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Servant of Servants
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did not expose him. He felt for him such a burden as for Jerusalem
when He wept over the doomed city.
The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When
the Saviour’s hands were bathing those soiled feet and wiping them
with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled 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. Judas
was now 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, he
was confirmed in his purpose to disown Him, and confess himself
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 table, had tried to place himself
first, and Christ as a Servant served him first. John was left till last.
But John did not take this as a rebuke or slight. When Peter’s turn
came he exclaimed with astonishment, “Lord, dost thou wash my
feet?” Christ’s condescension broke his heart. He was filled with
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shame to think that one of the disciples was not performing this
service. “What I do,” Christ said, “thou knowest not now; but thou
shalt know hereafter.” 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, “Thou shalt
never wash my feet.”
Christ said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast 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 for our purification.
Peter surrendered his pride. Separation from Christ would have
been death to him. “Not my feet only,” he said, “but also my hands
and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save
to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.”
These words mean more than bodily cleanliness. Christ is speak-
ing of the higher cleansing as illustrated by the lower. He who came