The washing of feet, which is spoken of in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, has both an important direct meaning and an equally important symbolic one. According to Jewish tradition, when guests who came to a house (or a religious community gathered in a house) sat down for a meal...
The washing of feet, which is spoken of in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, has both an important direct meaning and an equally important symbolic one.
According to Jewish tradition, when guests who came to a house (or a religious community
gathered in a house) sat down for a meal, the youngest had to wash the hands of the eldest:
the master of the house, the most honored guest, or the head of the community. If there were servants in the house, in
certain cases a servant had to wash the feet of the most honored guest.
It is commonly believed that the youngest member of the apostolic community was John the Evangelist;
therefore, it was he who was supposed to wash the hands of the head of the community—the Lord Jesus
Christ. It was probably from the Apostle John that the Lord took the basin and the towel when He
began to wash the disciples' feet. Perhaps this is why the Apostle reports this fact to us.
One way or another, by washing the disciples' feet, the Lord places Himself in the position of a servant,
thereby profoundly shocking the disciples. Simon Peter even protested against it…
This action became a realization, as well as a visible and highly memorable repetition, of
Christ's words: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life a ransom for many" ( 20:28).
But most importantly—the Lord, according to His own words, in washing the disciples' feet set
an example both for the apostles themselves and for all those who would head Christian communities. "Whoever desires to become
great among you, let him be your servant" ( 20:28),
says Christ.
It is important that the concept of authority in the Church differs strikingly from secular notions.
The paradigm of secular authority has forever been the Roman emperor, who is considered the
best, the most important, who is unconditionally obeyed, and whose decisions are not debated. Such a
bearer of power is rendered homage, his portraits are hung on walls, and he is driven in chariots with
"flashing lights", blocking traffic for him in half the city…
In the Church, authority is associated with credibility and respect, but it is not connected with ostentatious pomp,
which the early Roman Christians called pompa diaboli. The main thing is that in the Church, authority
consists not in the right to make decisions, but in the power of love and service, and in spiritual
responsibility and the readiness to bear the sorrows of the people.
Since antiquity, this passage has been associated with priestly, and especially episcopal, ministry.
The heads of Christian communities are appointed precisely to serve the brethren according to the example that
Christ gives here. In the early centuries, this was essentially the case, and the early Church Fathers repeatedly urged
respect for bishops because of their service, rather than disregarding them. Later, the situation changed… It should be
noted that until 1917, there was a custom in the Russian Church whereby bishops on Maundy
Thursday (specifically, on Wednesday evening) washed the feet of the presbyters of their diocese. In some
Western Churches (including the Catholic Church), this custom has been preserved. In our country, after the persecutions,
this custom fell out of use, but the washing of feet remains the principal symbol of
Church ministry.
In addition to this, the washing of feet is generally considered one of the symbols of the purification of the heart, which
is accomplished both in Baptism and in confession, and this symbol is also connected with priestly
ministry.
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13:13 John withdrawing from them returned - Tired with the fatigue, or shrinking from danger.
13:14 Antioch in Pisidia - Different from the Antioch mentioned Act 13:1.
13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the chief of the synagogue sent to them - The law was read over once every year, a portion of it every Sabbath: to which was added a lesson taken out of the prophets. After this was over, any one might speak to the people, on any subject he thought convenient. Yet it was a circumstance of decency which Paul and Barnabas would hardly omit, to acquaint the rulers with their desire of doing it: probably by some message before the service began.
13:16 Ye that fear God - Whether proselytes or heathens.
13:17 The God - By such a commemoration of God's favours to their fathers, at once their minds were conciliated to the speaker, they were convinced of their duty to God, and invited to believe his promise, and the accomplishment of it. The six verses, Act 13:17-22, contain the whole sum of the Old Testament.Of this people - Paul here chiefly addresses himself to those whom he styles, Ye that fear God: he speaks of Israel first; and Act 13:26, speaks more directly to the Israelites themselves.Chose - And this exalted the people; not any merit or goodness of their own, Eze 20:5.Our fathers - Abraham and his posterity. Isa 1:2.
13:18 Deu 1:31.
13:19 Seven nations - Enumerated Deu 7:1;about four hundred and fifty years - That is, from the choice of the fathers to the dividing of the land; it was about four hundred and fifty years.
13:21 He gave them Saul forty years - Including the time wherein Samuel judged Israel.
13:22 Having removed him - Hence they might understand that the dispensations of God admit of various changes. I have found David, a man after my own heart - This expression is to be taken in a limited sense. David was such at that time, but not at all times. And he was so, in that respect, as he performed all God's will, in the particulars there mentioned: But he was not a man after God's own heart, in other respects, wherein he performed his own will. In the matter of Uriah, for instance, he was as far from being a man after God's own heart as Saul himself was.It is therefore a very gross, as well as dangerous mistake, to suppose this is the character of David in every part of his behaviour. We must beware of this, unless we would recommend adultery and murder as things after God's own heart. Act 16:12-13.
13:24 John having first preached - He mentions this, as a thing already known to them. And so doubtless it was. For it gave so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but be heard of in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia.
13:25 His course - His work was quickly finished, and might therefore well be termed a course or race. Luk 3:16.