Progressives, entrenched in postmodern concepts of “truth,” read into the Bible their own experiences and force the Bible to adopt their worldview. That’s the way postmodern progressives interpret the Bible. And that’s why they almost always get it wrong.
Woodman’s progressive Jesus
Take, for instance, Simon Woodman. In a 2022 conference on “Queer Theology,” Woodman, a “pastor” of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, claimed that “Jesus transgenders himself on a number of occasions.” He attempted to back up his claim with examples, primarily the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.
“I think if you look at the foot-washing from John’s gospel,” he said, “foot-washing elsewhere in both Old and New Testaments — that it’s consistently done by women. And yet Jesus takes that on. People often cast that as being the servant’s role. It was the woman’s role. And Jesus does it and becomes the woman at that point.”
Woodman was referencing a narrative found only in John’s Gospel. His interpretation magnifies the danger of trying to make Jesus be who we want Him to be. And Christmas is the perfect time to point out why this is a problem.
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
According to John, at His final Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus launched a lengthy teaching that would prepare them for His departure. But first, Jesus removed his outer garments and washed the disciples’ feet.
The Bible says Jesus “got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him” (John 13:4-5).
So, does this picture Jesus “transgendering himself” by taking on a servant role often given to women? Of course not. Such a claim misses the crucial points Jesus was trying to make and even undercuts what we celebrate at Christmas—the incarnation of God in human flesh.
The meaning behind the basin and the towel
Walking on the ancient roads in nothing but sandals made feet dirty and dusty. Foot washing was a kindness afforded guests when they visited a home. But this courtesy was a nasty job.
So, this task was assigned to the most lowly among the servants, man or woman. That’s the key to the story. And it provides a fuller understanding of why Jesus did it. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, it had nothing to do with transgenderism but everything to do with His Lordship.
Jesus used the act of foot washing to teach His disciples key truths about what it would mean to be His followers and, even more compelling, who He really was.
- Jesus teaches the submission of salvation
Jesus circles the room washing the disciples’ feet. But when He comes to Simon Peter, the brash fisherman objects.
“He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.’ ‘You will never wash my feet,’ Peter said” (John 13:8).
Peter cannot fathom permitting the Lord to do what only the lowest servant would do. And that’s the rub. Is Peter allowed to dictate what God is permitted to do? No. Not if He plans to follow Christ. And that’s the difference between being religious and following Christ.
“Jesus replied, ‘If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me’.” (13:8)
That’s when Peter gets it! Who is He to object to the actions of Jesus? “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head’.”
See, Jesus used the foot washing as a metaphor for salvation. Christ cleanses us from our sin. And we do not get to dictate what it means to be saved. To be a follower of Christ requires full submission to Him.
And that includes letting Him wash even the dirtiest parts.
- Jesus models the practice of servanthood
Woodman fails to read the whole story and interpret it in context. And anytime you read back into the Bible what you want the Bible to say, you’ll nearly always get it wrong.
But read the whole story, and you’ll see that Jesus himself interprets His actions. The foot washing is an “example” of Christlike servanthood (13:15-17). And Jesus expects His disciples to practice this same sacrificial, unselfish, humble servant attitude toward one another.
No Christian is more saved than the next. No Christian is less in need of grace than the next. No Christian is better than the next. And all are saved the same way—fully cleansed by Christ.
- Jesus mimics His own incarnation
“Afterward you will understand,” Jesus told Peter (13:7). Understand what? Understand who Jesus really is.
When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he performed a living parable. It was a common way of teaching in the biblical world. Great spiritual truths were captured in the actions of the teacher.
What great truth did Jesus illustrate? By disrobing, stooping down and serving, and then standing up and redressing, Jesus illustrated His incarnation and illuminated His identity.
Jesus is God the Son. He came to earth, incarnate in human flesh, lived a sinless servant’s life, and died in obedience to the Father. Then, God the Father raised Christ from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-5).
After His resurrection, Christ ascended to the Father (Mark 16:19). That is to say, He redressed in His robes of glory.
In fact, in the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, early Christians relished Jesus’ actions on that night with His disciples. They must have talked about it often. The King of all creation became the lowest servant so we could know Him and be saved!
The Apostle Paul includes a hymn in Philippians 2:5-11, which pictures the same events Jesus portrayed in the foot washing, and which was likely adored by the early Christians. For the full impact, read it alongside John 13:1-15.
One more thing
The incarnation of Christ, just as we celebrate it at Christmas, returns us to this extraordinary, biblical, and theologically rich reality. Jesus was not a culture warrior. He is our King, our God, who came to us as a man, chose to serve us and save us, so that we might in turn serve Him.
By reducing Jesus to a pawn in the progressive agenda and trivializing the incarnation, people like Woodman sully the glory of Christmas.
We are all sinners—all of us—in need of a Savior. And when we fully accept His death as our own and trust the power of His resurrection to save us, we can in fact be forgiven and saved.
He came to save the lowest servant, to wash the vilest sinner, and to humble the most arrogant religionist, the angry activist, and the pompous postmodernist (John 3:16).
Never reduce Jesus to less than who He says He is—God in human flesh (John 1:14). Because if you do, you’ll never know Him at all.
Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:11