethel menyatakan, “Concerning the ordinance of foot washing, neither Christ nor the Apostles commanded that it should be done as a ritual in the assembly of believers. Washing feet should be a practical service rendered in the daily lives of the saints” (Harry Bethel, Is Ritualistic Foot Washing Scriptural? Bethel Ministry.com). Alkitab tidak mencatat perintah secara langsung kepada orang-orang percaya untuk membasuh kaki orang lain. Selanjutnya Bethel menyatakan, “Washing feet was a custom in the East, and practiced as early as Abraham's time (Gen. 18:4; 19:2) before the advent of the nation of Israel and continued onward (Judges 19:21). These verses are indicative of the custom of one washing one's own feet. An Old Testament record of the host at least offering to wash the feet of guests is found in 1 Samuel 25:41. Of course, the open sandals and common travel by walking lent itself to refreshment by washing one's own feet or having them washed by someone else.” Jadi membasuh kaki sudah merupakan tradisi timur yang dilakukan sendiri oleh seseorang yang sedang berkunjung ke suatu tempat atau kembali ke rumahnya sesudah berpergian. Menyiapkan air untuk membasu kaki secara tradisi merupakan tanda keramahan tuan tumah terhadap tamu-tamunya. “Jesus, as a guest in the Pharisee's house, reproved the latter, in part, for not giving any water for His feet. Although the host was not hospitable in this regard, there was a woman present who, in true humility and in a spirit of service, washed Jesus' feet with her tears (Lk. 7:44).” Keterangan diatas menjelaskan bahwa ketika seseorang melakukannya bagi kita maka kerendahan hati dalam semangat melayani sedang didemonstrasikan oleh seseorang terhadap orang yang lain. Lebih lanjut Bethel menyatakan, “Washing the feet of guests was simply an act of hospitality extended by some hosts or their servants. There is no reason from Scripture to believe that any of the twelve Apostles personally washed the feet of guests in their homes. Jesus, in teaching a greater level of humility, said that they ought to wash one another's feet (Jn. 13:14). Jesus expected all His disciples to wash the feet of others, which is simply a manifestation of humility when done in a spirit of service. In fact, that level of humility is required of a widow in order for her name to be placed on the widows' list: "If she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' [men's and women's] feet" (1 Tim. 5:10)”. Yesus yang membasuh kaki murid-muridnya tidak sekedar melakukannya dalam level tindakan keramahan dan kerendahan hati , namun Ia juga melakukannya untuk mengajarkan konsep melayani. Ia menempatkan diriNya layaknya seorang “hamba” yang membasuh kaki tuan-tuannya. Kalau demikian, apakah kita perlu melanjutkan tindakan Yesus dan menjadikannya sebagai tradisi Kristen di masa kini? Bethel menyatakan, “ …this service to others is not the same as that seen among some Christian groups today. Feet are washed in a wholesale fashion, the ritual having been planned well in advance, and everyone having already washed their own feet before leaving their homes to participate in the foot-washing ceremony. The intention may be good in desiring to follow the Lord in obedience to His Word, but virtually the entire truth has been missed”. Lebih lanjut Marty Johnson, seorang yang pernah melayani di Papua ,menyatakan pendapatnya kepada saya, “Jesus washed the disciples feet because they were dirty and needed washing. It was the custom of the time. If you want to serve someone do something they need. They probably don't need their feet washed. Don't do a "symbol of ministry" to the students it would be better to truly minister to them.” Kita sebenarnya perlu memikirkan, apakah tanda keramahan, kerendahan dan pelayanan yang kita dapat berikan bagi orang lain pada masa kini? Apakah yang dapat membuat seseorang mengerti tentang apa yang dilakukan oleh Yesus dalam konteks masa kini?