1._Before the feast of the passover. _John intentionally passes by many things which, he knew, had been related by Matthew and others. He undertakes to explain those circumstances which they had left out, one of which was the narrative of the _washing of feet_. And though he will afterwards explain... [ Continue Reading ]
2._After supper. _(39) We shall afterwards take into consideration, at the proper place, the whole of Christ’s design in _washing the feet _of his disciples, and the advantage to be derived from this narrative. Let us now attend to the connection of the words. The Evangelist says that this was done,... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Jesus, knoweth that the Father had given all things into his hands. _I am of opinion that this was added for the purpose of informing us whence Christ obtained such a well-regulated composure of mind. It was because, having already obtained a victory over death, he raised his mind to the glorious... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And layeth aside his garments. _The meaning is, that he laid aside his _upper garment_, not his _coat_; for we know that the inhabitants of Eastern countries wore long _garments _... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And began to wash the feet of his disciples. _These words express the design of Christ, rather than the outward act; for the Evangelist adds, that he began with Peter.... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Lord, dost thou wash my feet? _This speech expresses strong dislike of the action as foolish and unsuitable; for by asking what Christ is doing, he puts out his hand, as it were, to push him back. The modesty would be worthy of commendation, were it not that obedience is of greater value in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
7._What I do. _We are taught by these words, that we ought simply to obey Christ, even though we should not perceive the reason why he wishes this or that thing to be done. In a well-regulated house, one person, the head of the family, has the sole fight to say what ought to be done; and the servant... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Thou shalt never wash my feet. _Hitherto Peter’s modesty was excusable, though it was not free from blame; but now he errs more grievously, when he has been corrected, and yet does not yield. (42) And, indeed, it is a common fault, that ignorance is closely followed by obstinacy. It is a plausibl... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Lord, not my feet only_. When Peter heard that he was ruined, if he did not accept the cleansing which was offered to him by Christ, this necessity proved, at length, to be a sufficient instructor to tame him. He therefore lays aside opposition and yields, but wishes to be entirely washed, and, i... [ Continue Reading ]
10._He who is washed needeth not to wash more than his feet, but is altogether clean. _First, he says that believers are _altogether clean; _not that they are in every respect pure, so that there no longer remains in them any stain, but because they are cleansed in their chief part; that is, when si... [ Continue Reading ]
12._When then he had washed their feet. _Christ at length explains what was his intention in _washing the feet _of his disciples; for what he had said about the spiritual washing was a sort of digression from his main design. Had it not been for the opposition made by Peter, Christ would not have sp... [ Continue Reading ]
14._If then I, who am your Lord and Master. _This is an argument from the greater to the less. Pride hinders us from maintaining that equality which ought to exist amongst us. But Christ, who is far exalted above all others, stoops down, that he may make the proud men ashamed, who, forgetting their... [ Continue Reading ]
15._For I have given you an example. _It deserves our attention that Christ says that he _gave an example_; for we are not at liberty to take all his actions, without reserve, as subjects of imitation. The Papists boast that, by Christ’s example, they observe the forty days’ fast, or Lent. But we ou... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Verily, verily, I tell you. _These are indeed proverbial sayings, which admit of a far more extensive application, but which ought to be accommodated to the case in hand. In my opinion, therefore, they are mistaken who suppose them to have a general acceptation, as if Christ were now exhorting h... [ Continue Reading ]
17._If you know these things. _He declares that they _are happy_, _if they _know _and _do _these things_; for _knowledge _is not entitled to be called true, unless it produce such an effect on believers as to lead them to conform themselves to their Head. On the contrary, it is a vain imagination, w... [ Continue Reading ]
18._I speak not of you all. _He again declares that there is one among the disciples who, in reality, is the very reverse of a disciple; and he does so, partly for the sake of Judas, in order to render him the more inexcusable, and partly for the sake of the others, ‘That they may not be overpowered... [ Continue Reading ]
