George Hutcheson
— and laid aside his garments, and took a towell, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girded.
In these verses, the fact it self, of Christs washing his disciples feet, is recorded. Wherein appeareth his admirable humilitie and self-denial, in that he layeth his state and his own refreshment, and riseth from supper while his servants sate still: he layeth aside his upper garments, (which were loose) as servants used to do when they went to work, or, to serve their Masters; he girded himself with a towel, both to fasten his other garments upon him, that he might be more fit for the work, and to have it in readinesse to wipe their feet with it. And having provided and brought the basin with water, he began to wash and wipe their feet (which lay out behinde them, as they leaned at table, and) which was a most servile employment, 1 Sam. 25.41. I shall not need here to enquire, whether the Jewes had such a custome as this, to wash their feet after their eating of the paschal Lamb, which Christ here imitates in so singular a way, and emproves to so notable spiritual advantage. Nor shall I need here to insist on this practice, which is so fully explained afterward. Only, for present, Learn, 1. As Christ is infinitely glorious and exalted in himselfe, so is he admirably humble and condescending to his people; for, our High Lord riseth from supper, &c. and began to wash his disciples feet. 2. Christs humility will stoop to do meanest things for his people, were it even to become a servant to them; for, he acts all the parts of a mean servant here. And he did this, being on earth, to give proof what mean necessities of ours he will stoop to take notice of, though he be absent in body. 3. True humility is the compendious way to true honour, and to be least in Christs house is the way to become greatest; for, so doth he teach us, in that when he is about to go to God, v. 3. he most eminently kithes his humility. 4. It is a special proof of Christs love, and of his care of his people in the midst of his sufferings and glory, when he teacheth humility and promoves it in them, by his Word, Example, or Dispensations; for, herein all the former considerations, of his love to them, and his care of them, when he thinks of his sufferings and glory, did appear, in that he took this pains not only to stoop to them, but to cast them a copy, and give them a lesson of humilitie.
