“Jesus
answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward
you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my
feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with
me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands
and my head!” [John 13:7-9]
'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!'
The
day before the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus knew that the time had come
for Him to die, to rise again, and to go back to heaven. He had loved
His own, that is, those who were true believers. He loved them to the
end of His earthly ministry, and will continue to love them throughout
eternity. But He also loved them to an infinite degree, as He was about
to demonstrate.
Jesus, who was conscious of His deity, was performing a slave's task. He knew the work that had been committed to Him; He knew that He had come from God and hat He was already on His journey back to God.
In eastern lands, the use of open sandals made it necessary to wash one's feet frequently. It was common courtesy for a host to arrange to have a slave wash the feet of his guests. Here the divine Host became the slave and performed this lowly service. "Jesus at the feet of the traitor--what a picture! What lessons for us!"
Peter was shocked to think of the Lord's washing the feet, and he expressed his disapproval that One so great as the Lord should condescend to one so unworthy as he. " The sight of God in the role of a servant is disturbing."
Jesus now taught Peter that there was a spiritual meaning to what He was doing. Foot-washing was a picture of a certain type of spiritual washing. Peter knew that the Lord was performing the physical act, but he did not understand the spiritual significance. He would know it soon, however, because the Lord explained it. And he would know it by experience when later he was restored to the Lord after having denied Him.
Peter illustrates the extremes of human nature. He vowed that the Lord would never wash his feet-- and here "never" literally means "not for eternity." The Lord answered Peter that apart from His washing, there could be no fellowship with Him. The meaning of foot-washing is now unfolded. As Christians walk through the world, they contract a certain amount of defilement. Listening to vile talk, looking at unholy things, working with ungodly men inevitably soil the believer. He needs to be constantly cleansed. This cleansing take place by the water of the Word. As we read and study the Bible, as we hear it preached, and as we discuss with one another, we find that it cleanses us from the evil influences about us. On the other hand, the more we neglect the Bible, the more these wicked influences can remain in our minds and lives without causing us any great concern.
Now Peter shifted to the other extreme. A minute ago, he was saying, "Never." Now he said, "Wash me all over."
On the way back from the public bath, a person's feet would get dirty again. He didn't need another bath but did need to have his feet washed. There is a difference between the bath and the basin. The bath speaks of the cleansing received at the time of one's salvation. Cleansing from the penalty of sin through the blood of Christ takes place only once. The basin speaks of cleansing from the pollution of sin and must take place continually through the Word of God.
Jesus, who was conscious of His deity, was performing a slave's task. He knew the work that had been committed to Him; He knew that He had come from God and hat He was already on His journey back to God.
In eastern lands, the use of open sandals made it necessary to wash one's feet frequently. It was common courtesy for a host to arrange to have a slave wash the feet of his guests. Here the divine Host became the slave and performed this lowly service. "Jesus at the feet of the traitor--what a picture! What lessons for us!"
Peter was shocked to think of the Lord's washing the feet, and he expressed his disapproval that One so great as the Lord should condescend to one so unworthy as he. " The sight of God in the role of a servant is disturbing."
Jesus now taught Peter that there was a spiritual meaning to what He was doing. Foot-washing was a picture of a certain type of spiritual washing. Peter knew that the Lord was performing the physical act, but he did not understand the spiritual significance. He would know it soon, however, because the Lord explained it. And he would know it by experience when later he was restored to the Lord after having denied Him.
Peter illustrates the extremes of human nature. He vowed that the Lord would never wash his feet-- and here "never" literally means "not for eternity." The Lord answered Peter that apart from His washing, there could be no fellowship with Him. The meaning of foot-washing is now unfolded. As Christians walk through the world, they contract a certain amount of defilement. Listening to vile talk, looking at unholy things, working with ungodly men inevitably soil the believer. He needs to be constantly cleansed. This cleansing take place by the water of the Word. As we read and study the Bible, as we hear it preached, and as we discuss with one another, we find that it cleanses us from the evil influences about us. On the other hand, the more we neglect the Bible, the more these wicked influences can remain in our minds and lives without causing us any great concern.
Now Peter shifted to the other extreme. A minute ago, he was saying, "Never." Now he said, "Wash me all over."
On the way back from the public bath, a person's feet would get dirty again. He didn't need another bath but did need to have his feet washed. There is a difference between the bath and the basin. The bath speaks of the cleansing received at the time of one's salvation. Cleansing from the penalty of sin through the blood of Christ takes place only once. The basin speaks of cleansing from the pollution of sin and must take place continually through the Word of God.
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
"Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet"
“After
that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’
feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” [John 13:5]
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