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).

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).

Read More