Exposition of John, Chapter 13 · Verse 4
Verſe 6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter ſaith unto him, Lord, doeſt thou waſh my feet?
7. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto him, What I do thou knoweſt not now: but thou ſhalt know hereafter.
Followeth to v. 12. an expoſition of this fact, upon occaſion of an interruption made by Peter; wherein chiefly this fact, and his doing of it, is explained, as it is a ſigne of another inward waſhing. This Expoſition may be drawn out in three branches, contained in his threefold anſwer to Peters propoſals and reſolutions. In the firſt branch of the Expoſition upon occaſion of Peters queſtion, teſtifying his admiration, and ſhunning of ſuch condeſcendence, he gives notice in general, that there was ſomewhat more in it then the bare act, or then he ſaw for preſent, whereof he ſhould be informed in due time. And this relates to his doing this act, both as it was a ſigne, and as it was a ſervile employment in it ſelfe. We need not curiouſly determine, whether he had waſhen any before he came to Peter, who had made no ſuch ſcruple of it; But ſhall hold to what John here records, that coming to Peter, he meets with this ſtop flowing from Peters forwardneſſe, and gives an anſwer to it.
From v. 6. Learn, 1. Our Lords humility yet further ſhineth, in that not only doth he ſtoop to do meaneſt ſervices to his people, but will be at all the pains himſelf to do them good; for, he cometh to Simon Peter, to waſh him, while he is ſitting ſtill at Table. 2. There is no interruption or impediment laid in the way of Chriſt and his working, but he can, and doth emprove it to precious ends and advantages; for, out of Peters refuſal and interruption he beings out theſe precious inſtructions, which he would inculcate by his waſhing of their feet. 3. Chriſts abaſing of himſelf, and condeſcending to his people, ought not to obſcure his Majeſty, nor make them forget it; for, in the midſt of this his ſtooping, he is to Peter, Lord. 4. Chriſts abaſement and condeſcendence for his peoples good, is truly admirable, and will be ſo in the eyes of the truly godly; for, ſaith he, by way of admiration; Lord, doſt thou waſh my feet! 5. The admirableneſſe of Chriſts condeſcendence will appear, if we conſider, either how glorious he is who ſtoops, even the Lord, or how low he doth ſtoop, even to waſh feet; or, to whom he ſtoops, even to them who are unworthy of what he doth, and whom it beſeems not to be ſo dealt with, though it beſeem him well ſo to deal; doeſt thou waſh my feet? ſaith humble Peter. 6. As it is commendable to fear, even at Chriſts manifeſted goodneſſe, Hoſ. 3.5. So Saints ordinarily run to an extremity in that caſe, and do ſo fear and tremble at it, as they are ready to decline and not to embrace it; for, Peters queſtion imports not only his admiration at, but his deſire to ſhun this condeſcendence, and doth put a ſtop to Chriſts waſhing and conferring this favour on him. See Luke 5.8. 7. Albeit Chriſts ſtooping to us be a great abaſement of himſelf; yet it is the great errour of Saints, to think that he will not account it his great glory to ſerve them; for, herein alſo Peter failed, in thinking Chriſt had forgot himſelf in this condeſcendence.
From v. 7. Learn, 1. Chriſt is very tender of the weakneſſes of his own, ſo long as they diſcover no obſtinacy therein; for, he gives a milde anſwer to Peter at firſt, till afterward his weakneſſe burſt forth. 2. Every work of Chriſt toward his people, beſide the work it ſelf, carrieth ſome precious thing of him in the boſome of it, and is loaden with leſſons and great things of his wiſdom, power, goodneſſe, &c. for, ſo is ſuppoſed here, that Chriſt is doing ſomewhat which Peter knows not. Which is not to be underſtood of the ſimple waſhing their feet, (for Peter knew well enough that he was about to waſh his feet) but that this waſhing carried ſomewhat in the boſome of it. 3. That which the Lord is doing by his works, is not often ſeen in the mean time, by them to whom it is done; for, What I do thou knoweſt not now. Yea, wherein do not we proclaim our ignorance and miſtakes of what he is about? And no wonder we be in the dark here, if we conſider, 1. That the worker of theſe works is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working, Iſa. 28.29. Infinitely beyond Politicians, whoſe projects and purpoſes are oft-times hid from us, and therefore much more his. 2. That the way of his working and bringing about of his purpoſes, is very ſtrange and unperceivable; for, he brings things out of nothing, Rom. 4.17. one contrary out of another, as light out of darkneſſe, 2 Cor. 4.6. he brings meat out of the eater, and takes enemies in their own ſnares. 3. That his end in working is not to ſatisfie our ſenſe and curioſity, but he chooſeth ſuch a way, as may leave enemies to harden their hearts, and may try and humble his people. Doct. 4. Albeit we cannot dive into the depth of Chriſts counſel in his working, yet we ought to reverence and adore him therein, and not to conteſt with him; and to yield implicit obedience to his Will, revealing our duty in ſuch a caſe; for, albeit Peter know not now, what he doth, yet he would have him ſo far crediting that he did it not in vain, as to ſubmit to have his feet waſhed. 5. Chriſt will have us firſt yielding obedience to his Will, becauſe it is his Will, and to wait his leiſure till we know the reaſon of it: Otherwiſe, we do not obey becauſe it is his Will, but becauſe of the reaſon of his Command; for, he will abſolutely have him ſtoop to be waſhed by him, and then wait till hereafter, to know what it means, and for what end he doth it. 6. Such as in dark caſes do abſolutely ſubmit to Gods Will, in the matter of duty or diſpenſations; they ſhall, in due time, ſee a reaſon of his Will, and know ſo much of his counſel and purpoſe in his working, as is needful for them; for, upon Peters obedience is promiſed, that though what I do, thou knoweſt not now, yet thou ſhalt know hereafter. As accordingly was made good in the following explication of all this, and when the Spirit was poured out, he, with the reſt, underſtood more fully this and other things.