hrist washes the disciples' feet. (1-17) The treachery of
Judas foretold. (18-30) Christ commands the disciples to love
one another. (31-38)
Verses 1-17: 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.
Verses 18-30: Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and
death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when
he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of
Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The
prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's
mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who
only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their
authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who
professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself
by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a
thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence,
after eating bread with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas
went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those whose
deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light.
Verses 31-35: 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.
Verses 36-38: What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter
overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them
ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret
things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed,
which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have
our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know
what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How
soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped,
while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words!
We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the
other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows
us better than we know ourselves, and has many ways of
discovering those to themselves, whom he loves, and he will hide
pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure
heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.
hrist washes the disciples' feet. (1-17) The treachery of
Judas foretold. (18-30) Christ commands the disciples to love
one another. (31-38)