I found the account
in John of Jesus washing the disciples feet to have some interesting features
in the JST as compared to the KJV.
KJV:
4 He
riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded
himself.
5 After
that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and
to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
8 Peter saith unto him,
Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou
hast no part with me.
10 Jesus saith to him, He
that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and
ye are clean, but not all. (John
13:4-10)
JST:
8 Peter
saith unto him, Thou needest not to
wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with
me.
9 Simon
Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus
saith to him, He that has washed his hands and his head, needeth not save
to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all. Now this was the custom of the Jews under
their law; wherefore, Jesus did this that the law might be fulfilled. (JST John 13:8-10)
In the KJV, Peter seems extra stubborn and uncharacteristically
rebellious, saying,” Thou shalt never wash my feet.” His tone is more like what we would imagine Judas Iscariot
having. But the JST substantially
softens Peter’s words, showing us that he may have been more concerned about
the utility of the act. Perhaps
Peter’s feet had already been washed and a second washing seemed
superfluous.
Also, in the KJV, Jesus’s words, “If I wash thee not, thou
hast no part with me” seem petulant, but with Peter’s words moderated, Jesus’s
words, though unchanged, seem more explanatory about how the washing brings
them together in unity. If not washing
Peter’s feet means Peter has no part with Christ, then washing Peter’s feet
means Peter does have part with
Christ. (Part with Christ in what manner?)
In the KJV, Jesus says “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is
clean every whit..” in the JST,
however, Jesus says, “He that has washed his hands and his
head, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit..” This is interesting; first Peter thinks
his feet are already washed and then Jesus insists they aren’t, and when Peter
thinks his hands and head need washing, Jesus says they are already
washed. This is a good indication
that Jesus is speaking symbolically instead of literally. I think perhaps having head and hands
clean symbolized pure thoughts and pure works, and washing one’s feet
symbolized pure direction and goals, corresponding to the Lord's work to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.
It must have been comforting to hear
Jesus say, “ye are clean, but not all,” about Peter’s progress to that
point. He was clean but not
perfect. I suppose that when we
are trying to live the gospel, keep the commandments, and repent of our sins,
that would be Jesus’s message to us too. It would lift our sights higher and build desire in us to be further purified.
The JST also tells us that the washing
of the feet was a requirement of Jewish law and that Jesus was fulfilling that
law. This made me curious, and I
looked up on the internet to see what the feet washing requirements were in the
Jewish law, but I didn’t find anything that required it in
conjunction with the Passover.
However, I read in the Jewish Encyclopedia on washing
that feet washing was part of more extensive cleansing requirements of the high
priests to perform after sending off the scapegoat, and the same extensive
cleansing (including feet washing) was required of the one who was to lead away the scapegoat. It is possible that Jesus was
cleansing the disciples in the context of the Day of Atonement, in anticipation
of being led away by one a disciple who would betray him to be crucified. Also, washing of hands and feet
were to be done by those who wished to perform priestly duties, or washing of
feet might be a simple gesture according to the law of hospitality to travelers. Whatever it means, it seems the
Joseph Smith Translation restored knowledge of yet another way Jesus fulfilled
the law during his mortal ministry, even if we don’t have knowledge of what
exactly that law was. While we perhaps
don’t need to know what that law was, our dispensation receives greater benefit
from the instructions Jesus gave to cleanse the head, hands, and feet
(thoughts, deeds, and goals) so that we can have part with Him.
2 comments:
I taught the Day of Atonement connection in my gospel doctrine class when we discussed this episode with the apostles, so I for one agree. I'm reading the D&C right now and am at the point where Joseph is editing his work on the JST. It's interesting to see the slow and subtle change in the focus of the revelations during a time when they are talking increasingly about living the law of consecration, and how that divides people from one another, wheat and tares. They, these apostles, will serve as the priests after he leaves to mediate the law for the saints. What a vital training for those who will judge in that great division of wheat and tares.
You saw it too, huh? Cool! Isn't it interesting how the order of what we read and the context in our lives can really change how we view certain scriptures?
I too have seen subtle focus changes in D&C revelations.
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