A shift in emphasis

13You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. 14So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

– John 13:13-14
(NASB® © 2020)
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Christ is Lord and Teacher

The Son of God washes the feet of one disciple after another. When He comes to Peter, his disciple is astonished that Jesus performs this lowly service (John 13:6). The Lord answers him: “What I am doing you do not know now, but you will understand later” (John 13:7). But Peter does not want to have his feet washed because he cannot understand. In doing so, he puts the Lord’s instruction before his authority. The Master finally convinces his skeptical disciple by explaining it to him in more detail.

The Lord then tells His disciples that they are right to call Him “Teacher and Lord” and encourages them to wash one another’s feet. In doing so, He reverses the order of His titles and refers to Himself as “Lord and Teacher”. This shift in emphasis is significant.

Jesus wants us always to follow His will, whether we understand it or not, because He is Lord. He will certainly lead us on through His word, just as He did with Peter. But that does not take away from the fact that we should first accept His authority unreservedly.

We humbly and attentively follow Jesus Christ – our Lord and Teacher.

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