Communion and Advocacy

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The Lord Jesus would have His own linked up with Himself... to have communion with Himself and the Father outside the world, which was the scene of His rejection and death.
But to have part with Him communion with Him according to that heavenly relationship, it was necessary that the individual’s walk be kept pure (feet washed).
Thus the Lord Jesus has girded Himself for this lowly service of love to His own in order to keep them in communion with that heavenly scene where He is (see John 13:1-141Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:1‑14)). He seeks to form our affections according to the revelation of Himself to our hearts as we are being conducted on our way to our portion with Him in glory.
Do we fall into sin? Do our feet become defiled in our walk through this evil world? Well, we have an Advocate with the Father whose plea for us cannot fail—One who also turns to us in blessed grace with towel and basin to wash our feet and bring us back into the communion we have lost.
By application of His Word to us, we are led to self-judgment and a walk of holy separation from evil, and this according to the truth of the cross in which sin in the flesh has been condemned.
If we have sinned and the Lord is seeking to wash our defiled feet, or if our brethren are seeking to do so in the Lord’s name, how solemn if we are resisting this action of grace! God is not mocked! He is full of patience, but if we are rebellious, He knows how to chastise and break our stubborn wills.
Selected Ministry of A. H. Rule, Vol. 1 (adapted)