John 13:6
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
John 13:6
In John 13:6, Peter’s question—“dost thou wash my feet?”—reveals a tension between reverence and resistance. Peter’s impulse is protective; he recognizes the sacredness of Jesus and perhaps senses that something too intimate is happening for a teacher and Lord to perform such tasks. The fatherly correction begins to unfold: Jesus’ authority is not otherworldly distance but intimate contact in humility. Peter’s question anticipates the deeper teaching: what Jesus is doing has implications beyond the moment; it reveals the condition of heart required to belong to him. The scene also demonstrates the disciples’ incomplete understanding, which will be clarified later in John’s Gospel. The act sets up a teachable moment about what it means to be cleansed and how one participates in the ongoing life of the community of Jesus.
Theologically, Peter’s rebuke highlights the necessity of Jesus’ cleansing for true fellowship. If Jesus does not wash, Peter indicates, there can be no shared life. The exchange reinforces the paradox of grace: Jesus must purify in order to unite, and his authority is expressed through service. The moment also hints at baptism and ongoing sanctification—the believer’s relationship with Christ is ongoing, not merely a one-time event. It asks believers to examine their own readiness to receive grace, even when it comes in a form that challenges their assumptions about who should do the cleansing.
In practical terms, this teaches humility: acknowledge what Christ must do in you and through you. If you resist correction or humble service, you risk spiritual disconnection. Embrace the ongoing process of sanctification, inviting others to speak truth, and be willing to receive care that might initially feel uncomfortable. In community life, welcome corrective practices and be motivated by a desire for deeper fellowship with Christ and one another. The takeaway: genuine fellowship requires regular, humble engagement with grace, even when it disrupts our pride or autonomy.
Cross-References: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; 1 Peter 5:5-6; Galatians 5:13; John 13:10-11