† Never † Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” John 13:5–8 ESV It had been over three years since Jesus had called them His disciples. The twelve of them had traveled together, ministered together, ate together and saw miracle after miracle while following Jesus. The night that Jesus was betrayed, He poured water, took a towel and washed the feet of His disciples. When it became Peter’s turn, Peter said “You shall never wash my feet.” Peter tended to correct Jesus when He broke out of the mold that he envisioned. In Matthew 16:22 Peter rebuked Jesus. In Mark 14:29 they disagreed. In John 4:27 they marveled when He talked with the Samaritan woman. Peter meant well, but sometimes it was his flesh speaking and not the Holy Spirit. Peter knew Jesus very well, but was always surprised by Him. Jesus did not always act as Peter thought that He should. Leave room for God to be God. No one walked on water until someone did (Matt 14:29). Donkeys didn’t talk until one did (Num 22:28). To think that “My Lord would never do that!” is believing that God was made in your image instead of you being made in His. To believe that God has to be like you is the ultimate form of pride. God is full of surprises and the Bible is full of Him surprising people just like us.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:21:00 +0000