(16)
The High Priest of the Israel of God
Reading: John 13:1-16
If there
were space I would turn you to the Old Testament and we
would read together four passages which relate to the
making and setting up of the laver in the court of the
tabernacle. You will remember that the Lord commanded
Moses to make a laver of brass and it was to be placed
right at the center of the outer court. It was to be
filled with water and there the priests were to wash
their hands and their feet before they entered into the
holy place. Although it does not say so, it is very
probable that they washed one another's feet. Whether
that was true or not - and I think it was - this laver
was for such washing in relation to the sacrifice.
Here in
the thirteenth chapter of John the Lord Jesus is acting
in the capacity of the priest; in the seventeenth chapter
is what is universally called the high priestly prayer of
the Lord Jesus. There is so much in that prayer which is
taken up from the thirteenth chapter - "Sanctify
them in the truth... for their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they themselves also may be sanctified in
truth."
So in
chapter thirteen we have the Priest taking the water and
washing the feet of His brothers - His brother priests.
He is doing it in the light of a coming day. He said: "What
I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand
hereafter", and afterward it became quite clear
that all the Lord's people are priests. All are called
into the sacred ministry of priesthood.
That is
a very large subject, and I can do no more than just
state the truth and leave it there for the time being.
What is
the very heart of this chapter? It is in verse eight: "Jesus
answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with
me." Now we are back with our word in the
Letter to the Hebrews which is rightly translated
'Companions': "We are become COMPANIONS of
Christ". These words "part with me" are
from the same root as that word "companions".
Jesus is saying here: 'Unless I wash you, you can never
become My companions. It is those whose feet I have
washed who are My companions of the heavenly way.'
The
companions of Jesus must have clean feet. In His prayer
He made it perfectly clear what that means: "They
are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world" (John 17:16) ... "I pray
not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but
that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one" (John
17:15). The companions of Jesus are those whose feet
symbolically are separated and cleansed from the world.
This
world lies under a curse, under the judgment of God. It
is an evil world and the Lord does not want His
companions to be entangled in it, so His work for us is
to separate us from it. Feet mean contact with the earth,
and the Lord Jesus would break that contact where His own
companions are concerned. If we want to be companions of
Christ, we must be delivered from this present evil
world. Contact with it means death, defilement. It is a
world that is against the Lord Jesus. The Lord is saying
here in this symbolic act: 'My companions are not of this
world.' He has done it in Himself once for all.
Of
course, there is far more in this than I am able to say
at present, but we all know how true this is. Jesus has
not taken us out of the world. We are here and surrounded
by defilement. It is indeed a sinful world! The Lord
Jesus would have us delivered from it, and He has done
the work by which we can be separated from its evil.
That
opens up the whole subject of sanctification, but for our
purpose it just explains that word in Hebrews 3:1:
"Wherefore, HOLY brethren" ... 'Brethren
who are sanctified', which means separated, 'unto God'.
Such are the companions of Christ and of the heavenly
calling.
But the
Lord Jesus also instituted a ministry for His companions.
He said: "I have given you an example,
that ye also should do as I have done to you." He
was saying, in other words: 'You must help one another to
keep clear of the spirit of this world.' The word which
explains that is: "Brethren, even if a man be
overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of meekness" (Galatians
6:1). The meekness of Jesus in this act offended
Peter: 'You, Lord and Master, getting down on your knees
and washing my feet! I could not think of it - I could
not allow it. I cannot let you humiliate yourself like
that!' ... "Ye which are spiritual, restore such
a one in a spirit of meekness."
You and
I have to learn more about this. It is a spiritual
ministry that is very much needed. There are bodies of
Christians in this world who practise this literally and
have it as part of their service to wash one another's
feet. Well, we will not discuss whether they are right or
wrong. I think, though, that you might wash someone's
feet literally and not do it spiritually. You might wash
someone's feet literally and then go away and talk about
their faults and their weaknesses to someone else. I
think we are too much accustomed to pointing out the dirt
that is on people's feet rather than removing it. Our
criticisms and our condemnations of one another! It does
not need an expert to see the spiritual uncleanness of
people and the touch of this world upon them. Anyone can
see their faults.
What are
we going to do? Talk about them? Point them out to other
people? Keep them always in view? Allow our attitudes
toward them to be influenced by these faults?
If you
read through these Gospels you will see that the
disciples had plenty of uncleanness on their feet. They
quarrelled as to who should be greater in the Kingdom of
Heaven and strove together to have the first place. It is
all an unpleasant story! They had plenty of faults and
failings. