Feet Defiled

And during supper... [Jesus,] ... pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded. He comes therefore to Simon Peter; and *he* says to him, Lord, dost thou wash *my* feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do thou dost not know now, but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter says to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, Unless I wash thee, thou hast not part with me. Simon Peter says to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus says to him, He that is washed all over needs not to wash save his feet, but is wholly clean... John 13:2-10

Peter apparently took a bath (or shower) so he was already washed all over. His feet, however, were dirty. They wore open toe sandals. He walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled his feet. His feet were dirty, but he was clean.

And this is the thing which thou shalt do to them to hallow them, that they may serve me as priests:...Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring near the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shalt bathe them with water. -- Ex. 29:1,4

Aaron and his sons, the first high priest and the first priests, had to be bathed as a part of their consecration ritual after they were selected by God but before they were to serve. At the door of the tabernacle, Moses bathed Aaron and his four sons. They were wholly clean one time.

Thou shalt also make a laver of copper, and its stand of copper, for washing; and thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water in it. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet out of it. When they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they come near to the altar to serve, to burn an offering by fire to Jehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they may not die... Ex. 20:18-20

Once in service, the priests had to wash their feet that they may not die. While performing the duties of the priesthood, their feet got dirty. They wore open toe sandals. The tabernacle had no floor. The tabernacle had no chair. They walked on dirt. The dirt dust defiled their feet. Their feet were dirty, but they were wholly clean.

We believers, are now priest (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6)

as priest, we are wholly clean: the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Since we are still walking in the world, we sin. Our feet get defiled by walking on the dirt of this world: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

Like the ancient Israel priest, we need to wash our defiled feet. We need to wash frequently. How do we get cleansed? By confessing. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10

Clean Peter needed his feet washed...the consecrated priests needed their feet washed, often...the forgiven believer needs to confess sins, as often as he sins, which is often...