Not Only My Feet

This painting centers on John 13: 4-9: Peter’s reaction, one might say “over-reaction,” to Christ’s offer to wash his feet. In the upper register we see the disciples’ feet, Peter’s stretching forward, in protest at first. Yet after Christ explained, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me,” Peter boldly asked, “Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head!” The words of Peter’s bi-polar exclamation is subtly woven into the towel that Jesus’ hands hold up like an altar.