John 13:7

7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these [things]."

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 the washbasin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe [them] dry with the towel {which he had tied around himself}.

6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand after these [things]."

8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet {forever}!" Jesus replied to him, "Unless I wash you, you do not have a share with me."

9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head!"