Chapter 12: THE EVENING OF THE DENIAL
Chapter 12: THE EVENING OF THE DENIAL
Matt. xxvi. 17-20; Mark xiv. 12-17; Luke xxii. 7-16; John xiii. 1-20
"Nor lack I friends long-tried and near and dear,
Whose love is round me like this atmosphere.
Warm, soft, and golden. For such gifts to me
What shall I render, O my God, to Thee."
—Whittier.
THE MOUNT OF Olives, during the Passover, was covered by a large number of families, gathered from all parts of the country, and from many lands. Unable to find accommodation in the overcrowded city, they provided for themselves slight booths or tents, their cattle tethered alongside, the maidens thronging to the wells with their pitchers, whilst the children played under the shadow of the ancient olive-trees or visited the Holy City with their parents in an ecstasy of enjoyment.
It would be pleasant to think that our Lord was the guest of the dear home at Bethany, where Lazarus and his sisters loved to welcome Him; but it is more than likely that, after the supper in the house of Simon on the evening of His arrival, He deliberately held aloof, lest His friends might become entangled in the web, which was being woven about Himself. Already the chief priests were consulting to put Lazarus to death, because by reason of him many of the Jews believed on Jesus. We have often thought, also, that if He had been her guest, Martha, the careful housewife, would never have allowed Him to leave her house in the early morning without the breakfast which, in default of her, He looked for beneath the thick foliage of a wayside tree. "The foxes have holes, the birds of the air nests, but the Son of man had not where to lay His head."
In the meanwhile the Passover was drawing nigh, and with it the treachery of Judas, the denial by Peter, and desertion on the part of them all. It is, however, with Peter's share in the happiness of the last evening of Christ's earthly life that we are now dealing. Jesus knew that the hour had come when He should depart out of this world to the Father. He knew also that He had come from God and went to God; and that the Father had given all things into His hand. With this knowledge was blended an over-brimming love.
"Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end" — not only of time, but of the high-water mark of love. So we have heard the murmur of the summer-ocean, too deep for sound or foam, when it has reached to the submerging and floating of the dark lines of seaweed which lay beyond the reach of ordinary tides.
It is practically certain, therefore, that He was more concerned for "His own," and especially for Peter, than for Himself. Hence the following precautions: —
I. HE PROVIDED HIM WITH A FRIEND. — The priceless worth of friendship was a matter of daily experience with the Lord. He made no secret of the tender intimacy which knit His soul with that of the disciple whom He loved, and who, more than any other, has interpreted to the world the secret workings of His heart. He realized, therefore, how much a Friend of the right kind would mean for Peter in his abandonment to the black current of a remorse which threatened despair.
Jesus could trust John utterly. The ultimate proof of His confidence was given when, from the Cross, He committed His mother to the filial care of His beloved friend. Thus He knew what John would be to Peter in the hour of black darkness, and therefore threw them together in His last sacred commission.
We are expressly told that He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat." Thus He set His seal on their old-time friendship.
They had been boys together, sitting side by side in the Rabbi's school, wandering in search of boyish adventure over the hills, or sharing the pleasures and perils of the fishing-fleet. Together they had grown to manhood, familiar with the hardships of the Roman occupation, with the stories passing from lip to lip of recent efforts at revolt, and with the hopes and expectations of those who were looking for the Redemption of Israel. Together they had left their homes and nets, first to give enthralled attention to the Baptist, and then to follow Jesus. Probably from the first they had been attracted to each other by an instinctive consciousness that each supplied what the other lacked.
It is more than probable that each chose the other as companion when the twelve were sent out two by two.
With James, the brother of John, they had shared as partners in the miraculous draught of fishes; had stood side by side when the little daughter of Jairus awoke beneath the touch and summons of Jesus from her death-sleep. They had shared in the wonder of the Holy Mount, and had listened, on the previous night, to the Apocalyptic unveiling of the signs of the Advent and the close of the Age.
Our Lord had often noticed and rejoiced in this congenial comradeship. He knew how much it would mean for them both and for His cause when His outward presence was withdrawn. He therefore took special pains to cement and hallow it by this expression of confidence.
The result justified His fond anticipations. It was to John that Peter naturally turned, when the storm was expending its full fury on his soul. Mary of Magdala found them together on Easter morning. Together they ran to the sepulchre. Much as John loved his friend, he could not help out-running him, because of another love which had a prior claim, but he made compensation shortly afterwards by refusing to take advantage of the keener sight of his younger eyes that had discerned the Lord standing on the shore in the morning haze. In a whisper of reverent love he passed on the news to his friend, and was only glad to know, as he saw him plunge into the water and strike swiftly to the shore, that he had secured for him a moment of private fellowship and a further assurance of forgiveness from those gentle lips.
They were much together in the coming days. They went together to the Temple at the hour of prayer.
Peter spoke for them both when he said to the lame man, "Look on us." They stood side by side when arrested by the Sanhedrim, and spent a memorable night together in the prison. Together they returned to their own company, and like the diverse metals of a compensating balance, they directed the policy of the infant Church. Events separated them in after years — John to Ephesus and Peter to Babylon, but that the old love remained is evident, if the slight and tender reference which John makes to the lapse of his friend is contrasted with the explicit and circumstantial account which Peter gives in the Second Gospel.
