ACC ~ John 13 v12 - 17

OVERVIEW:

Jesus tells his disciples that he washed their feet as their teacher and the feet of servants as their Lord (ORIGEN). His goal as teacher is to make his disciples like himself (ORIGEN). His title as Lord is his by nature, possessing authority over the universe (CYRIL). Our Lord first washed and then taught (BEDE). But the kind of washing Jesus commands rarely occurs among his followers (ORIGEN). And yet, when I do wash away the filth of others, I end up washing away my own filth as well (AMBROSE). The act of washing feet itself elicits humility by its very nature (AUGUSTINE) and helps us avoid the trap of pride (CYRIL). Jesus’ profound humility is an example for everyone to emulate as he arms the heels of the disciples and all Christians in humility to defeat Satan’s pride that strikes at our heels (THEOPHILUS OF ALEXANDRIA). Jesus is like a schoolmaster who writes the letters beautifully for the children, who then seek to imitate his handwriting, albeit imperfectly (CHRYSOSTOM). Such humility has great potential for growth (CYPRIAN), and Jesus wants his servants to reach the potential of their master, which is the opposite of what most masters want for their servants (ORIGEN). Neither servants nor apostles should overreach their station in life, although Jesus is the kind of loving master who wants his servants to succeed in becoming just like him in reaching their potential of humility (CYRIL). It is not sufficient, however, to know about humility unless you also practice it (CYRIL).

13:12-13 | You Call Me Teacher and Lord

TEACHER AND LORD

ORIGEN: Jesus washed the feet of the disciples insofar as he was their teacher, and the feet of the servants insofar as he was their Lord. For the dust from the earth and from worldly things is cleared away by teaching, since it reaches nothing else than the extremities and lower parts of the disciples. But those things that defile the feet are also removed by the lordship of the ruler, since he has authority over those who still receive common defilement because they still have the spirit of bondage. [1] COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.115-16. [2]

[1] See Rom 8:15.

[2] FC 89:364*; SC 385:238.

THE GOAL OF THE TEACHER

ORIGEN: And this is the goal of the teacher, as teacher, for the disciple. He wants to make the disciple like himself, so that he may no longer need the teacher, as teacher, although he will need him in other respects. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.118. [1]

[1] FC 89:364-65*; SC 385:238.

THE TITLE OF LORD BY NATURE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ does not hold the title Lord as an empty name of honor like we do when we are decorated by the favor of others with titles that surpass our nature and merit, even though we remain mere servants by nature. Rather, Jesus is Lord by nature, possessing authority over the universe as God, as it is said somewhere by the psalmist, “all things are your servants.” [1] Also, he is Master [or Teacher] by nature, for “all wisdom comes from the Lord,” [2] and all understanding comes by him. For inasmuch as he is wisdom he makes all intelligent beings wise, and in every rational creature, both in heaven and on earth, he implants the intelligence that is appropriate for it. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [3]

[1] Ps 119:91 (118:91 LXX).

[2] Sir 1:1.

[3] LF 48:183**.

13:14 | Wash One Another’s Feet

ACT, THEN TEACH

BEDE: Our Lord first did something then taught it, because Jesus, establishing the pattern of a good teacher, taught nothing except those things that he did. [1] COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.1. [2]

[1] Acts 1:1.

[2] CS 117:9; CCL 121:6.

FEET WASHING AS JESUS COMMANDS OCCURS RARELY

ORIGEN: But consider if it is not also difficult for anyone who is a disciple of Christ who wishes to fulfill the command that says, “You also ought to wash one another’s feet,” since he is obliged to desire to perform the work of washing his brothers’ feet, which are physical and perceptible to the senses. Consequently, the faithful [are obliged] to do this in whatever station of life they happen to be, whether bishops and presbyters who seem to be in ecclesiastical prominence, or even those in other positions of honor in the world. This means that the master comes to wash the feet of the believing servant, and parents wash the feet of their son. This custom either does not occur, or it occurs exceedingly rarely and among those who are very simple and rustic. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.133. [1]

[1] FC 89:367; SC 385:246.

