John 13:6 Commentary and Bible Study

I think most commentaries today will tell you that it is not possible to know which of the disciples had his feet washed first, and somewhere in the line comes Simon Peter. It is very interesting to note that years ago the commentators would look at the passage very differently, and say he was number one. They would see verse five as a general summary verse, and then in verse six you come to particulars. Calvin for example thinks it is perfectly obvious that Simon Peter was the first to have his feet washed. And nowadays, we say we do not know. Does it matter? I suppose it does not matter really, except that it is rather logical that the protest should come from the first person to have his feet washed. And then the tone is set for all, what this really means.Peter responds with incredulity and astonishment, ‘Lord, dost thou wash my feet?’ and the emphasis is on the ‘thou’ and the ‘my’. Peter is astonished that the one of whom he has said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,’ the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Holy One from heaven, should wash his feet. ‘It is the wrong way round, Lord. I will not have it.’ It is a noble thing, just what we would expect him to think. He did not yet know it was a symbol. The higher cannot wash the feet of the lower.