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July 15, 2012
Like Peter when Jesus offered to wash his feet, we by nature resist the idea of cleansing and are confident in our ability to fix ourselves. Only when we are truly converted are we humble enough to admit our dependence on something done for us by God. In this short meditation, Alistair Begg reflects on the Teacher washing the feet of His pupils, the ultimate example of humility.
1Now nbefore othe Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that phis hour had come qto depart out of this world to the Father, rhaving loved shis own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, when tthe devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing uthat the Father had given all things into his hands, and that vhe had come from God and wwas going back to God, 4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, xtied it around his waist. 5Then he ypoured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7zJesus answered him, “What I am doing ayou do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8bPeter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, c“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, dexcept for his feet,1 but is completely clean. And eyou2 are clean, fbut not every one of you.” 11gFor he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12When he had washed their feet and hput on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, i“Do you understand what I have done to you? 13jYou call me kTeacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, lyou also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have given you an example, mthat you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you, na servant3 is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, oblessed are you if you do them. 18pI am not speaking of all of you; I know qwhom I have chosen. But rthe Scripture will be fulfilled,4 s‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19tI am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20Truly, truly, I say to you, uwhoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
21After saying these things, vJesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, w“Truly, truly, I say to you, xone of you will betray me.” 22yThe disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23zOne of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table aat Jesus' side,5 24so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus6 of whom he was speaking. 25bSo that disciple, cleaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, d“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread ewhen I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, fhe gave it to Judas, gthe son of Simon Iscariot. 27Then after he had taken the morsel, hSatan entered into him. Jesus said to him, i“What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, jbecause Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need kfor the feast,” or that he should lgive something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. mAnd it was night.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, n“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and oGod is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him, pGod will also glorify him in himself, and qglorify him at once. 33Little children, ryet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just sas I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34tA new commandment uI give to you, vthat you love one another: wjust as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35xBy this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” yJesus answered him, “Where I am going zyou cannot follow me now, abut you will follow afterward.” 37bPeter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, cthe rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
