Isachar, Hanan. Images of the Holy Land. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 1997.
Thursday, last night, Jesus prepared his disciples by celebrating the passover supper with them. Do this in remembrance of me; we take of the bread and of the wine. He tells them things that they don't understand, for they don't know that he will be betrayed in a few hours and slain. But he knows. He tells them that one among them will betray him, and he will be killed. They wonder who that could be, and then like children get distracted by another conversation about who the greatest disciple is.
He is in complete, harmonious understanding with God. He knows what is going to happen. He also knows that God has given everything into His hands. He is truly, the King of the World. What does he choose to do next?
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
He washed their feet... The king of the World, lowers himself to the level of "foot-washer"
And then he predicted the denial of Peter. Peter promised Him that he would do no such thing...
Next they head out to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, to pray.
It is there that Judas brings the officials, and Jesus is arrested...
Peter tells people that he doesn't know Christ, three times...
After all the miracles he witnessed, three times...
After all the teaching and profound insight, three times...
After all the thousands followed Him into Jerusalem less than one week earlier, three times...
After all of the precious time that he spent with Jesus, personally, three times...
How weak we are, after all the things we can see and hear and be part of!!
But the amazing thing was that after Jesus rose on the third day, Peter saw his savior crucified and risen, and he was changed for good! Peter will never again deny his Christ. Peter will go to the death, any death, proclaiming God's love for the world, that He gave His one and only Son, to be the perfect sacrifice, our final and perfect passover lamb. How many of us are pre-resurection "Peter's?" How many of us are post-resurrection "Peter's?" Which one are you?
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