Jesus Washes Peter's Feet Coloring PageBible World
13:7John 13:7
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Jesus answered Peter's protest against having his feet washed by telling him he did not grasp what was being done for him then but would understand it afterward. The washing pointed beyond water on the feet to cleansing of mind and heart from pride, jealousy and alienation, which must be accepted in humility in order to have a part with Him. He made it a lasting ordinance among believers, to be kept before communion, that lays aside self-exaltation and strife and joins hearts in humble service and oneness with Him. He washed even Judas, knowing he would betray Him, giving him a final appeal of love and showing that no one is to be barred from the service because his heart is judged unworthy. Beyond that hour, what God is doing in affliction, loss and mysterious providence is often not understood now but will be made plain hereafter, calling for obedient trust in His love and wisdom.
Words and Immediate Setting
Jesus answered Peter's protest against having his feet washed by telling him that he did not grasp what was being done at the moment but would grasp it afterward. The lesson belonged to the close of His earthly ministry, when in serving the disciples He was teaching humility. That service taught humility and the need to recognize what had been done for them through the gift of the Son. It pointed beyond bodily washing to spiritual cleansing of mind and heart, by which grace cleanses those who belong to Him from the effects of temptation, including alienation, jealousy, and pride, and brings humility and love. It was a sacred act meant to bring the disciples, through remembrance of what had been done for them, into a state of feeling where no exalting of one above another would find place, and to bring brother to an understanding of his brother's feelings. It is an ordinance at which God is sacredly near, to be approached with remembrance of His words and example, where believers wash one another's feet as He washed theirs.
The words were spoken in the upper chamber on the last evening before His death. That was the last Passover supper, in the last hours before He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. They were spoken to prepare the disciples for what they could not yet understand, His coming suffering and their separation from Him, and were meant to comfort and strengthen them through that trial, with understanding to come later.
The disciples came to that supper disputing who should be greatest, with hearts filled with selfishness and tempers heated by strife, stirred by Satan to contention, which brought Him sorrow and left them in no right frame to receive blessing. His humble service stood in contrast to their argument over who was greatest. Without a word He laid aside His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel as a servant and washed their feet. What He did they did not understand then but would understand afterward, for His action opened their eyes, left them too astonished and ashamed to speak, filled them with bitter shame and humiliation, showed them themselves in altogether a new light, and gave them an experience they would remember as long as life lasted.
The saying stands in John 13-17, where God's will for His people is plainly outlined. God means just what He says in it, and it is the privilege of those who minister in word and doctrine, who need conversion because they do not understand the philosophy of genuine missionary work, to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before fellow ministers. The instruction of the chapter about God's will for His people is able to address dissension and lead to unity with one another and with Christ. The teaching that the disciples might not understand His work at the time but would understand it afterward belongs within His instruction about His people and connects with His work of giving believers life and making them one with Him in this life and throughout eternity.
Spiritual Meaning of Washing
Peter did not yet understand the meaning of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, but would understand it afterward, for the act pointed beyond bodily washing and bodily service to Christ's spiritual cleansing of mind and heart from sin. His grace cleanses those who belong to Him from the effects of temptation, including alienation, jealousy, and pride, and brings humility and love. Peter's resistance came from not realizing that Christ had come to serve and to cleanse, and the footwashing represented the higher cleansing of the heart from sin. Accepting Christ's work of purification rather than resisting it out of pride is necessary to have a part with Him and to recognize what Christ had done through the gift of His Son.
The washing of the disciples' feet was a sacred act done to bring the disciples through remembrance of what Christ had done for them into a state of feeling where no exaltation of one above another would find place. It was given to bring brother to an understanding of his brother's feelings. Jesus knew the disciples needed the footwashing to expose the pride in their hearts, even though they did not yet understand why He was doing it, and by humbling Himself to wash their feet He showed them the lesson they needed. It means laying aside esteeming self above brother, working and serving for self, seeking the highest place, and evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, and coming down from self-exaltation to humility of spirit that washes a brother's feet.
