In the upper room with His disciples, Jesus showcased His role as a servant. Through His interaction with Peter, we will learn something of the nature of His serving.
Jesus had undertaken the lowly task of washing the feet of His disciples. We are not told of any objection until He took His position before Peter. “Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’” (John 13:6). Peter’s question is rhetorical and amounts to a protest.
Jesus explains that there is more involved than mere washing of feet. “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this’” (John 13:7). In essence, Jesus was enacting the mission statement John had put forth in the first three verses of the chapter. For Peter to protest was a stand against Christ’s mission.
Peter would not be so easily persuaded. “Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’” (John 13:8) Likely, we are witnessing the same bravado Peter exhibited in Matthew’s Gospel when he rebuked Jesus for saying that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, and be killed (Matt. 16:21-23). Peter was trying to dictate on his own terms rather than submitting to Christ on His.
Jesus responds in stark terms. “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me’” (John 13:8). In Matthew, Peter had declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16). In John’s Gospel, Peter had insisted there was nowhere else to turn for eternal life (John 6:68). The thought of having no part in Christ would have sent Peter into a tailspin.
In dramatic overreaction, Peter blurts out. “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:9) But Jesus reins him in and clarifies His mission. “Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you’” (John 13:10).
Peter tries to inject himself and his own ways into the scene. But Jesus makes it clear that cleansing comes only by Him and is accomplished by His means rather than any substitute program Peter might devise.
Peter’s sensibilities were upended at the thought of the Master stooping to serve. But that is just what is portrayed in the gospel. God Himself came to save. There is no other way provided by God than the giving of His Son in sacrifice for sinners. Only by the cleansing He provides can any be washed of their iniquity and cleansed of all unrighteousness.
By what ways do we protest our complete need for Christ?
