The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 192

relation~ wit.h thi11 lifo, and ushe-ring the soul into an altogether nntried tnode of exiet- 11nce. For J esue nnd for hie 811.intl! death ie a mere transference (µt~a,Elij) from one scene to another. II. OUR LORD 1R INOBEABmO TE1''DERNESB 'I'O 'I'lIE DJ8Ctl'tE8 rn VIEW o:r 'l'Btt J'U!At l!EPARATION. "He.ving loved his own which wertl in the world, he loved them to the uttermost." 1. The disciples, i'n spite of their many faults, were the objects of C'hris!'s supreme love. Doubly dear l,ccause they were "his own," ns given him by the Father. 2. llis lot>e was redo11bled at the tl,ought of his approaching separationfrom them, (1) They were to be left "in the world," and therefore exposed to its temptations end trials. "In the world ye shall have tribulation." (2) They needed, t-hereforo, a special manifestation of bis affection to support them in their isolation. (8) Jesus forgots hie own near suffering~ in the thought of his di8ciples' bereavement. '!.'his fact is II measuro of the iahmsity of his love to them. (4) The treachery of Judas Iscariot wns nlready i~ its inceptive stage. "The devil having now put it into tbe heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him." (a) The devil has power to inject evil into the hearts of men. There is great mystery in the methods of liis operation, but the facts of his influence over men are without dispute among those who believe in Scripture. (b) Yet the responsibility of Judas for his wicked act was in no degree diminished by this temptation of Sa.tan. He was perfectly free to rosist or to yield to the tempter. (c) The fact tha.t Jesus wasbes the feet of Judas, his betrayer, throws a vivid light upon this last token of Christ's tenderness. (5) The c:x:pla.nation of our Lord's act. "Jeous knowing that the Father had put all thin;s into his bands, and that he was come from God, and goeth to God." (a) It was because of bis Messianic greatness that he now humbled himself to fulfil the office of the lowest. 'l'he sense of absolute sovereignty is all the more impressive from the thou,.ht of his approaching death. He" wns crucified in weakness.• The thought of (b) his Divine origin and (c) his Divine destination made bis act all the more impressive, with a force of example that was designed to act irre- sistibly upon the minds of his discir•les through all time. Vcrs. 4-11.-The washing of tlie disciples' feet. This affecting incident occurred immediately after the controversy among the:disciples as to which of them should be accounted gr<'atest in the kingdom of heaven (Luke :nil.). L JESus TAKEB THE FORM OF A sEaVAh"T. He washed the feet of his disciple~, though it had been more their place to wash the feet of their Master. 1. His humility led him to stoop to the most menial offices in the day of his humi1iafion. 2. He has thm ronsecrated the most menial duties and '?ifices of life for us, that we should not in our pride decliue t,o discharge them. 3. His ezample does not bind us to do his very act- for the custom was Oriental in its origin and meaning-but to carry the 11pirit of his act into &ll our relations with brethren. . II. PETER's REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE OFFERED SERVICE. "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" The question originates: L In the apostle's humility and reverence, for he feels that it is &n i.Dversion of all proper relations for Jesus to do this service to his di~ciples. He felt himself unworthy of our Lord and of his love, 2. In the aposa~•s ignuranc,,. He does not understand the symbolic meaning of the act. Therefore -our Lord u.ys, "Wh&t I do thon knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." These words imply (1) that there is always in our Lord's acts much that we cannot under- stand ; (2) that our want of understanding does not neutralize the efficacy of our Lord's act; (3) that the want of underst.a.ndi.Dg specia1.ly manifests itself in these acts of our Lord which affect ourselves; (4) that our want of knowledge ought not to shake our faith in him; (5) that there will come a time of revelation. 'l'ho '' hero- after " may be soor! or late, but it wm eurely come. ill SEPA.11.ATION FROM CHRIST IS INVOLVED IN THE WANT OJ' SURRENDER TO HIM. "Jesus answered him, If I wash. thee not, thou hast no part with me." 1. Pliere was a spirit ef sel,f-wii.l in tM apotJtlis words. "Thou shalt not wash my feet" Our Lord's words reprove Peter's opi.Dionativenees. 2. The first condition of troe discipleship is ee/f-fflrrender. The apostle is too impulsive to await the f~rther knowledge in store ror· him. 3. Yet observe hi.s ,udden apprehension of our Lord's true meaning. "Lord, uot my feet only, but my handl! and my head." The revulsion of feeling is very cha- racteristic of the apostle. He will not hold back any part of himself from a share iD cH, xm, 1-38.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.