19._I tell you this now, before it happen. _By this statement he reminds his disciples that, when one of their number becomes a reprobate, this is so far from being a good reason for their being discouraged, that it ought to be a more full confirmation of their faith. For if we did not see before ou... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Verily, verily, I tell you. _In these words either the Evangelist relates a discourse on a different subject, and in a broken and imperfect state, or, Christ intended to meet the offense which was likely to arise from the crime of Judas; for the Evangelists do not always exhibit the discourses o... [ Continue Reading ]
21._When Jesus had said these words. _The more sacred the apostolic office is, and the higher its dignity, the more base and detestable was the treachery of Judas. A crime so monstrous and detestable struck Christ himself with horror, when he saw how the incredible wickedness of one man had polluted... [ Continue Reading ]
22._The disciples, therefore, looked on one another. _They who are not conscious of any crime are rendered uneasy by what Christ has said: Judas alone is so stupid amidst his malice, that he remains unmoved. The authority of Christ was held in so great estimation by the disciples, that they were ful... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Whom Jesus loved_. The peculiar _love _with which Christ _loved _John plainly testifies that, if we _love _some more than others, this is not always inconsistent with brotherly love; but all lies in this, that our love shall be directed towards God, and that every man, in proportion as he excels... [ Continue Reading ]
26._To whom I shall give the dipped sop. _It may be asked, what purpose did it serve to give _a dipped sop, _for discovering the traitor, when Christ might have openly pointed him out by name, if he wished to make him known? I answer, the sign was of such a nature, that it discovered Judas to one pe... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Satan entered into him. _As it is certain that it was only at the instigation of Satan that Judas formed the design of committing so heinous a crime, why is it now said, for the first time, that _Satan entered into him, _who had already held the throne in his heart? But as they who are more full... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Not one of those who were at table. _Either John had not yet related to others what Christ had told him, or they were so much struck by it, that they lost their presence of mind; and, indeed, ill is probable, that John himself was almost out of his senses. But what then happened to the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
29._Or that he should give something to the poor. _It is plain enough from other passages how great was Christ’s poverty, and yet, out of the little that he had, he _gave something to the poor_, in order to lay down a rule for us; for the Apostles would not have conjectured that he had spoken about... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Now is the Son of man glorified. _The last hour was at hand; Christ knew that the minds of his disciples were very weak, and, therefore, he endeavored, by every possible method, to support them, that they might not give way. Even at the present day, the remembrance of the cross of Christ is suff... [ Continue Reading ]
32._If God be glorified. _Christ concludes that he will obtain a _glorious _triumph by his death; because his sole design in it is, to _glorify _his Father; for the Father did not seek his _glory _from the death of his Son in such a manner as not to make the Son a partaker of that _glory_. He promis... [ Continue Reading ]
33._Little children, yet a little while am I with you. _As it was impossible that the disciples should not be deeply grieved at their Master’s departure, so he gives them early warning that he will no longer be with them, and, at the same time, exhorts them to patience. Lastly, to remove unseasonabl... [ Continue Reading ]
34._A new commandment I give you. _To the consolation he adds an exhortation,_that they should love one another; _as if he had said, “Yet while I am absent from you in body, testify, by mutual love, that I have not taught you in vain; let this be your constant study, your chief meditation.” Why does... [ Continue Reading ]
35._By this all men will know. _Christ again confirms what he had formerly said, that they who mutually love one another have not been in vain taught in his school; as if he had said, Not only will you know that you are my disciples, but your profession will also be acknowledged by others to be sinc... [ Continue Reading ]
36._Lord, whither goest thou? _This question is founded on that saying of Christ, I said to the Jews, that whither I go you cannot come, so now I say to you, (John 13:33.) From this it is evident how ignorant Peter was, who, after having been so frequently warned about Christ’s departure, was as... [ Continue Reading ]
37._Why cannot I follow thee now? _By these words Peter declares that he was dissatisfied with Christ’s answer. He is aware that he has been warned of his own weakness, from which he concludes that it is his own fault that hinders him from following Christ immediately; but he is not at all convinced... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? _Christ did not choose to debate with Peter, but wished that he should grow wise by his own experience, like fools, who never grow wise till they have received a stroke. Peter promises unshaken firmness, and indeed expresses the sincere conviction of his mind;... [ Continue Reading ]