Today is Maundy Thursday. As such, it’s the day we remember Jesus’ washing His disciples’ feet and instituting a new commandment (from the Latin: mandatum) to love one another. This means it’s also a great time to share what I observe to be a little bit of comedy in Scripture, evidence (at least to me) that our Lord has an excellent sense of humor.
John 13: 9-10: “Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, ‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, not not every one of you.”
I realize Jesus was using this short exchange to subtly imply that he knew who would betray him (and this is where the rational comes from that Jesus washed Judas’ feet, too, since no where does it say Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet except Judas).
I love what Matthew Henry’s commentary says about the whole passage: “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.” In his response, Jesus shows Peter and the others present (and us by extension) that those who truly desire to be cleansed will be cleansed by calling Jesus Lord.
But! I also think our Lord was gently teasing his friend Peter, saying basically, “Dude, you’ve already had a bath and don’t need another one.” And these glimpses of his humanity make me love him all the more.
