The Chosen Ones
No matter our religion or our Scripture of choice, humans have tremendous power over interpretation. I would go so far as to say that we determine to a large degree what we hear God saying to us. Most disturbingly, this happens without our awareness.
Humans are most likely to believe what we hear or read if it agrees with our existing beliefs. Psychologists call this “confirmation bias.” Once we accept the information, it is very difficult to dislodge it from our minds. This happens imperceptibly and quickly as we read Scripture.
This became very clear to me last week as a group of men were studying John 13:1-17, the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Consider Peter’s response. “Lord, do you wash my feet?” (6) What attitude do you imagine Peter has? There were several different answers in the room. What tone of voice do you use when you read this? The attitude and tone of voice we attribute to Peter will determine how we interpret the passage’s meaning.
How about Jesus’ response to Peter? “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” (8) Is His tone impatient? Condescending? Exasperated? How we answer that question says more about our picture of God and how He interacts with us than Scripture can communicate by retelling the story. Further, the tone of voice we attribute to Jesus will probably confirm the bias we already have about God. We have tremendous power over Scripture.
The Chosen Ones
When we got to verse 11, we were reminded that Judas was in the room. The humbling act of washing someone’s feet took on new meaning when Jesus washed the feet of the one who would soon betray Him. The study asked, “What do you think Jesus felt when He washed Judas’ feet.” We again had answers that covered the spectrum of human emotions. How would you answer? Did Jesus feel sad? Angry? Was there some hesitation when He stopped before Judas? Or perhaps He felt like it was futile: “I can wash his feet, but the rest of his body and life is unclean.”
I opted for the idea that Jesus felt overwhelming compassion. I recall Jesus’ words as He looked out over a crowd of people gathered before Him.
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
Later, as He approached Jerusalem, He spoke words of lament.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)
I wonder if Jesus waited until Judas locked eyes with Him. Perhaps He flashed a gentle, loving smile, then turned His attention to Judas’ dirty feet. He may have thought, “We’re not all that different, you and I. We were both chosen for the tasks we are about to perform.” Jesus was chosen because He was God’s only begotten Son. But why Judas? All we know is that he was the son of Simon Iscariot. John called Judas a thief, but the other Gospels did not. Yet Jesus knew that for the rest of Christian history, Judas’ name would be synonymous with “traitor.” And He knew when Judas realized what he had done, he would hang himself.
Would Jesus have told Judas what He had said to God while He was hanging on the cross? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” More to the point, when Jesus washed Judas’ feet, did He do a quick review of everything that led Judas to this point? His upbringing? His successes and failures? Ways that he may have been disillusioned with the way Jesus approached His mission? Did He think back to the religious instruction he had received and how that had shaped him? Did Jesus see Judas as a sheep without a shepherd…until it was too late? Did Jesus look to the future and see Judas hanging from a tree? Or pictured in medieval art? Or depicted in countless sermons?
Both men were chosen and carried out their roles as determined for them. What did the Chosen One see when He looked at the chosen one? How you answer that question speaks volumes about how you believe God looks at you and speaks to you. Because we have tremendous power over Scripture.
I wonder what would happen if we read fewer passages but two or three times. With each successive pass, we could change the tone of voice and the perceived attitudes of the people in the story. Would that help us get past our confirmation bias to hear the voice of God?
