These words mean more than bodily cleanliness. Christ is still speaking of the higher cleansing as illustrated by the lower. He who came from the bath was clean, but the sandaled feet soon became dusty, and again needed to be washed. So Peter and his brethren had been washed in the great fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. Christ acknowledged them as His. But temptation had led them into evil, and they still needed His cleansing grace. When Jesus girded Himself with a towel to wash the dust from their feet, He desired by that very act to wash the alienation, jealousy, and pride from their hearts. This was of far more consequence than the washing of their dusty feet. With the spirit they then had, not one of them was prepared for communion with Christ. Until brought into a state of humility and love, they were not prepared to partake of the paschal supper, or to share in the memorial service which Christ was about to institute. Their hearts must be cleansed. Pride and self-seeking create dissension and hatred, but all this Jesus washed away in washing their feet. A change of feeling was brought about. Looking upon them, Jesus could say, "Ye are clean." Now there was union of heart, love for one another. They had become humble and teachable. Except Judas, each was ready to concede to another the highest place. Now with subdued and grateful hearts hey could receive Christ's words.

Disse ord betyder mere end legemlig renhed. Kristus taler stadig om den højere form for renselse, som den lavere form er et eksempel på. Den, der kom fra badet, var ren, men de sandalklædte fødder blev snart støvede og trængte atter til at vaskes. På damme måde var Peter og hans medbrødre blevet tvættet i den store kilde, som er åbnet mod synd og urenhed. Kristus regnede dem for at være sine egne; men fristelsen havde ledt dem ud i det onde, og de trængte stadig til hans rensende nåde. Da Jesus bandt et klæde om sig for at vaske støvet af deres fødder, var det hans ønske netop ved denne handling at tvætte uenigheden, skinsygen og hovmodet bort fra deres hjerter. Dette var af langt større betydning end at vaske deres støvede fødder. Med det sind, som de dengang havde, var ingen af dem rede til samfund med Kristus. Først når de havde fået et ydmygt og kærligt sind, var de beredt til at deltage i påskemåltidet eller til at få del i den mindetjeneste, som Kristus snart skulle indstifte. Deres hjerter måtte lutres. Stolthed og selviskhed skaber splid og had, men alt dette tvættede Jesus bort ved at tvætte deres fødder. Det frembragte helt forandrede følelser. Medens Jesus så på dem, kunne han sige: "I er rene!" Nu følte de sig som et og elskede hinanden. De var blevet ydmyge og villige til at lære. Med undtagelse af Judas var enhver af dem rede til at indrømme en anden den øverste plads. Nu kunne de med ydmygt sind og taknemmelige hjerter tage imod Kristi ord.