John 13:7

7 1Jesus answered him, "What I am doing 2you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."

John 13:7 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:7

Jesus answered and said unto him
Christ replies,

what I do, thou knowest not now:
Peter knew that he was about to wash his feet, and the rest of his disciples, but he did not know the meaning and mystery of it, what Christ designed by it, and what instruction they were to receive from it,

but thou shalt know hereafter;
as he did, when he had performed this service, and explained it to him. This may teach us, under dark providences, the meaning of which is not yet known by us, to wait the Lord's own time, to make things clear and plain to us, and in the mean time patiently submit to the divine will.

John 13:7 In-Context

5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"
7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."
8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."
9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

Cross References 2

  • 1. [ver. 36]
  • 2. ver. 12; [John 12:16; John 15:15]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.