Scripture Daily

Context No. 55 of 4322 · John

Context · Reflection

John 13:1-6: in context

1Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God, 4arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

John's Gospel spends five chapters on Jesus's last night with his disciples, and it opens here. Passover is coming, and Jesus knows his hour has arrived. The text stacks up what he knows before he moves: that he is going to the Father, that the Father has put everything into his hands, and that Judas has already decided to betray him. Then, holding all of that, he gets up from the table and takes off his outer clothing.

Washing feet was slave work. Roads were dust and animal traffic, sandals were open, and a household with servants had the lowest of them do this at the door. In a rabbinic list of duties a Jewish slave could not be compelled to perform, foot washing was on it, being reserved for Gentile slaves. Jesus wraps a towel around his waist, the way a servant would, pours water into a basin, and starts down the line.

Peter's reaction is the one anybody would have. Lord, are you going to wash my feet? The order of the sentence is his whole objection, the title and the task in the same breath. Notice that Judas is at that table, and his feet get washed too. What service would feel beneath me right now, and would I still do it for the person in the room who is going to hurt me?

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