Peter has been on my mind for the past few hours, though what triggered the train I know not.
I’ve been reflecting on one of Peter’s many instances of faithful buffoonery – the footwashing preceding the Last Supper. It’s a familiar sequence: Jesus surprises His closest disciples by washing their feet; Peter resists; Jesus insists that if He doesn’t wash Peter’s feet, then he has nothing to do with Him; Peter then says, “Not just my feet, but my hands and head, as well;” to which Jesus replies, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean…”
And it made me want to be a little more like Peter. He didn’t understand one bit, yet he was all-in. First, he resists Jesus just like his first encounter (away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!). But when Jesus tells him that if this is not done, Peter has nothing to do with Him, his reaction is entirely opposite. Wash all of me, Lord! Peter doesn’t have a clue.
If Jesus told Peter to cut up some tomatoes for a salad, I imagine Peter would take the lettuce and carrots, too, and cut himself because he couldn’t take his eyes off Jesus.
There’s a whole lot more to this passage. I hope to get to it tomorrow.
