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John 13:1-17,31b-35
Maundy Thursday (Gospel) April 8, 1998
John 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave
this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed
them the full extent of his love.
[2] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot,
son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his
power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the
meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that,
he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the
towel that was wrapped around him.
[6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my
feet?"
[7] Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand."
[8] "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
[9] "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and
my head as well!"
[10] Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his
whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." [11] For he
knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
[12] When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his
place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. [13]
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's
feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] I
tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than
the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do
them.
John 13:31-35
Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. [32] If God
is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
[33] "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and
just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
[34] "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. [35] By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another."
(NIV)
John 13:1-17 (Christ washes the disciples’ feet)
Our Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them, and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. We know not when our hour will come, therefore what we have to do in constant preparation for it, ought never to be undone. What way of access the devil has to men’s hearts we cannot tell. But some sins are so exceedingly sinful, and there is so little temptation to them from the world and the flesh, that it is plain they are directly from Satan. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, that he might teach us to think nothing below us, wherein we may promote God’s glory, and the good of our brethren. We must address ourselves to duty, and must lay aside every thing that would hinder us in what we have to do. Christ washed his disciples’ feet, that he might signify to them the value of spiritual washing, and the cleansing of the soul from the pollutions of sin. Our Lord Jesus does many things of which even his own disciples do not for the present know the meaning, but they shall know afterward. We see in the end what was the kindness from events which seemed most cross. And it is not humility, but unbelief, to put away the offers of the gospel, as if too rich to be made to us, or too good news to be true. All those, and those only, who are spiritually washed by Christ, have a part in Christ. All whom Christ owns and saves, he justifies and sanctifies. Peter more than submits; he begs to be washed by Christ. How earnest he is for the purifying grace of the Lord Jesus, and the full effect of it, even upon his hands and head! Those who truly desire to be sanctified, desire to be sanctified throughout, to have the whole man, with all its parts and powers, made pure. The true believer is thus washed when he receives Christ for his salvation. See then what ought to be the daily care of those who through grace are in a justified state, and that is, to wash their feet; to cleanse themselves from daily guilt, and to watch against everything defiling. This should make us the more cautious. From yesterday’s pardon, we should be strengthened against this day’s temptation. And when hypocrites are discovered, it should be no surprise or cause of stumbling to us. Observe the lesson Christ here taught. Duties are mutual; we must both accept help from our brethren, and afford help to our brethren. When we see our Master serving, we cannot but see how ill it becomes us to domineer. And the same love which led Christ to ransom and reconcile his disciples when enemies, still influences him.
John 13:31-35 (Christ commands the disciples to love one another)
Christ had been glorified in many miracles he wrought, yet he speaks of his being glorified now in his sufferings, as if that were more than all his other glories in his humbled state. Satisfaction was thereby made for the wrong done to God by the sin of man. We cannot now follow our Lord to his heavenly happiness, but if we truly believe in him, we shall follow him hereafter; meanwhile we must wait his time, and do his work. Before Christ left the disciples, he would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other for Christ’s sake, and according to his example, seeking what might benefit others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated by one soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general notice any of Christ’s words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the followers of Christ do not show love one to another, they give cause to suspect their sincerity.
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)