WASHING THE FILTH OF OTHERS, I WASH MY OWN

AMBROSE: I also, then, wish to wash the feet of my brothers and sisters. I wish to fulfill the mandate of the Lord. I do not wish to be ashamed of myself or to disdain what he himself did first. The mystery of humility is good because, while I wash the filth of others, I wash away my own. But not all were able to drink in this mystery. Indeed, Abraham also wished to wash feet, but out of a feeling of hospitality. [1] Gideon, too, wished to wash the feet of the angel of the Lord who appeared to him. But he wished to do this as one who was offering obedience, not as one who was offering fellowship. This is a great mystery that no one understands. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 1, PROLOGUE 15. [2]

[1] See Gen 18:4.

[2] FC 44:41**; CSEL 79:21-22.

THE ACT ITSELF ELICITS HUMILITY

AUGUSTINE: This act is done literally by many when they receive one another in hospitality. … For it is unquestionably better that it should be done with the hands and that the Christian does not disdain to do what Christ did. For when the body is bent at the feet of a brother, the feeling of humility is made to rise in the heart, or, if it is already there, it is confirmed. But besides this moral meaning … is not a brother able to change a brother from the pollution of sin? … Let us confess our faults one to another, forgive one another’s faults and pray for one another’s faults. [1] … In this way we shall wash one another’s feet. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 58.4-5. [2]

[1] Jas 5:16.

[2] NPNF 1 7:306-7**; CCL 36:474-75.

AVOID THE TRAP OF PRIDE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Somehow we are always grasping after what is greater, and the empty honors of life are always persuading our weak minds to vault up toward a more glorious position. In order, therefore, to save ourselves from this disease and obtain final relief from such a loathsome passion—for the passion of vainglory is a mere fraud and nothing less—let us engrave on our inmost hearts the memory of Christ, the King of all, washing his disciples’ feet, to teach us also to wash one another’s feet. For in this way, every tendency to arrogance will be restrained and every form of worldly pride will depart from among us. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [1]

[1] LF 48:183-84*.

13:15 | An Example of Humility

CHRIST ARMS THE HEEL TO DEFEAT SATAN’S PRIDE

THEOPHILUS OF ALEXANDRIA: Therefore, imitate me, your Lord, that through this sacred work of mine you may become sharers of the divine nature. [1] I decided to portray in advance for you this most excellent path of exaltation. I bent down once to the earth when I gave you existence and my good will as I took the clay of the earth and fashioned humanity, establishing a living being on the earth. [2] And now I have seen fit to bend down that I may strengthen the foundation and pedestal of my collapsing creation. I have placed enmity and cursing between the deceiver and the deceived, a wariness of head and heel. [3] And now I arm the wounded heel against the serpent, that it may no more limp away from the straight path. I have strengthened your feet to walk on serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy, and they will not harm you at all. [4] Through arrogance the one whispering of exaltation tore down the loftiness of the earth-born, first-created one. Smash his insolence by cheerful humility toward one another. SERMON ON THE MYSTICAL SUPPER. [5]

[1] 2 Pet 1:4.

[2] Gen 2:7.

[3] Gen 3:15.

[4] Lk 10:19.

[5] MFC 7:155-56.