The washing of the disciples' feet is an ordinance at which God is sacredly near, to be come to with remembrance of Christ's words and example, where believers wash one another's feet as He washed theirs. Jesus' act of washing their feet was a humiliating service and an example they were to follow. Following that humiliating example keeps them from feeling superior even to the humblest believer.
Ordinance Practice and Order
Christ made footwashing a consecrated religious ordinance and not merely an act of hospitality for travelers. It keeps His lessons of humility and service before the disciples, tests and proves loyalty, and teaches humility and oneness with Him by joining hearts together. It is to precede partaking of the emblems of His death, because pride, discord and strife for supremacy prevent fellowship with Christ and the memorial of His humiliation must come first.
As He ate the Passover with His disciples He put an end to the sacrifices offered for four thousand years. In place of the national festival observed by the Jewish people He instituted a memorial service of footwashing and the sacramental supper, to be observed by His followers through all time and in every country by ever repeating His act. Type met antitype in Christ Himself, the authority and foundation of all Jewish ordinances pointing to Him as the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world. Those rites and ceremonies therefore no longer possessed any virtue or force, so that to continue them would be an insult, while this simple ordinance disentangles believers from them and discharges them from their cares and burdens.
The ordinance was given as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper because the disciples needed it, and it speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and to moral and spiritual nature. Christ Himself is always specially present in it to awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin, to receive penitential offerings, to teach that brother is not to exalt himself above brother, and to show the dangers of disunion and strife for the health and holy activity of the soul. Eating His body and drinking His blood means not merely sharing the sacramental service but daily partaking of the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger by receiving His Word and doing His will.
Footwashing and communion belong in private among believers, separate from unbelievers and the wicked, and must never be attended to among unbelievers because doing them before unbelievers only causes reproach to come on the cause. The order is first to wash feet and then to give broken bread to represent His broken body and juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. Shepherds must be careful and move understandingly in following His example in these things. Even in private observance a Judas may from time to time appear to be with believers and eat and drink to his own damnation, but God will make him manifest quickly and he will be purged out from among Israel.
The ordinance is to be kept with propriety and order and done judiciously to avoid confusion. There is no example for brethren to wash sisters' feet, but there is example for sisters to wash the feet of brethren, while propriety requires sisters washing the feet of sisters and brothers washing the feet of brothers, with men having no business washing women's feet and men and women washing each other's feet not being the right thing. The washing of feet and partaking of the Lord's supper should be practiced more frequently, kept together in a united evening service where old and new believers, including youth and those seeking the Lord for the first time, take part. It is to be preceded by humble confession and accompanied by large, solemn, impressive observance that brings gladness and a good spiritual work, with humbling before God, weeping and rejoicing, a profitable season long to be remembered, joined with revival and settling into the work. It should be introduced into new places with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and in a proper manner, especially where people are not informed about His example and teachings on this point and have prejudice against it, with leaders setting the example to the men and to the women and then all heartily engaging in it, and all should move understandingly and not make the washing of feet a tedious ceremony.
Patience Toward Judas and Erring
Jesus washed the feet of Judas though He knew from the beginning that Judas had pledged to betray Him, and that tender service was His final appeal of love and conviction to Judas's heart, giving him another opportunity to repent and be cleansed from sin. Judas felt his heart thrilled with an impulse to confess, yet he resisted known light and hardened himself, with pride keeping him from repentance. The servant's work angered him instead of drawing him to love, and convinced him that Christ would not be made an earthly king, so he became more determined to betray Him. Even when his purpose was made known he felt no fear but quickly left in anger to carry out his plan, his decision then settled and Satan taking control of his heart and mind, while his going lightened Christ's face and lifted the shadow from the disciples.
