The story of Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet is simple, moving, and profound. But at some points still difficult to understand!
In verse 10, in response to Peter’s demand to have his head and hands washed and not just his feet, Jesus tells the disciples (all of them): “And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
Judas, clearly, is the one who was not clean. The way the story is told, it appears that it is Judas’s intention to betray Jesus that makes him the odd one out (cf. v. 2). His intention — not yet an action. “Cleanliness” is not just a matter of behaviour, but of attitudes of the heart as well.
The contrast with Peter is telling. Both Judas and Peter are very soon about to let Jesus down profoundly. Peter’s “denials”, however, did not equate to “betrayal”, nor did it exclude him from the company of the “cleansed”. Judas, on the other hand, made an affirmation (John 18:5; cf. Luke 22:47-48), but by it Jesus was betrayed.
More than all you watch over
guard your heart,
because from it
comes forth life.(Proverbs 4:23)