It is not good that man should be alone, especially in hours when he remembers his sins, and is distracted with the inner warfare. The Lord anticipates such need, and before it arises provides a Jonathan for David, a John for Peter, a Timothy for Paul, a Melanchthon for Luther, a Burns for Hudson Taylor, and a Faithful or Hopeful for Christian.
II. HE ASSURED HIM OF A COMPLETE CLEANSING. — "Clean every whit." Not improbably Judas had planned to capture the whole party at the Paschal Feast, his plan was, however, anticipated and defeated by Christ's arrangement — probably made beforehand with some secret disciple — that the meeting-place should only be known to the Apostles when they reached the city. The traitor was therefore compelled to postpone the final scene till nightfall, being certain that the Master would spend that night, as previously, in the garden. "Judas, also, who betrayed Him, knew the place, for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples." But in the meanwhile there was security for one brief hour of holy fellowship and farewell, the more especially when the traitor had withdrawn.
With desire He had desired to eat that supper with the chosen band before He suffered. It would be for His own comfort and strength, and for theirs. He therefore committed the necessary preparations to His two devoted friends, sure that no detail would be omitted which their love or forethought could anticipate. Deeply impressed with the increasing gravity of the position, they secured the lamb, brought it early to the priest for killing, purchased the bitter herbs, Passover-cakes, and skin of wine, and hastened back to prepare the humble repast. It was all that their means permitted, for Judas held the bag, and appropriated a large proportion of its contents.
The city was too preoccupied and crowded to notice the famous Teacher and His companions as they passed through the Kedron-gate and made for the appointed meeting-place. The sky was already darkening, and the earlier stars were beginning to appear. Apparently the embers of jealous rivalry were still smouldering, and burst into a flame as soon as the large upper room, where Peter and John had been at work all the afternoon, was reached. The walk had been hot and dusty, and all would have been thankful for the customary ablutions, common to every Jewish home. In this case, however, they were wanting. Ewer, basin, and towel were provided, but no servant could be spared from the household at that busy season. Would no Apostle perform this office for the rest, and specially for the Lord? Apparently none volunteered. To undertake menial duty would, in their judgment, be equivalent to signing a deed of abdication from the throne of power, which each was claiming. There was also the question of precedence at the table to be considered.
Even if the couch on the Lord's right hand were conceded to John, who should be on His left? Ought not Peter, to whom all were indebted for his efforts to prepare the feast? But Judas insisted, as treasurer, on his superior claims. The atmosphere was charged with feverish passion, and the peaceful enjoyment of the feast, on which Jesus had set such store, was seriously threatened. To arrest further discussion the Lord arose from the supper table, laid aside His outer garments, girded Himself with the towel, as any household servant might have done, poured water into the basin, and began to wash His disciples' feet, wiping them carefully with the towel.
A sudden silence must have befallen, as He passed from one to another in this lowly ministry, until He came to Peter, who had been watching the process with shame and indignation. "Dost Thou wash my feet? " he exclaimed; " my feet shall never be washed by Thee." How little he realized that a still more drastic cleansing must soon be administered by those gentle hands, or he could have no part with Jesus in the world-mission of Redemption! "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me!" Evidently Peter caught his Master's meaning. The outward was symbolic of the inward, the physical of the spiritual; and he replied: "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
It was as though he requested that his soul-life might there and then receive a fresh beginning, and that his entire being might be replunged into the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. "Make sure work this time, my Lord, let me begin again, as I began at the first, with Thee in my boat!"
"No," said Jesus in effect, "that is not necessary. He who has recently bathed does not require entire immersion, if hands or feet are befouled. It is sufficient for the soiled member to be cleansed, and the body is every whit clean. When My disciples fall into sin, there is no necessity for them to commence their religious life afresh. It is enough if the particular sin, of which they are aware, is confessed and put away.
Whenever that confession is made and that cleansing sought, I will show Myself faithful and just to forgive the sin and cleanse from all unrighteousness."
There was therefore a double significance in our Lord's lowly act of feet-washing. He taught the royalty of service, and also that sin does not sever the regenerate soul from God. If we are overtaken with a fault, it is not required that we go back again to the wicket-gate, but that we should be restored and led back to the narrow path. The disciple is still a disciple; the child still a child. There must be confession, and there will be instant restoration. "Restore such an one In the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Peter must have been greatly comforted by this incident, when He lay under the shadow of his great sin. He was not a castaway. He had not forfeited his part in the Book of Life or in the Holy City.
There was no need for him to begin from the beginning. The Lord would wash his soiled feet, and he would be clean every whit. God's work in his soul had received a set-back, but it had not ceased. He need not enter a second time by the door of the New Birth; but he must turn again, and from his failure learn to strengthen his brethren. There was a world of difference between the apostasy of Judas and the backsliding of Peter!
What a wealth of comfort has been ministered by this lowly act of the Saviour to those whose feet have become soiled by the dust of earth's highways! He knew that He had come from God, was going to God, and was God; but to wash the feet of these simple men did not seem incongruous with the throne to which He went. And now that He, as the Lamb slain, is on the throne, He will turn aside from the adoration of eternity, and "stay His ear for every sigh a contrite suppliant brings."