John 13:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It seems to me that He washed His betrayer’s feet first. For after saying, “He began to wash the disciples’ feet,” the Evangelist then continues, “Then He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’” (v. 6).

That is: with those very hands by which You opened eyes, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead?

Truly this expression already says very much. Therefore Peter had no need to say anything more than, “Do You?” In this one word everything was expressed.

But someone may rightly ask: why did no one else prevent Him from washing the feet, but only Peter? This bears witness to no small love and reverence.

The Lord does not wash Peter’s feet first, although Peter had precedence among the disciples. Perhaps the betrayer, being bold and shameless, reclined above Peter, and the Lord washed his feet.

How is this clear? From what follows. It is said, “He began” to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them; “then” He comes to Simon Peter.

From this it is clear that the Lord did not wash Peter first. For if the Lord had not washed someone before Peter, the Evangelist would not have said, “He comes to Simon Peter.”

None of the other disciples would have dared to accept the washing before Peter, but the betrayer could dare to do this.

In all the Scriptures, one may say, everyone can see that the movements of Peter’s soul were almost always more fiery and far more impetuous toward reverence.

So also now, following his own manner and character, he refuses this instruction in the utmost degree of humility and love.

He sets before his mind who he was by nature, and who, on the other side, was the One who brought him the basin and did not refuse to perform the duty of a servant.

This deed of the Savior greatly frightens him, as something difficult for faith to receive, even though it was visible to many eyes.

Indeed, who would not tremble on learning that He who is Lord of all together with the Father performed so lowly a service for His disciples?

When He washed their feet, He did not begin with Simon, the first of the disciples. For if the first of the angels, when he had been exalted to the glory of primacy, abandoned the honor of his glory, how could the first of the disciples have remained firm in the rank of his honor? Would he not rather have learned to imitate the first of the angels?

Peter did not see the mystery and therefore refused the service. He thought that the humility of a servant would be harmed if he obediently received service from the Lord.

“And he said to Him, ‘Lord, will You wash my feet?’” You, the Son of God? Peter said this in amazement at such an act, because he greatly revered the Lord.

The Lord of all washes the disciples’ feet, not lowering His dignity, but showing boundless love for mankind. What is this, if not great love for mankind?

Yet Peter did not know its greatness. For, always fervent in faith, he proved fervent in knowledge of the truth.

The others accepted His washing not indifferently, but with trembling, for there was no one among them who contradicted the Lord.

Peter, however, being ashamed, does not permit this, but says, “Lord, do You wash my feet? You shall never wash my feet.”

Peter, not yet polished, had a right inclination but did not know the divine economy. He resists by faith and obeys with good intention.

For such ought a pious man to be: not immovable in his judgments, but obedient to the will of God. For although Peter reasons as a man, he repents as one who loves God.

Rising from the noble feast, He shows us an image of His abasement when He approaches Peter’s feet. The servant is shaken by the service. He sees the Master of angels carrying water and taking a towel, bending His knees. O Simon, allow yourself to be washed. My works are mysteries. Attend, while I, the Most High, fulfill the honor owed to specks of dust.

The sea washes the stone; the deep cleanses away the dirt and does not destroy its composition. On the contrary, it strengthens its power and purifies its will.

See what disposition is in the Creator. See what ordering the Maker has toward His creatures. They reclined, and He stood. They are fed, and He serves. They are washed, and He wipes them.

The feet of those born of earth are not destroyed in the palms of the Judge.

Be merciful, be merciful, be merciful to us, O You who have taken all upon Yourself and receive all.

May sleep become death to me if I allow You, the immortal One, to bend down to me, a mortal. The enemy will laugh at me if You do this for me.

Peter’s resistance. Not without embarrassment and shame did the other Apostles stretch out their feet to Jesus for washing. But when He came to Peter, Peter could not endure it. “Lord, are You to wash my feet?” he said. “Are You to perform the duties of a servant, when we await the manifestation of Your Kingdom, the glorious Kingdom of the Messiah, where all will bow before You?”

“He comes to Simon”: from the narrative it is clear that Simon was not the first to whom He came; compare Chrysostom and Theophylact. He probably did not recline close to Christ; compare Jn 13:24.

The Lord began with those nearest to Him. On reclining at supper, see the note on Mt 23:6 and Lk 7:36 and following.

Peter was especially struck by such humility of the Lord; compare Basil the Great, 5 and 22. While the other disciples, perhaps in confusion, let the Lord wash their feet without objection, he objected and resisted.

Chrysostom and blessed Theophylact conjecture that the Lord first washed Judas’s feet. In his boldness Judas did not resist this, and then the Lord came to Peter.

“Do You?” Does it befit You, the Messiah, to fulfill the duty of a servant toward me, Your servant? Does it befit You to wash my feet?

“And He began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” “It seems to me,” says Chrysostom, “that He first of all washed the betrayer’s feet, since the Evangelist said, ‘He began to wash the disciples’ feet,’ and then added, ‘He came to Simon Peter.’”

This explanation belongs to all the teachers of the Greek Church, and we see the same in the Church rite of the washing of feet.

“Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’”

The unprecedented deed of heavenly humility resounded with a powerful shock in the hearts of the disciples. But with childlike obedience and reverence they looked upon the service of their Teacher and Lord.