I find John Stott’s analysis of John 13 intriguing. The way he interprets this passage is something I never would have thought of. For some people, his thoughtful analogy might be a stretch. I, however, have an appreciation for people who pick a part Scripture and share the ways they figure their readers can apply a certain passage to their lives or simply a different perspective.
John 13 recalls the time Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. John Stott believes that this passage represents an overview of his earthly mission. After looking over the first set of verses myself, I can see what Stott was thinking. John 13:3 tells us this: “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God” (New Living Translation). The following verse (13:4) begins with the word “So.” This builds a connection between the two verses. The word “So” in verse 4 could be replaced with the entirety of verse 3, like this:
“Because Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God, he got up from the table, took off his robe… etc.”
Stott’s thinking is that each stage listed in verses 4, 5, and 6 symbolize a particular step in Jesus’ time on Earth.
Jesus got up from the table = “as he had risen from his heavenly throne”
Jesus took off his robe = “as he had laid aside his glory and emptied himself of it”
Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist = “he had taken the form of a servant”
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and wiped them with the towel = “as he would go to the cross to secure cleansing from sin”
I like the way John Stott picks a part John 13 a lot. He sums up his thinking at the end with this comment:
“By these actions [Jesus] was dramatizing his whole earthly career. He was teaching [his disciples] about himself, who he was, where he had come from, and where he was going” (Shaw 44).
1. Shaw, Luci. Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination, and Spirit. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007
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