At the time the other disciples did not understand what Jesus was doing and did not know Judas's secret purpose, while Jesus alone read his hidden heart yet did not expose him but washed his feet first with goodness, humility and love as He had treated them all along. They still regarded Judas as a man of great capability and broad knowledge whose gifts could have been valuable if sanctified. They themselves, ignorant at the time, were afterward ashamed, mortified, conscience-stricken, subdued and broken, and drawn to Jesus in earnest faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Because inward faith cannot be reliably judged by others, and human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul or tell who is worthy and distinguish the sincere from the insincere, those who claim to be Christians should not be barred from the ordinances. The service is not to be deferred or refused because someone present is counted unworthy, for Christ washed Judas's feet and kept him at the table knowing he would leave to betray Him.
Christ's patient mercy in the footwashing toward erring disciples, including Judas, offering the sinner opportunity to repent and be cleansed, is a pattern not to carelessly separate from those in error and leave them vulnerable and exposed to temptation. His long patience with perverse human nature, shown in numbering Judas among the apostles and bearing patiently even with him though He knew he would betray Him, teaches followers to bear patiently with false brethren rather than hastily reject them. A disciple's faults do not by themselves reveal the whole person or the work God's grace can do, since Peter, though often reproved and appearing worse than Judas, went on to a life of service and sacrifice.
Trust in Unseen Providence
What Christ and God are doing may lie beyond present understanding yet will be known afterward, for God sees the end from the beginning. Affliction and suffering can cleanse from earthliness and perfect Christian character for receiving Christ's robe of righteousness. Trials test and develop Christian character as people work with Jesus to overcome self.
In the future life, when present darkness and obscurity have passed, the wisdom of providences that seemed cruel and mysterious will be seen. Then the mysteries of divine love will be met face to face in their wisdom and beauty. What is painful, confusing, and unexplained in God's actions and providence now will become clear hereafter.
The work of instruction begun here continues to all eternity. Even a lifetime of prayer and research leaves much unexplored and unexplained now. Jesus longs to open before His people the glory attending His second advent and to carry them forward to the landscapes of bliss with wonders to be revealed. There the Lamb leading the redeemed to the fountain of living waters will impart rich stores of knowledge and unravel mysteries in the works and providence of God never before understood.
In sorrow, disappointment, hardship, and circumstances that seem dark and unexplainable, the call is to trust God's love and Christ's love, to depend on Him, and to walk by faith under an unerring Guide. Troubles are to be laid at His feet, His strength and wisdom leaned upon, and His voice heard with contentment even when the reason is not yet clear. Heaven takes account of cares and sorrows, and God knows the deepest sorrows even when events are hard to explain. God may allow trusted people to fail and harmful plans to proceed, while turning trials to good for those who remain faithful and loyal. The histories of Joseph and Daniel show how God turns others' harmful schemes to good for faithful servants, teaching not to depend on human strength.
God's people will not always see the reason for His requirements nor always understand His dealings with them. It is not their part to question and doubt His purposes but, as lifelong recipients of His favor, to yield ready and willing obedience. All His commands are founded in infinite love and wisdom, and though His purpose may not be fully understood here, it shall be known hereafter.
Unity Obedience and Application
The instruction to which this word belongs was given to cure dissension, and when lived out in humility rather than in efforts to humble others it joins hearts in oneness and brings unity with one another and with Christ. It stands within the plain outlining of God's will for His people, whose lesson of washing feet taught humility and bound the disciples together in oneness with Him. God means just what He says in it. Those who minister in word and doctrine need to be converted, because they do not understand the philosophy of genuine missionary work done by those acquainted with present truth. It is their privilege to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before fellow ministers.
The meaning and outcome of present actions may not be clear at the time but will become known afterward, as in parents' care for children where the harvest of sown thoughts, habits, and influences appears later. Understanding may also come in due time, as with the time for beginning the Sabbath. Before that light came there was no sin in following the practice then known, but to reject light once it came would bring condemnation.
The same applies to personal providences not yet understood, as in trusting the Lord's direction to take Fannie into the home while confident the reason would become clear later. What was not understood then would be understood hereafter, because the Lord understood the reason even when it was hidden.
