John 13:12-1712So 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. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:12‑17).
FAR nobler than casting the richest gifts into God’s treasury. Nobler than visiting the sick and feeding the hungry. It requires more of ourselves than do these things. What is it?
The answer to another question may forward this inquiry. What is it that the Lord did for us which revealed to us the fullness of His love and required from Him all that even He could give? What is it that first leaps to our lips in His praise? “Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.” “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood... be glory and dominion forever and ever.” (Rev. 5:9; 1:5, 69And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6).)
Now we cannot any one of us redeem his brother, nor bathe him completely so that he should be “clean every whit” from sin. Only the blessed Lord Jesus, fro whose side the blood and water flowed, is thus able to save. Of all that He has done for us, purging our sins “by Himself” is the least deserved by us and most affects our hearts by its costliness. Oh, the wonder and greatness of it! We count it His most precious work. Other gifts He adds, even as far as to confer glory with Himself upon those He loves. This is divine, the gift without which no other could have availed. We can have no part in this work. Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (vs. 14).
The clue to what this washing of feet means is found in the words of the Lord to Peter (vs. 10), “He that is washed (bathed) needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.” Washing the feet of those already “clean every whit” is the removal of the dirt sticking to them and soiling them by reason of having walked through the streets and lanes. Spiritually, those who are Christ’s are already purified as to their souls, washed once for all and every whit, (1 Peter 1:2222Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22); Heb. 10:10, 2210By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)
22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22).) They pass through the world, however, and contract defilement daily in thought and speech and ways. For “in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing,” and, “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (Rom. 7:1818For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18); 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).) Is not love’s noblest office this mutual service whereby we remove from one another the continually recurring dirt, which is sin? It is not, of course, atonement or the washing of regeneration, but the practical cleansing of heart, conscience and walk by the application of the Word of God.
Reproof may be necessary to this work. Thus far went the word of the law, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Lev. 19:1717Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. (Leviticus 19:17).) But “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” and through Him, “water” is provided. This stands for the Word of God (Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)) which washes away the actual evil effects of something needing reproof, having been entertained in a believer’s heart. The Word operates thus through causing self-judgment, repentance and confession. Mere reproof might check and even intimidate a spirit which remained rebellious still. This cleansing not only supposes that the one cared for so simply is submissive to the treatment, but also that when the process is finished he is most happy. He is as thoroughly refreshed and comfortable spiritually, as in natural things a footsore and bedaubed Traveler would be after having his feet washed.
Such need in another should engage the interest of a fellow-believer in any event. The case is not the special one of personal offense against the one who offers service, Here the need is general and the interest entirely voluntary. Love marks the need. Love craves restoration for one overtaken in a fault perhaps, or otherwise overcome and erring. One, that is, whose feet are soiled and has no one first to provide the means of cleansing, and then perform the office. For these two things should be distinguished. Do you remember the Lord’s rebuke to the Pharisee, Simon? (Luke 7:4444And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (Luke 7:44)): “Thou gavest Me no water for My feet.” To preserve honorably his character of host, Simon should at least have provided menials to do the washing also. Yet the Lord rebukes him not for this, but for not providing water. Using this for illustration only, consider the brother involved in what to you appears plainly wrong. It is uncorrected because he lacks your knowledge of the Word of God, or having once known it, has, through carelessness, forgotten, and consequently lacks your exercise about it. He has no water for his feet. Love will provide it. (2 Peter 1:12, 1312Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; (2 Peter 1:12‑13).) That is not love which demands obedience in the manner of the drill-sergeant. Love will be apt to teach. It will first offer some token as a credential of its own genuineness. A word of merited praise of the brother’s spiritual attainment or conduct in another direction. The “credential” may be a gift or favor, the bestowal of which is rendered possible and timely by the co-operation of His providence Who makes “all things work together for good to them that love Him.” Then there will be care to lay aside the garment — everything formal in approach or tending to distract from the simple, natural and intimate spirit of love now disclosing itself. Love will be meek, no matter how deeply moved to concern or shocked by the occasion. Instruction or a reminder will be given in the very words of scripture — a cleansing word — and love, lowly and artless, will add its own comprehension of the meaning of this word, should explanation be needed. Gentle and grave appeal may press this home, based on the motive which grace supplies, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” Silent prayer and patient waiting on dullness and reluctance will accompany these efforts. As the holy and proper effect of the Word of God is seen, perhaps some personal reminiscence of one’s own experience may be confided. Comfort, however, from the Word of God (its exact words) is also indispensable — a restoring word. This is like a soothing towel, which dries the feet and removes any remaining discomfort of the cleansing process.
Is not this business of faithful personal dealing almost a lost art among Christian people? The suggestion has overwhelmed you, reader, with timidity. You deprecate any such obligation in your own case, and retreat. How can I? you say. Truly only in the Lord’s strength and by the Holy Spirit and in love. Acknowledge to yourself that the Lord expects this duty of you. For He says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:1414If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:14).) Do you not feel the thrust of that urging? It is His Who has every right to press upon you what the practice of love means.
“Who can tell how much we owe Him?
Gladly let us render to Him
All we have and are.”
Thus we sing; here is an opportunity of the most noble order.
This office of love is neither gossip to others, nor blaring rebuke to the delinquent’s face. Gossip may get me credit for being well informed and just, whereas in truth I am only prying and self-righteous and unloving. The loud personal rebuke may bring me the reward of a reputation with men for fearlessness and zeal, but in the Lord’s sight I am only legal-minded, unfeeling and ungracious. Neither of these is communion with the Lord Himself; neither follows His example. This is a gentle, intimate office of helping brothers and sisters in Christ to cleanse their ways, and only love can undertake it.
T. D.