Annotations Upon the New Testament, John · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Verse 1. BEfore the feast of the Passeover] The other three Evangelists say, Christ celebrated the Passeover, and instituted the Eucharist in the first day of unleavened bread in which the Jews killed the Pascall Lambe. Therefore this here is to be understood,So the law Exodus 12. prescribes. that he did it in the 14. day at the evening which preceded the Feast of the Passeover, which was the fifteenth day.
Vers. 3. And went to God] A Deo exivit, non eum deserens: & ad Deum vadit, non nos derelinquens. Bernard. He came from God not leaving him: and he goeth to God, not leaving us.
Vers. 4. Laid aside his garments] Only his upper garment not his cloake,Calvin. for the Orientall people used long garments.
Vers. 5. Began to wash the Disciples feet] He chose to wash their feet rather than their head, that he might have the opportunity of a more humble posture,Dr. Taylor. of the life and dea…h of Christ. Upon consideration of this great example, Guericus a good man cryed out, Thou hast overcome O Lord, thou hast overcome my pride, this example hath mastered mee. Quomodo non humiliabitur homo sub tam humili Deo? Bernard. and a more apt signification of his Charity. This washing of their feet which was an accustomed civility and intertainment of honoured strangers at the begining of their meale, Christ deferred to the end of the Paschall Supper, that it might be preparatory to the second, which he intended should be festivall to all the world. If he had washed Judas he had washed a Blackamore. Calvin saith, he did wash him and shewed his patience therein.
Vers. 6. Lord, dost thou wash my feet] Oratio est abominantis rem absurdam & indignam. It is the speech of one abominating it as a thing absurd and unworthy.Calvin.
Vers. 7. Thou knowest not] That is, thou knowest not what moves me to do this, for his eye taught him what he did.
But thou shalt know hereafter] That is, in due time this shall be interpreted to thee, and thou shalt know the reason why I did this.
Vers. 8. If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me] The word wash signifieth a free pardon of sins and newness of life. Calvin. Causaub. exercit. 16. ad Annal. Bar.Christ washeth us when he blots away our sins by the expiation of his Sacrifice that they come not into the judgement of God, also when he abolisheth the wicked and vitious desires of the flesh by his Spirit.
Vers. 10. Needeth not save to wash his feet] Our Saviour here alludes to the customable washing of the feet which the Jews used before Supper, especially after travell.Cartw. on Rhem. T…st. Sentio cum eruditissimo Iansenio allegoriam eam esse ex usu communi vitae depromptam, quare dictum secundum literam de ijs intelligendum qui corpus totum balneo lavarunt; sed postea egressie balneo dum accedunt ad lectum convivale pedes macularunt, ac secundum anagogen omnino lotio totius corporis de baptismo accipienda, pedum vero ablutio de affectuum purgatione & ejus quem Theologi nominant fomitem peccati, etiam in electis post peccatum remanentem. Calvin.
Our Saviour refuteth Peter from the common custome of the Jews, as Casaubone observeth, those that are washed in the bath when they go out of the bath into their bed need no washing but of their feet.
His feet] His affections say some, rather the defilements he contracts by his daily walking. The reliques of corruption must be purged away by little and little; an allusion to the Easterne Countries which went in Sandales and defiled their feet; they must repent every day.
But is cleane every whit] The faithfull are cleane, not that they are wholy pure so that no blot sticks in them, but because in their chiefe part they are cleane. Calvin.
Vers. 14. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one anothers feet] Now he opens the reason of his deed, viz. that he who is the Master and Lord of all delivered an example which all godly men may follow, lest any thinke much to performe an office though meane for his Brethren.
Vers. 14. Have washed your feet] Argumentum à majori ad minus.
Vers. 18. To lift up the heele) Metaphorically signifieth, under a pretence of friendship,Calvin. treacherously to deceive one.
Vers. 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus bosome one of his Disciples] They did not sit as we at the Table,Calvin. See Mr Lightfoots Temple-Service. c. 13. but putting off their shoes, and leaning upon pillows, did lye upon beds.
W…om Jesus loved] More than others.
Vers. 27. After the sop] Austen falsely thought, that this sop was a sign of Christs body,Calvin. since it was reached when they were not at supper.
That thou dost, do quickly] Vox est detestantis. Calvin.
Vers. 33. Little Children] Note here the tenderness of Christs affection and love toward his faithfull and Apostles, for he doth not say Children, but little Children, and because the Apostles were little in the faith and love of Christ, for they received the fulness of it from the Holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost.
Not new] Absolutely. Iohn 2.7. The Law it selfe requires the duty, John 3.11. But new in the manner; before we were to love our Neighbour as our selves, now as Christ loved us; he would have it alwayes fresh in our thoughts. See 1 Iohn 3.8. Iohannes, 1 Ep. 2.7. & 2.6. Praeceptum hoc vetus & ab initio datum eum ait, initium Evangelij & Christianismi intelligit. Hieronymus Commentario ad epistolam Johannis, Iohannes Apostolus à fratribus admonitus, cur semper inculcaret dicens: Filioli diligite alterutrum: respondit, quia praeceptum Domini est, & si solum fiat, sufficit. Grotius.Vers. 34. A new Commandement I give unto you, that ye love one another, &c.] Those that are going away are wont to command their Inferiours. Love is new, because 1. Renewed in the Gospell, Christs Example, and his last Will and Testament. 2. Excellent, so new, as Mat. 9.17. Rev. 5.9. Maldonate resolveth it to be an Hebraisme, in which language new, rare, and most excellent are synonima's; A new name, Apoc. 2. A most honourable name; a new song Ps. 69. A most excellent song; New wine; Mat. 26.29. The best wine, so a new Command, that is a rare, choice, speciall, remarkable one, one above all others. Maldonate varies little from Calvin. New] As it were a Law newly enacted, not continually practised. Calvin. So called, saith Austen, from the effect, because it renews us, because it ought alwaies to be fresh in our mind and memory.
As I loved you] Calls both for the manner and measure of our love, both intensivè, and extensivè: 1. Intensivè, as our Saviours was, 1 John 3.16. 2. Entensive, Rom. 5.8. See Mat. 5.44.
As] Is not a note of Equality here, but of similitude, as Christ loved us freely, Iohn 15.16. greatly, Ibid. verse 13. and constantly, Iohn 13.1. so should we love our Neighbour.