The evangelist John, with the purpose of referring episodes that the other gospels had omitted, purposely excludes most of the events that the other evangelists refer to this last week; but, at the same time, it takes care of collecting details that amazingly complement the entire content of the teachings of Jesus
during these last days of his earthly ministry, details that make us admire in an amazing way the work of Jesus.
In this chapter 13 the most impressive work with regard to humility is collected and this is the great teaching for those who, for selfish reasons, claimed an earthly kingdom. Jesus began at this time a great ministry, now not with the outsiders but with the insiders, with those who were going to do the work after he left, those who would continue the battle of faith. And we see that John picks up four reasons why the Lord made the decision to perform this wonderful act.
TO PROVIDE PROOF OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR THEM
It is evident that Jesus knew that this would happen and that, surely, Judas would be within the group to which he would show his love and he did it also for the one who raised the heel against him. He would also show that what he demanded of us, would first be fulfilled by him.
TO SHOW THE LOW OF YOUR HUMILIATION
What a huge contrast we see in this narrative! THE OWNER AND LORD OF ALL, lying on the floor, washing the feet of those who had nothing. He who was the heir of all - Hebrews 1: 2 and Matthew 21:38, who had all the reasons to glory; I took these same reasons to HUMILIFY. A tremendous example that the Apostle Paul also tells us in Philippians 2: 3-11.
The knowledge prior to his humiliation would have led any human being to take glory and to feel that to him
it was the one who had to wash his feet; that he was the one who deserved this honor, but his honor was given to those he loved, including the one who betrayed him.
TO GIVE UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL PURIFICATION OF THE BELIEVER
No one else was surprised as much as the impetuous Pedro; or, perhaps, we could say that he was the first to express his astonishment at seeing the attitude of Jesus, and immediately he expressed it.
Peter does not believe what his Lord is doing, let's notice the text when he says: "13: 6 Then he came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? "As if to say," No, Lord, not me. " Peter is saying that it would have been an honor for him to have washed the feet of the Lord, but he can not understand that Jesus could humble himself so much, he could not come down to wash the feet of a sinner like him, Jesus being his Holy God, the SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
Jesus makes Peter see that within the Christian life there are things that can not, many times, be understood by us and that God, our Father, will require us to do but that we will nevertheless have to execute them in obedience, humility and submission.
TO GIVE US AN ETERNAL EXAMPLE
Jesus gave us to understand that if we are his disciples we have to do everything that our teacher orders us to never say: why me, God? If not, thank God.
- HEART HUMILITY
This teaching had been forgotten by the disciples, but with the graphic example they observed, they would never forget it.
- CONDESCENDENCE TO SERVE
It is clear that Jesus demands that we wash one another's feet; and not only speaks it in a real sense, but also in a figurative sense, because we have to humiliate each other and serve each other.
- SERVICE FOR MUTUAL SANCTIFICATION
This involves helping the brother to purify himself of his defects and sins that many times he can not alone. It is to grieve in the sin of others and try to help them get up.
May God help us to understand humility, a virtue that must be present in every servant of his. That we can make it our bulwark, esteeming each one of us as superior to ourselves; not looking at each one for his own, but each one also for the other's. May the Lord know how to have mercy on us to share with him in the eternal kingdom, God bless us.