*Sacred Scripture* The Washing of the Feet – Tissot

This artwork by James Tissot depicts Jesus Christ washing the feet of His apostles at the Last Supper. The Savior stands at the center of the small upper room, holding a water jug, as the apostles sit in a semi-circle before him, loosening their sandals.

The Washing of the Feet 

James Tissot

After the disciples dine together, the company passes into another chamber, the artist notes, where Jesus washes the feet of his followers, an act of selflessness and humility that presages his later sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Although Peter, sitting at center with his hands at his head, protests his unworthiness, Jesus insists on the physical and spiritual necessity of the cleansing act. Hinting at his knowledge of his future betrayal by Judas, by saying that not all of his apostles are “clean,” Jesus nevertheless includes Judas in this rite. In Tissot’s image, Judas sits at the extreme left, his body uncomfortably twisted as he awaits his turn.

Jn 13:1-17

The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet.^*

1Before the feast of Passover,^* Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.^a

2The devil had already induced^* Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,^b

3fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God,^c

4he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist.

5^* Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet^d and dry them with the towel around his waist.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”

8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.”^e

9Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

10Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed^* has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.”^f

11For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”^g

12So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?

13You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.^h

14If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.

15I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.ⁱ

16Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger^* greater than the one who sent him.^j

17If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13