Jesus answered Peter's protest against having his feet washed by telling him he did not grasp what was being done for him then but would understand it afterward. The washing pointed beyond water on the feet to cleansing of mind and heart from pride, jealousy and alienation, which must be accepted in humility in order to have a part with Him. He made it a lasting ordinance among believers, to be kept before communion, that lays aside self-exaltation and strife and joins hearts in humble service and oneness with Him. He washed even Judas, knowing he would betray Him, giving him a final appeal of love and showing that no one is to be barred from the service because his heart is judged unworthy. Beyond that hour, what God is doing in affliction, loss and mysterious providence is often not understood now but will be made plain hereafter, calling for obedient trust in His love and wisdom.
Words and Immediate Setting
Jesus answered Peter's protest against having his feet washed by telling him that he did not grasp what was being done at the moment but would grasp it afterward. The lesson belonged to the close of His earthly ministry, when in serving the disciples He was teaching humility. That service taught humility and the need to recognize what had been done for them through the gift of the Son. It pointed beyond bodily washing to spiritual cleansing of mind and heart, by which grace cleanses those who belong to Him from the effects of temptation, including alienation, jealousy, and pride, and brings humility and love. It was a sacred act meant to bring the disciples, through remembrance of what had been done for them, into a state of feeling where no exalting of one above another would find place, and to bring brother to an understanding of his brother's feelings. It is an ordinance at which God is sacredly near, to be approached with remembrance of His words and example, where believers wash one another's feet as He washed theirs.
The words were spoken in the upper chamber on the last evening before His death. That was the last Passover supper, in the last hours before He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. They were spoken to prepare the disciples for what they could not yet understand, His coming suffering and their separation from Him, and were meant to comfort and strengthen them through that trial, with understanding to come later.
The disciples came to that supper disputing who should be greatest, with hearts filled with selfishness and tempers heated by strife, stirred by Satan to contention, which brought Him sorrow and left them in no right frame to receive blessing. His humble service stood in contrast to their argument over who was greatest. Without a word He laid aside His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel as a servant and washed their feet. What He did they did not understand then but would understand afterward, for His action opened their eyes, left them too astonished and ashamed to speak, filled them with bitter shame and humiliation, showed them themselves in altogether a new light, and gave them an experience they would remember as long as life lasted.
The saying stands in John 13-17, where God's will for His people is plainly outlined. God means just what He says in it, and it is the privilege of those who minister in word and doctrine, who need conversion because they do not understand the philosophy of genuine missionary work, to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before fellow ministers. The instruction of the chapter about God's will for His people is able to address dissension and lead to unity with one another and with Christ. The teaching that the disciples might not understand His work at the time but would understand it afterward belongs within His instruction about His people and connects with His work of giving believers life and making them one with Him in this life and throughout eternity.
Spiritual Meaning of Washing
Peter did not yet understand the meaning of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, but would understand it afterward, for the act pointed beyond bodily washing and bodily service to Christ's spiritual cleansing of mind and heart from sin. His grace cleanses those who belong to Him from the effects of temptation, including alienation, jealousy, and pride, and brings humility and love. Peter's resistance came from not realizing that Christ had come to serve and to cleanse, and the footwashing represented the higher cleansing of the heart from sin. Accepting Christ's work of purification rather than resisting it out of pride is necessary to have a part with Him and to recognize what Christ had done through the gift of His Son.
The washing of the disciples' feet was a sacred act done to bring the disciples through remembrance of what Christ had done for them into a state of feeling where no exaltation of one above another would find place. It was given to bring brother to an understanding of his brother's feelings. Jesus knew the disciples needed the footwashing to expose the pride in their hearts, even though they did not yet understand why He was doing it, and by humbling Himself to wash their feet He showed them the lesson they needed. It means laying aside esteeming self above brother, working and serving for self, seeking the highest place, and evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, and coming down from self-exaltation to humility of spirit that washes a brother's feet.
