John 13:7-20: a reflection

7Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11For he knew him who would betray him; therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. 16Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. 20Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”

When Jesus kneels to wash his disciples' feet, Peter recoils: You will never wash my feet! It seemed to Peter unthinkable that his Lord should stoop to serve him so; his pride resisted being served, being cleansed, by the one he honored as Master. But Jesus answers with a word that Peter must heed: If I don't wash you, you have no part with me. To refuse Christ's service, to resist being cleansed by him out of pride, was to refuse a part with him. Peter had to let Christ serve and cleanse him, humbling himself to receive rather than resisting; there was no part with Christ except by letting him wash us.

Notice what Peter had to learn: to receive Christ's service and cleansing, not to resist it out of pride. Peter's instinct was to refuse; it seemed wrong that his Lord should wash his feet, and his pride recoiled from being served, being cleansed. But Jesus made clear that to refuse his cleansing was to have no part with him. Peter had to humble himself, not to serve but to be served, to receive the cleansing Christ offered rather than resisting it. There is a humility not only in serving but in receiving service, in letting Christ wash us, cleanse us, do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Peter's pride would have kept him from Christ; his part with Christ depended on letting Christ wash him.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too must humbly receive Christ's service and cleansing, not resisting it out of pride. We can resist being served and cleansed by Christ, our pride recoiling from the idea that we need him to do for us what we cannot do ourselves, wanting to earn or manage our own cleansing; but Jesus told Peter that to refuse his washing was to have no part with him. There is a humility in receiving Christ's cleansing, in letting him serve us. Do not resist Christ's service and cleansing out of pride, as though you did not need it or should manage it yourself; humbly receive it, as Peter had to learn. Humbly receive Christ's service and cleansing rather than resisting it out of pride, as Peter had to let Christ wash his feet or have no part with him; for we cannot cleanse ourselves, and there is a humility in receiving what Christ does for us, letting him wash and serve us rather than proudly resisting the cleansing only he can give.

Lord Jesus, when you kneel to wash your disciples' feet, Peter recoils: you will never wash my feet! It seemed to Peter unthinkable that his Lord should stoop to serve him so; his pride resisted being served, being cleansed, by the one he honored as Master. But you answer with a word that Peter must heed: if I don't wash you, you have no part with me. To refuse your service, to resist being cleansed by you out of pride, was to refuse a part with you. Show me what Peter had to learn: to receive your service and cleansing, not to resist it out of pride. Peter's instinct was to refuse; it seemed wrong that his Lord should wash his feet, and his pride recoiled from being served, being cleansed. But you made clear that to refuse your cleansing was to have no part with you. Peter had to humble himself, not to serve but to be served, to receive the cleansing you offered rather than resisting it. There is a humility not only in serving but in receiving service, in letting you wash us, cleanse us, do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Take that to my heart, for I too must humbly receive your service and cleansing, not resisting it out of pride. I can resist being served and cleansed by you, my pride recoiling from the idea that I need you to do for me what I cannot do myself, wanting to earn or manage my own cleansing; but you told Peter that to refuse your washing was to have no part with you. Keep me from resisting your service and cleansing out of pride, Lord, as though I did not need it or should manage it myself; help me humbly receive it, as Peter had to learn, letting you wash and serve me rather than proudly resisting the cleansing only you can give.