John presents the Last Supper in a different way to that of the other Gospel writers. In Ch. 13 there are no "words of the Institution"; indeed, in this version the meal is almost incidental to what John wants us to see.
The centrepoint here for me is the contrast between Jesus' perfect, humble love and the perfidious nature of Judas...and later, Peter (v.38). Assailed from without by the religious and power elite of the day, Jesus now has to deal with betrayal from within - when His darkest moment is upon Him! Our Lord's distress (v.21) shows how keenly He feels this hurt from those who new Him best and were His earthly friends.
In my conciet I find it hard to understand Judas. I mean, how could he sit so long at the Master's feet learning His words, seeing the miracles, knowing His constant love, yet be able to turn his heart away from Jesus for earthly gain? How could Judas be sharing in this, the disciples' third Pesach meal with Jesus, breaking bread in love and friendship with Him yet all the time sitting there with murder in mind? How could he bear to have his feet washed, a humiliating act of love performed by a devoted Friend, and later walk on those clean feet to his paymasters?
Of course, like Peter, I could never do anything like that! Yet,I must look at how much I compromise my walk, how often I come to the Meal with an unworthy heart, how many sermons I hear without acting, how often the word of God is laid before me and I say, "Here I am Lord, ...send him!" My only act it seems, is to walk to my paymasters of the moment.
I would like to say that "the devil makes me do it", that I am a helpless pawn in the spiritual battle, unable to resist the urges of the evil one. But James tells me that I am able to resist, but only if I choose.
How many time do I break my Saviour's heart? How ofen does He cry out over me the way He did over Judas (v.21)? How often does Jesus bend down with a broken heart, and wash away, yet again, the sin from my dirty feet?
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Jesus gives the new command "to love one another" and demonstrates it by taking the role of the least of them and washing their feet. No-one at the table cared to do this, not even to one another as an act of equality. But Jesus does this, as he faces the cross to serve the most significant sacrifice and demonstration of love possible.
How embarrassing it would have been for them to have Jesus do this. How sickening it would have been for Judas to have Jesus bow down and do this and then look him in the eye. But Jesus washes the feet of the rebel and betrayer.
We have been bathed in Christ through his salvation and made pure and clean, but we still need to the daily foot wash as sin and rebellion coat our feet as we walk our walk. As we come before the cross, Jesus still washes our feet to get us back to a clean and unsmelly state. He does this to us as we come to him, even in our rebellious and sometimes betrayed state, for as often as we are disobedient or choose not to hear and act we are somewhat Judas-like in our actions. Oh how easy it is to judge Judas without the presence of that spiritual mirror than reflects and reveals all that we really are and are capable of.
In our piety, sometimes we are blind to the sin that discolours our feet and the smell that eminates from the dust and dung of our existence. But how much we need our feet washed and cleansed by our saviour in order to commune with him in a fresh and respectful way.
And by each other Garry...
Thanks for this comment...
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