The washing of the disciples' feet is an ordinance at which God is sacredly near, to be come to with remembrance of Christ's words and example, where believers wash one another's feet as He washed theirs. Jesus' act of washing their feet was a humiliating service and an example they were to follow. Following that humiliating example keeps them from feeling superior even to the humblest believer.
Ordinance Practice and Order
Christ made footwashing a consecrated religious ordinance and not merely an act of hospitality for travelers. It keeps His lessons of humility and service before the disciples, tests and proves loyalty, and teaches humility and oneness with Him by joining hearts together. It is to precede partaking of the emblems of His death, because pride, discord and strife for supremacy prevent fellowship with Christ and the memorial of His humiliation must come first.
As He ate the Passover with His disciples He put an end to the sacrifices offered for four thousand years. In place of the national festival observed by the Jewish people He instituted a memorial service of footwashing and the sacramental supper, to be observed by His followers through all time and in every country by ever repeating His act. Type met antitype in Christ Himself, the authority and foundation of all Jewish ordinances pointing to Him as the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world. Those rites and ceremonies therefore no longer possessed any virtue or force, so that to continue them would be an insult, while this simple ordinance disentangles believers from them and discharges them from their cares and burdens.
The ordinance was given as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper because the disciples needed it, and it speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and to moral and spiritual nature. Christ Himself is always specially present in it to awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin, to receive penitential offerings, to teach that brother is not to exalt himself above brother, and to show the dangers of disunion and strife for the health and holy activity of the soul. Eating His body and drinking His blood means not merely sharing the sacramental service but daily partaking of the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger by receiving His Word and doing His will.
Footwashing and communion belong in private among believers, separate from unbelievers and the wicked, and must never be attended to among unbelievers because doing them before unbelievers only causes reproach to come on the cause. The order is first to wash feet and then to give broken bread to represent His broken body and juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. Shepherds must be careful and move understandingly in following His example in these things. Even in private observance a Judas may from time to time appear to be with believers and eat and drink to his own damnation, but God will make him manifest quickly and he will be purged out from among Israel.
The ordinance is to be kept with propriety and order and done judiciously to avoid confusion. There is no example for brethren to wash sisters' feet, but there is example for sisters to wash the feet of brethren, while propriety requires sisters washing the feet of sisters and brothers washing the feet of brothers, with men having no business washing women's feet and men and women washing each other's feet not being the right thing. The washing of feet and partaking of the Lord's supper should be practiced more frequently, kept together in a united evening service where old and new believers, including youth and those seeking the Lord for the first time, take part. It is to be preceded by humble confession and accompanied by large, solemn, impressive observance that brings gladness and a good spiritual work, with humbling before God, weeping and rejoicing, a profitable season long to be remembered, joined with revival and settling into the work. It should be introduced into new places with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and in a proper manner, especially where people are not informed about His example and teachings on this point and have prejudice against it, with leaders setting the example to the men and to the women and then all heartily engaging in it, and all should move understandingly and not make the washing of feet a tedious ceremony.
Patience Toward Judas and Erring
Jesus washed the feet of Judas though He knew from the beginning that Judas had pledged to betray Him, and that tender service was His final appeal of love and conviction to Judas's heart, giving him another opportunity to repent and be cleansed from sin. Judas felt his heart thrilled with an impulse to confess, yet he resisted known light and hardened himself, with pride keeping him from repentance. The servant's work angered him instead of drawing him to love, and convinced him that Christ would not be made an earthly king, so he became more determined to betray Him. Even when his purpose was made known he felt no fear but quickly left in anger to carry out his plan, his decision then settled and Satan taking control of his heart and mind, while his going lightened Christ's face and lifted the shadow from the disciples.
