seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Fancy that... I started John 13 on the 13th of April. Now there's a coincidence for the month!I went right to the commentaries once again this morning. Guzik has quite an interesting discussion on foot washing.
i. It was customary that the lowest servant of the house would wash the feet of the guests as they came into the house, especially for a formal meal like this. For some reason, this didn’t happen when Jesus and the disciples came into the room. They ate their meal with dirty feet.
ii. This was more awkward than we might think. First, because of the sandals they wore and the roads they walked on, the feet were dirty. Second, the disciples ate a formal meal like this at a table known as a triclinium. This was a low (coffee-table height), U-shaped table. The guests sat and their status at the meal was reflected by how close they were to the host or leader of the meal. Because the table was low, they didn’t sit on chairs. They leaned on pillows, with their feet behind them. The unwashed feet were easily seen and perhaps smelled.
iii. None of the disciples were interested in washing each other’s feet. Any of them would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. But they could not wash His without having to be available to wash the others’ feet, and that would have been an intolerable admission of inferiority among their fellow competitors for the top positions in the disciples’ hierarchy. So no one’s feet got washed.
And, from the same article, I found the study of Peter's arguments pretty thought provoking. [I added the color]Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head! Peter, in his request to be fully washed, was still reluctant to let Jesus do as He wanted. Peter wanted to tell Jesus what to do. Jesus — though the servant of all — still was and is God’s appointed leader. He would not allow Peter to dominate this situation and set things on a wrong course.
Have you ever had a pedicure? I didn't have one until I was way into my 60's. I never had the money to have a pedicure. My legs are really, really long though, and I have always had a hard time seeing or working with my feet. I'm lucky they are not all gnarled up. My youngest daughter took me to get my feet done back there in Lusby, and now my oldest daughter takes me to get my feet done out here in Arizona. Every time I get my feet done, I think of these verses.... and I get uncomfortable. It doesn't matter if I have a male or female person doing my feet, it's the same. I feel uncomfortable because I'm in this high, luxurious chair and they are on a little stool at my feet. I feel worshipped. I don't like that feeling at all. Sure, my feet generally look and feel fabulous afterwards, but it takes me a day or two to get over the awkwardness.When I read these verses, I think of a pedicure and the awkwardness. I see it a little different this morning. After reading the commentary and considering the two men included with Jesus in those verses, I get a completely different vibe this morning.
The two men involved are Judas and Peter.
Judas hadn't betrayed Jesus yet. He talked to the priests, but Judas hadn't made his move yet. He was at the table with the others but he was probably sulking with his arms closed. He was probably still angry with Jesus for calling him down when Mary put that expensive Nard on the feet of Jesus. Now Jesus wanted to wash his feet.... what a notion! "Sure, yank out the Nard while you're at it, there will always be poor and unwanted humans. Who cares, right?"
Peter hadn't denied Jesus yet. He figured himself to be an upright and fine Apostle of Jesus. He had a big head about it. Peter had been with Jesus since the start of the Mission. He wanted it all, he wanted it all, and he wanted it right now. He wanted to tell Jesus what he wanted, and Jesus was to serve him! He ordered a whole spa day! Jesus set him straight. "Order up a couple lottery tickets too... after all, Peter did leave his fishing boat to walk with Jesus, he was due".
So, in just a few verses, that sulking Judas, and bigheaded Peter would betray and deny Jesus. They would put themselves in the way. Jesus was on the way to the Cross, and they were instrumental in putting him there, alone.
This was a serious pedicure!
