Thier Last Night as The Twelve

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John had been leaning on the bosom of his Teacher just after their private meal. Only His twelve were with Him this evening. There was a moment of full silence. Just then, the strong hand of a carpenter rested on John’s shoulder, guiding him to rise. Jesus quietly excused himself from the table. John’s heart quickened; for three years he’d been following the itinerant rabbi and John had developed a sense when his teacher is about to show a sign.

While it was quiet and dark outside, the upper room of the Jerusalem home where they’d gathered was large and fire lit. Jesus had withdrawn to a dim corner and seemed to be changing clothes. John was puzzled when he saw a towel-clad slave emerge and approach into the light of the table. Water was poured into a basin and the master bowed down at one of the disciple’s feet. John watched silently, not knowing what Jesus meant by this humble service. John was sitting up now, as are the others, taking it all in.

John’s mind flashed several years back, when he and his fishing partner Andrew heard the great prophet, John the Baptizer, speak of “One who’s sandals he was not worthy to unloose.” That One was now loosening Andrew’s dusty sandals.

Jesus worked carefully, thoroughly, and in no hurry. John thought wistfully about those first days in Judea, how they had begun to baptize new disciples for Jesus – that was before The Baptizer had been imprisoned. Such exciting times! They’d found the long awaited messiah, they’d left their fishing life and were gathering even more disciples than the Baptizer had. Surely the “Kingdom of God was at hand”.

Jesus rose and positioned Himself for the next pair of feet. Watching Jesus as he bowed low again, John glimpsed the near-empty wine bottle on the table. He thought of that wedding party in Cana where Jesus transformed all those vats of water into wine. Water and wine and blood – what does all this mean?

Jesus came next to John’s brother, James. What a privilege to be called to ministry along side your own brother. They were the “Sons of Thunder” who offered to call down fire for Jesus. They were the one’s whose mother went to Jesus seeking His right- and left-hand seat for them in the Kingdom. They were fishermen who Jesus had turned into fishers of men. James glanced across the table at John and shared a quick brotherly smile.

John began to think of some of their early travels. Jesus had taken them places they would never have had gone on their own. There was the time in Samaria when they found Jesus talking to that questionable woman at the well. They didn’t dare ask Jesus what he was doing, but revival broke out that afternoon and they remained in Samaria two whole days - two days in Samaria!

As Jesus moved to Philip’s seat, John recalled their first Passover season together. Jesus had challenged Philip about how they could feed the gathered crowds. Jesus had known what to do all along – and they spent that afternoon feeding the multitude with a few loaves and fishes. What must Philip be thinking right now? The hands that blessed that meal now washed his feet.

After that miracle the people wanted to take Jesus by force, to make Him king. But Jesus didn’t agree. He disappeared from the crowd, and from us, escaping into a mountain – only to walk out to us on the sea that night. Jesus came and went and disappeared whenever he needed to. John then remembered once rebuking a stranger for casting out a devil in Jesus’ name. This fellow didn’t follow with them. This report hadn’t go over well with the rabbi! Then it occurred to John; Jesus must have found this stranger and taught him on one of his solitary departures. John wondered what else Jesus had done while He was away from the group. How many other followers did He have? He once spoke of sheep of another fold. John wondered - if all of Jesus’ ministry was written down in volumes, could the world itself hold all the books?

As John’s heart relived scenes from their time with Jesus, some memories brought smiles, others made him whence. Now several years had passed; they were approaching their third Passover together. Jesus had openly challenged the temple leadership – to the point that His life was in jeopardy. Jesus had begun to speak of His eminent death in that very city. John couldn’t reconcile this with their belief that he was the anointed one, the messiah of God, the one to reign on the restored throne of King David forever. Death didn’t make any sense. And, if Jesus’ life was in danger, they too must be doomed. But where else could the go? They had left everything to follow Jesus – and Jesus had kept them this far. It was Thomas – who was now having his feet cleansed – it was brave Thomas that had said to them all recently, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

John’s mind now moved at a troubling pace, not befitting the quiet reverence and warm glow of the room. Peter must have felt something similar, a pent-up sense that things were amiss. He broke the silence with a familiar tone of challenge, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” John dropped his eyes, bracing for the exchange. Peter always tended to elicit either holy praise or open rebuke from the Master, but Jesus answered calmly, acknowledging the mystery in what He was doing. Jesus seemed to be saying that they were clean only by His washing and He assured them they would eventually understand. What He spoke to Peter, He was saying to them all. John’s heart yearned for that understanding, He longed to be washed.

As the Master-servant shifted toward him, John extended his feet.