Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 13:7

"Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter." — John 13:7 (ASV)

Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you do not know now; but you shall know hereafter.

I have heard this saying of our Lord applied to affliction; and it is very true that what Jesus does we do not at present understand, but we shall know later. I do not think, however, that this sentence is very applicable that way, for there was no affliction in having the feet washed.

The fact is, brothers and sisters, though it is a very humbling thing to say, we do not understand what Jesus does. Even His simplest actions are a mystery to us; we have never gone into their very depths so as to comprehend them. "What I do, – even though I only wash your feet, plain and simple as that operation is, – you do not know now; but you shall know hereafter."

Our knowing times, dear friends, are to come. We need not be so very anxious to know at present; this is the time of love. I would forego the filling of my head for a while if I could have my heart full; but alas, we are generally so busy trying to attain merely head knowledge!

My most intense longing is for a growing heart, a heart that truly loves the Saviour. That is the way for the head to learn, for knowledge that comes by way of the heart, and so enters the head, is the best of knowledge. Jesus said to Peter, "What I do you know, not now; but you shall know hereafter."