IMITATE CHRIST’S SERVANT HANDWRITING

CHRYSOSTOM: And yet it is not the same thing, for he is Lord and Master, but you are fellow servants one of another. What does “as” mean then [when he says, “If I as your Lord and Master do this]? It means we should do it “with the same zeal.” For on this account he takes instances from greater actions that we may, if so be it, perform the lesser actions. Thus schoolmasters write the letters for children very beautifully, that they may come to imitate them, though in an inferior manner. Where now are they who spit on their fellow servants? Where now they who demand honors? Christ washed the feet of the traitor, the sacrilegious, the thief—and he did this close to the time of the betrayal—and incurable as [Judas] was, made him a partaker of his table. And are you high minded, and do you raise your eyebrows? “Let us then wash one another’s feet.” But then someone says, “Then we must wash those of our domestics.” And what a great thing it is if we do wash even those of our domestics! In our case “slave” and” free” is a difference of words. But there it is an actual reality. For by nature he was Lord and we were the servants, yet even this he did not refuse to do at that time. But now it is considered praiseworthy if we do not treat free people as bondmen, as slaves bought with money. And what shall we say in that day, if after receiving proofs of such forbearance, we ourselves do not imitate them at all but do the exact opposite and, acting in diametrical opposition to Jesus’ words, remain prideful and do not discharge the debt? For God has made us debtors one to another, having first done so himself, and has made us debtors of a lesser amount. For he was our Lord, and he did this. But we do it, if we do it at all, to our fellow servants, a thing that he himself implied by saying, “If I then your Lord and Master do this, so should you.” Indeed it would have naturally followed to say, “How much more should you servants,” but he left this to the conscience of the hearers. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 71.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:260**.

13:16 | No Servant Is Greater Than His Master

HUMILITY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL

CYPRIAN: [I]f “the servant is not greater than his Lord,” let those who follow the Lord humbly and peacefully and silently tread in his steps, since the lower one is, the more exalted one may become, as the Lord says, “He that is least among you shall be the greatest.” [1] LETTER 6.4. [2]

[1] Lk 9:48.

[2] ANF 5:284-85*; Letter 13.4 in CCL 3B:76.

THIS MASTER WANTS HIS SERVANTS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL

ORIGEN: The Savior, who is Lord, does something that surpasses all other lords, who have no desire to see their servants rise up to their level. He is such a Son of the Father’s goodness and love that, although he was Lord, he produced servants who could become like him, their Lord, not having the spirit of bondage, which comes from fear, but the spirit of adoption in which they too cry, “Abba, Father.” So then, before becoming like their teacher and lord, they need to have their feet washed because they are still deficient disciples who possess the spirit of bondage to fear. But when they attain the stature of master and lord … then they will be able to imitate their master and wash the disciple’s feet as the teacher. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.120-22. [1]

[1] FC 89:365**; SC 385:240.

OF THE SAME MIND AS THEIR MASTER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He points out here what an inadmissible offense it would be for servants to refuse to be of the same mind as their own masters. Such a passionate longing for greater and higher things than our merits deserve is really covetousness and nothing else. And he would be perfectly just in bringing the same charge against the apostles, namely, of seeking to be on a higher level than he who commissioned them, if they acted like this. The mind of the One who sent them should be a sufficient yardstick of the glory they seek. It is as if he were saying You will be laughed right out of the divine tribunal if your pride gets in the way of doing for each other what I have done for you. You are servants. I, on the other hand, have always been from the very beginning, by nature, your God and Lord. It would be preposterous and the height of madness for servants who, by definition, are inferior to their master, to be ashamed at the idea of being servants to one another. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [1]

[1] LF 48:184-85**.

13:17 | Knowing and Doing

PRACTICE VIRTUE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: It is not the knowledge of virtue but rather the practice of it that may be appropriately called worthy of both love and enthusiasm. … Whenever actions go hand in hand with knowledge, then assuredly there is no small gain. But when either is lacking, the other will be seriously crippled. And it is written, even faith apart from works is dead. [1] Although the knowledge of God who is one even in nature, and the confession of God in guilelessness and truth is all included in faith, even this is dead if it is not accompanied by the bright light that proceeds from works. Surely, therefore, it is utterly profitless merely to know what is good and yet have no desire to practice it at once. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 9. [2]

[1] See Jas 2:26.

[2] LF 48:185-86*.