The clay body, now free of impurities and air dried into a thick, moist mass, was ready for the next step in the pottery making process—the procedure of kneading and wedging the clay. This process (much like kneading bread dough) required the potter to expend a great deal of physical effort, all the while carefully observing the effects on the clay.
During kneading the potter would, from time to time, pass the lump through a tightly stretched animal hide cord, cutting it in half: Then, with a vigorous slap, the two halves would be rejoined. Wedging the clay in this manner, when coupled with the kneading process insured that no air bubbles remained trapped within the lump of clay.
For the next several days, the potter would spend long hours thoroughly working into various sizes, clay balls which were to be thrown on the potter's wheel and shaped into an assortment of vessels.
No other action could expunge tiny hidden air bubbles that might be lurking deep within the clay body Only the master's keen eye could rightly Judge when the clay had endured enough kneading and wedging.
If he unknowingly missed even one air pocket, it would quickly make its presence known at one of two critical and most inconvenient times. During the throwing process an air pocket would inevitably reveal itself in the smooth spinning contour of the clay surface. As the potter applied gentle pressure against the narrowing wall of clay, the air bubble which, though unnoticeable to the human eye, was gradually being forced to the surface, eventually came in contact with his fingers. The resulting very slight jolt was enough to throw the wall of the vessel "out of round" and rendered the form useless, the potter's efforts wasted.
Worse yet, if by chance an air bubble remained undetected, perhaps trapped in the base of the vessel, a pot might still be successfully formed. But later, when it was introduced to the intense heat of the kiln, the air trapped within the hidden bubble would expand faster than the clay body in which it was trapped. This rapid expansion of heated air, having no way to release from inside the hardened clay, would explode—shattering all or part of the container.
The violence of the explosion not only ruined the pot that had contained the air bubble, but its flying shards, striking other perfectly good, nearby pieces would often cause irreparable damage to them as well.
So it was that the potter long and diligently kneaded and wedged each individual mound of clay, making sure they were completely free of those troublesome air bubbles.
Getting Rid of Air Bubbles
"Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to kill him... but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. And having arrived at Jerusalem he essayed to Join himself to the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles...And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem... speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. And the brethren knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. The assemblies then throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace... and were increased" (Acts 9:23-2923And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. 26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. (Acts 9:23‑29), JND trans.).
That special vessel ordained to deliver the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:44Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (Ephesians 3:4)) which had been hidden from past ages and to complete the word of God (Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25)), must himself go through the kneading and wedging process before he could be used. No air bubbles of pride could be allowed as that vessel was formed for its divinely directed purpose.
No hidden air pockets could be over looked for this vessel which would have to withstand the most extreme heat of trials and persecutions for the blessed Name of Christ.
Somebody Becomes Nobody
Saul of Tarsus had been a somebody before he met the ascended, glorified Jesus on the Damascus road—Hebrew of Hebrews (Phil. 3:55Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (Philippians 3:5)) and one who, as a young man, had set at the feet of the venerable teacher of Jewish law, Gamaliel. As a man in flesh, Saul was proud of his heritage, of his religion, and of his accomplishments. But pride in the earthen vessel must be removed else it could never be meet for the Master's use. Saul, favored, esteemed, gifted and zealous, must be brought very low.
His humbling began when that great light above the brightness of the sun revealed, to his consternation and sorrow, that in persecuting the despised followers of the lowly Jesus of Nazareth, he was in reality persecuting the magnificent Person of the risen Jesus, Lord of glory. Thus began the removal of air bubbles of pride in that lump of clay.
He who had been the indefatigable persecutor of Christ's beloved body—the church—had, through those efforts, gained a name and a place of prominence among the elite of Jewish religious leaders. Perhaps Saul found satisfaction in the deferential treatment he was accorded by these haters of Jesus.
But when he began to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, Jewish favor and esteem quickly changed to dismay, then hatred, and finally, violence. Quickly turning against their once favorite son, the Jews determine to kill the traitor.
Now, instead of proudly marching into Damascus at the head of an eager group of zealots where admiring Jewish leaders gladly waited to receive him, Saul must escape for his life from the city. There is no display of miraculous intervention from heaven on his behalf. He is sent away at night, hidden in a basket and let down over the wall, by the brethren—a more helpless, weak experience could hardly be imagined.
So it was that this special lump of clay—Saul of Tarsus—felt ever more deeply the Master's kneading and wedging.
Relentless Kneading
But yet more kneading was required. Once safely in Jerusalem seeking entrance into his new circle of fellowship, the brethren rather than eagerly receiving him with open arms and flattering greetings (as he had been used to), because of fear refuse to accept him until one they trust—Barnabas—commends Saul to them. Hated by his enemies, not fully trusted at first by his new brethren-we see more air bubbles of pride slowly and painfully eliminated.
But still the Master Potter continues kneading this clay, and Saul must yet endure more of it in order to become a vessel fully conformable to the Lord's perfect will.
Back at Jerusalem where he had begun his path of enmity against Jesus of Nazareth (when he guarded the clothing of those who murdered the mighty servant of Christ, Stephen), Saul is made to feel that same murderous Jewish hatred—but now directed at himself—arising from those who had been, at one time, his closest allies.
Saul might have thought that due to the severe Jewish persecution he had experienced in Damascus, at least in Jerusalem there would be a wide field of service for him.
Instead, he is quietly sent away to the seeming obscurity of his home in Tarsus. Not until then do the assemblies enjoy a period of peace and rest. Dear Saul has learned firsthand that removal of air bubbles from the clay body is a process which takes the soul very, very low in humility, before it can be successfully formed up into a Master's vessel.
Air Bubbles in Us All
That the flesh in us can be so easily puffed up in pride and cause so much damage, both to ourselves and others, ought to be no surprise (1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)). Unbelief in the goodness of God brought in the fruit of pride, causing Eve to follow the serpent's subtle suggestion that God was withholding something good from them—"your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods". "And when the woman saw that the... tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat..." (Gen. 3:66And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)).
Pride forms a long, sorrowful list with which we all, sadly, must identify. Those air bubbles of pride which we find in each of our hearts may produce contention (Prov. 13:1010Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10)), persecution of the poor (Psa. 10:22The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. (Psalm 10:2)), rejection of God (Psa. 10:44The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)), shame (Prov. 11:22When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)), excess (Isa. 28:33The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: (Isaiah 28:3)), arrogance Gen. 48:29), immorality (Ezek. 16:4949Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49)) and many other unhappy results.
No vessel can be made unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use if the Potter allows any harmful air bubbles of pride to remain in the clay.
The moral kneading and wedging that God brings into our lives to rid us of pride isn't enjoyable. Circumstances through which we are allowed to pass are often difficult and painful. But these kneading circumstances are meant to rid us of pride—that which renders our life useless for His service.
Unchecked pride causes irreparable damage in marriages, families and in the assembly among brethren for whom Christ died. Oh! May we humbly submit to this necessary moral kneading and wedging of the Master, doing so without being discouraged or rebellious.