Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1293
“Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” John 13:7.
THESE words of our Lord were spoken in answer to Peter’s exclamation of surprise, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” It was a very natural expression of astonishment and one which deserved no censure, but, at the same time it was not a very wise remark, for, although it was a marvelously condescending act for the Lord Jesus to wash His disciples’ feet, He had already performed a greater condescension by coming upon the earth, at all, in the form of a man. For the Son of the Highest to dwell among mortals in a human body, capable of being girt about with a towel and able to take a basin and pour water into it, is a far greater marvel than that He should, being a Man, leave the supper table and act as a menial servant by washing His disciples’ feet.
Had Peter understood what his Master had prophesied and explained to him, namely, the Lord’s approaching sufferings and death, he would have seen that for his Master to take a towel and basin was little compared with His having our iniquities laid upon Himself and being made a Sacrifice for sin! It surprises you much to see the Lord of Glory wear a towel—does it not amaze you, still more, to see Him clad in the purple robe of mockery? Are you not still more astonished to see His clothes stripped from Him and to hear Him cry upon the Cross, “I can see all My bones: they look and stare upon Me”?
It is amazing that He should take the basin in the upper room, but surely it was more extraordinary that He should take the cup in the garden and drink in its full bitterness till He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood falling to the ground! To wash the disciples’ feet with water was certainly a surprising action, but to pour out His heart’s blood to wash us all was by far the greater, for this involved His death, His making His grave with the wicked and His being numbered with the transgressors! The expression of Peter is thus seen to be very natural, but not very profound.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, do you not think it very likely that our pretty pious speeches which strike us as very proper, seem, to our friends, to be very commendable, will, one of these days, appear to be mere baby prattling and do even now appear so to the Lord Jesus? Those choice sayings and holy sentences which we have read with admiration and greatly valued—even those are not like the Words of Jesus for solid intrinsic weight and worth but may, in other lights, appear far less beautiful than they do now. I have, myself, proved in different humors and frames of mind that the very things which struck me as being so very deep and gracious have at other times appeared to be one-sided, shallow, or questionable. We know in part and prophesy in part—our highest attainments, here, are those of little children, and even for the close student—the deeply experienced Christian, the venerable man of years and the graciously anointed instructor of the Churches, there is no room for boasting.
Note, next, that our Savior answered Peter’s speech in the words of the text which are as admirable for their tone as for their matter. Which should we admire the more in this reply, its meekness or its majesty? To Peter’s ignorant simplicity how gentle He is! “What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” And yet how royally He confronts Peter’s objection and how distinctly His majestic Personality puts down the too conspicuous individuality of Peter! “What I do you know not now.”
How perfect the blending of the majesty and the meekness! Who shall tell which of the colors is better laid on? This is always the way of our Lord Jesus! You shall find, through life, Beloved, that whenever Jesus Christ comes to rebuke you, He will do so powerfully but gently. He will speak as a Friend and as a King. You will feel both His love and His authority and acknowledge the power of both His goodness and His greatness. His smile shall not make you presume, nor shall His royal glance cause you to tremble. You will find His left hand supporting you while in His right you see His imperial
scepter. Blessed Savior, are You more meek or more majestic? We cannot tell, but certainly to our hearts You are both kind and kingly, sweet and sovereign, gracious and glorious!
I. Let us now come to the words themselves. We have looked at the occasion of them and at the manner of them. We will now weigh their matter. The words, themselves, have suggested to me many thoughts and among them, first, that IN OUR LORD’S DOINGS THERE IS MUCH WHICH WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND. Our text is not merely true about the washing of the feet, but it is true concerning all that our Lord does—“What I do you know not now.” We may know the external part of what He does, or think we do, but there is more in His actions than any of us can conceive. The external is not all—there are wrapped up, within, other mercies which we perceive and yet greater mercies as yet unknown to us.