At the time the other disciples did not understand what Jesus was doing and did not know Judas's secret purpose, while Jesus alone read his hidden heart yet did not expose him but washed his feet first with goodness, humility and love as He had treated them all along. They still regarded Judas as a man of great capability and broad knowledge whose gifts could have been valuable if sanctified. They themselves, ignorant at the time, were afterward ashamed, mortified, conscience-stricken, subdued and broken, and drawn to Jesus in earnest faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Because inward faith cannot be reliably judged by others, and human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul or tell who is worthy and distinguish the sincere from the insincere, those who claim to be Christians should not be barred from the ordinances. The service is not to be deferred or refused because someone present is counted unworthy, for Christ washed Judas's feet and kept him at the table knowing he would leave to betray Him.
Christ's patient mercy in the footwashing toward erring disciples, including Judas, offering the sinner opportunity to repent and be cleansed, is a pattern not to carelessly separate from those in error and leave them vulnerable and exposed to temptation. His long patience with perverse human nature, shown in numbering Judas among the apostles and bearing patiently even with him though He knew he would betray Him, teaches followers to bear patiently with false brethren rather than hastily reject them. A disciple's faults do not by themselves reveal the whole person or the work God's grace can do, since Peter, though often reproved and appearing worse than Judas, went on to a life of service and sacrifice.
Trust in Unseen Providence
What Christ and God are doing may lie beyond present understanding yet will be known afterward, for God sees the end from the beginning. Affliction and suffering can cleanse from earthliness and perfect Christian character for receiving Christ's robe of righteousness. Trials test and develop Christian character as people work with Jesus to overcome self.
In the future life, when present darkness and obscurity have passed, the wisdom of providences that seemed cruel and mysterious will be seen. Then the mysteries of divine love will be met face to face in their wisdom and beauty. What is painful, confusing, and unexplained in God's actions and providence now will become clear hereafter.
The work of instruction begun here continues to all eternity. Even a lifetime of prayer and research leaves much unexplored and unexplained now. Jesus longs to open before His people the glory attending His second advent and to carry them forward to the landscapes of bliss with wonders to be revealed. There the Lamb leading the redeemed to the fountain of living waters will impart rich stores of knowledge and unravel mysteries in the works and providence of God never before understood.
In sorrow, disappointment, hardship, and circumstances that seem dark and unexplainable, the call is to trust God's love and Christ's love, to depend on Him, and to walk by faith under an unerring Guide. Troubles are to be laid at His feet, His strength and wisdom leaned upon, and His voice heard with contentment even when the reason is not yet clear. Heaven takes account of cares and sorrows, and God knows the deepest sorrows even when events are hard to explain. God may allow trusted people to fail and harmful plans to proceed, while turning trials to good for those who remain faithful and loyal. The histories of Joseph and Daniel show how God turns others' harmful schemes to good for faithful servants, teaching not to depend on human strength.
God's people will not always see the reason for His requirements nor always understand His dealings with them. It is not their part to question and doubt His purposes but, as lifelong recipients of His favor, to yield ready and willing obedience. All His commands are founded in infinite love and wisdom, and though His purpose may not be fully understood here, it shall be known hereafter.
Unity Obedience and Application
The instruction to which this word belongs was given to cure dissension, and when lived out in humility rather than in efforts to humble others it joins hearts in oneness and brings unity with one another and with Christ. It stands within the plain outlining of God's will for His people, whose lesson of washing feet taught humility and bound the disciples together in oneness with Him. God means just what He says in it. Those who minister in word and doctrine need to be converted, because they do not understand the philosophy of genuine missionary work done by those acquainted with present truth. It is their privilege to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before fellow ministers.
The meaning and outcome of present actions may not be clear at the time but will become known afterward, as in parents' care for children where the harvest of sown thoughts, habits, and influences appears later. Understanding may also come in due time, as with the time for beginning the Sabbath. Before that light came there was no sin in following the practice then known, but to reject light once it came would bring condemnation.
The same applies to personal providences not yet understood, as in trusting the Lord's direction to take Fannie into the home while confident the reason would become clear later. What was not understood then would be understood hereafter, because the Lord understood the reason even when it was hidden.