Sapate Sepitema 12, 2021
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
‘o ne hanga ‘o fufulu
‘a e va‘e ‘o e kau ako
(v. 4) ko ia na‘a ne tu‘u mei he kai, ‘o ne tuku hono ngaahi kofu tu‘a; ‘o ne to‘o ha tauveli, ‘o ne no‘o. Pea ne toki lilingi ha vai ki he kumete, ‘o ne hanga ‘o fufulu ‘a e va‘e ‘o e kau ako, mo ne holoholo ‘aki ‘a e tauveli kuo ne no‘o ‘aki.
(v. 4) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments,
and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was
wrapped around him.
* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*
For a time our Lord now devoted Himself to His own, and in this connection we have the account of His washing the disciples' feet. The whole action was Eastern, and was the action of a slave: By what He did and said our Lord intended to emphasize that the supreme action of God is service, and that fellowship with Him demands such action on the part of His followers.
Then, in connection with the Passover feast, Judas was excluded, and our Lord uttered the significant words, "Now is the Son of Man glorified," and this made possible our Lord's final instruction to His disciples. It was in this connection that Peter, strangely perplexed, asked Him the question, "Whither goest Thou?" to which our Lord first replied by showing Peter that he, Peter, could not at that time accompany Him on the pathway. When Peter protested, our Lord showed him that He knew all the weakness lurking within him better than he himself could know it, as He declared that before sunrise he would deny Him thrice.
*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on the Book of Numbers*
In all of this, Jesus acted out a parable for the disciples. Jesus knew actions speak louder than words. So when He wanted to teach the proud, arguing disciples about true humility, He didn’t just say it – He showed it. He showed it in a way that illustrated His whole work on behalf of His own.
· Jesus rose from supper, a place of rest
and comfort
· Jesus rose from His throne in heaven, a
place of rest and comfort
· Jesus laid aside His garments, taking
off His covering
· Jesus laid aside His glory, taking off
His heavenly covering
· Jesus took a towel and girded Himself,
being ready to work
· Jesus took the form of a servant, and
came ready to work
· Jesus poured water into a basin, ready
to clean
· Jesus poured out His blood to cleanse us
from the guilt and penalty of sin
· Jesus sat down again (John 13:12) after
washing their feet
· Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father after cleansing us
“It is a parable in action, setting out that great principle of lowly service which finds its supreme embodiment in the cross.” (Morris)
“ ‘Knowing that He came from God, and went to God,’ and that even when He was kneeling there before these men, ‘the Father had given all things into His hands,’ what did He do? Triumph? Show His majesty? Flash His power? Demand service? ‘Girded Himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet’!” (Maclaren)
“The form of God was not exchanged for the form of a servant; it was revealed in the form of a servant. In the washing of their feet the disciples, though they did not understand it at the time, saw a rare unfolding of the authority and glory of the incarnate Word, and a rare declaration of the character of the Father himself.” (Bruce)
Decades later, when Peter wrote to
Christians about humility, he put it like this: Yes, all of you be submissive
to one another, and be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5). More literally,
Peter wrote: “wrap the apron of humility
around yourself.” What Jesus did here remained in his mind and heart.
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