Thursday's Thoughts: A Lesson In Humility

 

  

"What I do thou knowest not now; but shalt know hereafter."
(John 13:7)

 

Jesus Washing The Disciples Feet
(1898)
Albert Edelfelt
(1854-1905
Finnish artist

 

"The washing of the disciples' feet was a great symbolical action to teach His own the
gracious provision made for them during His absence. Some well meaning Christians have
applied the words of our Lord, "Ye also ought to wash one another's feet" in a literal way,
and teach that the Lord meant this to be done literally. 

The words of our Lord to Peter show that underneath the outward action of the Lord
in washing the disciples' feet there is a deeper spiritual meaning. We see Him girded,
with a basin of water in His blessed hands, to wash the disciples' feet. 
The water explains the spiritual meaning.

 

We have seen that the water in the third chapter is a type of the Word of God.

 

"Jesus answered (Nicodemus), "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless
a man is born of water and even the Spirit, he cannot ever enter the kingdom of God."
(John 3:5)

 

 It has the same meaning in this chapter.  Peter first refused to have his feet washed;
then when the Lord had said unto him, "If I wash thee not thou has no part with Me"
he asked Him to wash his hands and his feet as well.

 

Jesus saith unto him, "Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is 
clean all over. And you, My disciples are clean, but not all of you." 
(John 13:10)

 

When the Lord spoke of His disciples being bathed and clean every whit, He made
reference to the new birth by the water and the Spirit.  They were all bathed, born again,
except Judas, whom the Lord meant when He said, "but not all of you." 

 

 

Titus 3:5 reads, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us by the bath of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit."
 

This great work is done once for all and cannot be repeated, just as the natural birth
cannot be repeated with the same individual.

 

The Lord washed the disciples' feet, not their hands.  Hands are for work and the
feet for walking.  His action has a meaning in connection with our walk in the world. 
We contract defilement as we pass on through this world.  And defilement severs
communion with the Lord.  We need therefore cleansing. All disciples need it.

 

This He has graciously provided, and the washing of the disciples' feet typifies
that needed cleansing.  He uses His Word to bring this about.

 This is "the washing of the water by the Word".

 

He is the Advocate with the Father to restore us to fellowship.  We must come to Him
with our failures, our stumbling, imperfect walk, our defilement, and place ourselves
into His hands as the disciples placed their soiled feet in His loving hands. His own
perfect light will then search our innermost beings and bring to light what has defiled
 us, so that, after cleansing, we can enjoy fellowship and have part with Him.

This necessitates confession and self-judgment from our side. If this blessed truth
is not realized and enjoyed in faith, if we do not come to Him for this service of love,
we are at a distance from Him. 

 

And we are also to walk in the same spirit of serving and wash one another's feet.
As He lovingly deals with us, so we are to deal with one another. The one that is
overtaken in a fault is to be restored by him that is spiritual in the spirit of meekness.

 

"He that would cleanse another's feet must be at his feet to cleanse them."

How little of all this in a practical way is known among God's people."

-Gabelein's Annotated Bible