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Humble Hero
nothing of Judas’s intentions. Jesus alone could read his secret, yet
He did not expose him. He felt such a burden for Judas as He had
felt for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city.
Judas felt the drawing power of that love. When the Savior’s
hands were washing those soiled feet and wiping them with the
towel, the heart of Judas throbbed with the impulse to confess his
sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against
repentance, and the old impulses again controlled him. Now Judas
became offended at Christ’s act in washing the feet of His disciples.
If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be
Israel’s king. After seeing Him degrade Himself, as he thought,
Judas was confirmed in his decision to disown Jesus and admit
that he had been deceived. Possessed by a demon, he resolved to
complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying his Lord.
The Great Miracle of Changed Hearts
Judas, in choosing his position at the table, had tried to place
himself first, and Christ as a Servant served him first. John was left
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till last. But John did not take this as a rebuke or any cause to be
offended. When Peter’s turn came he exclaimed with astonishment,
“Lord, are You washing my feet?” Christ’s condescension broke his
heart. He was filled with shame to think that one of the disciples
was not performing this service. “What I am doing,” Christ said,
“you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter
could not bear to see his Lord, the Son of God, acting the part of a
servant. His whole soul rose up against this humiliation. With great
emphasis he exclaimed, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Christ said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Christ had come to wash the heart from the stain of sin. Peter was
refusing the higher cleansing included in the lower. He was really
rejecting his Lord. It is not humiliating to the Master to allow Him
to work to purify us.
Peter surrendered his pride. Separation from Christ would have
been like death to him. “‘Not my feet only,’” he said, “‘but also my
hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs
only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.’”