5. THE WASHING OF THE FEET - Jn 13, 1-20Authentic?The author of this story, John, was a witness of this scene. The careful development of the details shows this.Father Lagrange says, rightly, that no other account of John shows so much similarity with the vivid style ofMark. The description of the characters also corresponds with the reality. Jesus' calmness, persevering withoutostentation in His loving decision, and the vivacity of the sensible and changeable Peter form a striking con-trast, which corresponds perfectly to the character of both persons. All facts and sayings of the last hour left adeep echo in the mind of the apostle. The farewell speeches1 are an echo of this hour. While Matthew andMark indicate only vaguely the mood of sadness among the disciples, John, although his gospel is more theo-logical, continuously describes the feelings of Jesus and of His disciples: the awful prediction and anxiousforeboding of the separation and the happy promise of a being-together never to be broken again; the inexor-able demand of fidelity and the concern for those who suffer persecution, the complaint about the lack of un-derstanding and the joy about the full revelation. All these thoughts and feelings intermingle. This continuouschange of mood and thoughts belong to the historical reality of the farewellmeal. The story unfolds naturallyand unforcedly.Creations of John?John cannot have had the intention to give a complete and precise story of the words and actions. He does notmention what the Synoptics present as the big event of that night, the institution of the Eucharist. He supposesthis to be already known to his readers. Except for the predictions of the betrayal of Judas and of the denial ofPeter and of the flight of the disciples John and the Synoptics have little in common.Jesus must have repeated in the apparitions after the resurrection many things which He had said at the LastSupper and John might have added some of His last counsels in the farewell spe...