Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not all of you.
In Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI reflects on the profound symbolism behind the washing of the feet. He explains that “those who have bathed” refers to those who have been baptised. They do not need to be washed all over again, but only their feet, which signifies that even after baptism, we need continual cleansing from the sins we commit in our daily lives. This cleansing happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The act of washing the disciples’ feet prefigures the washing away of sins in baptism, which would be fully realised after the Great Commission when Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise all nations.
Peter, in his usual headstrong and impulsive manner, rejects Jesus’ offer to wash his feet because he once again fails to understand the deeper meaning behind the act—just as he previously failed to understand why Jesus had to suffer and die. Peter, who holds a primacy among the Apostles, often stumbles, and it is refreshing to see how relatable his struggles are. His misunderstandings remind us that even those closest to Jesus did not always grasp His mission immediately. Peter saw only the moment, reacting from his Jewish expectations of the Messiah. But in hindsight, we see what Peter couldn’t, which helps us feel less alone in our own failures. Even with all the knowledge the Church has revealed about Christ since then, we too still fail frequently. In that sense, we are in the same boat as Peter and the other disciples.
Yet, Peter’s journey also offers hope. Despite his many stumbles, Peter ultimately grew in understanding and became a foundational leader of the Church. His development shows that even when we are confused or headstrong, Christ continues to patiently guide us toward deeper faith and service, just as He did with Peter.
In stark contrast to Peter’s ultimate repentance, Judas, as Pope Benedict notes, had not been “washed all over.” Judas held back part of himself, allowing darkness to enter his heart. As John writes: “After receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night” (13:30). This simple phrase is charged with meaning—Judas left the light of Christ for the darkness of sin. Even though he later realised his grave mistake, he did not turn back to Jesus in repentance. Instead, Judas turned inward, into despair, and chose to take his own life rather than seek the forgiveness and restoration that Christ could have offered him. Judas is a tragic warning to all of us that when we betray Christ, we must not fall into despondency as he did. Instead, we are called to turn back to Christ in faith, confess our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and receive both the forgiveness of our sins and the sanctifying grace that helps keep us on the narrow path.
The contrast between Peter and Judas is striking. Both men betrayed Jesus—Peter through his denial and Judas through his betrayal—but only Peter returned to Christ. Peter’s repentance shows that no sin is too great for God’s mercy. Judas, on the other hand, fell into the trap of believing his sin was beyond forgiveness. In truth, the Church teaches that God’s mercy is boundless, and Judas could have been restored if he had sought forgiveness. His story reminds us that sin often deceives us into thinking we are beyond redemption, but this is a lie. No matter how far we’ve fallen, we can always turn back to Christ through confession and be restored.
Pope Benedict also emphasises the ongoing need for cleansing even after baptism, which we receive through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The image of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet symbolises His willingness to continuously cleanse and purify us. The foot-washing prefigures the lifelong need for us to bring our sins into the light through confession. As Pope Benedict writes, guilt must not be allowed to fester in the soul but should be brought into the purifying light of Christ through confession. Confession is not just a ritual—it is an essential act of humility, where we acknowledge our sins before God and allow His grace to transform us. This parallels the humble act of foot-washing, where Jesus invites us into communion with Him through a gesture of love and service.
Moreover, the symbolism of the foot-washing goes beyond forgiveness and purification. It also models the kind of humility and love that Jesus expects of His followers. In washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrates that true glory comes through humble service. As John’s Gospel emphasises, the hour of Jesus’ greatest abasement—His Passion and death on the cross—is also the hour of His greatest glory. The washing of feet embodies this paradox: it is in Jesus’ willingness to serve and lower Himself that we see the true reflection of God’s glory.
In this light, the foot-washing points us to how we are called to live. Just as Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, we are called to serve one another with humility and love. In doing so, we not only follow His example but also participate in His glory. This act of service, humility, and purification binds together the life of Jesus and the ongoing sacramental life of the Church, where we are continually renewed and empowered to follow Christ more closely. In Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI reflects on the profound symbolism behind the washing of the feet. He explains that “those who have bathed” refers to those who have been baptised. They do not need to be washed all over again, but only their feet, which signifies that even after baptism, we need continual cleansing from the sins we commit in our daily lives. This cleansing happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The act of washing the disciples’ feet prefigures the washing away of sins in baptism, which would be fully realised after the Great Commission when Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise all nations.
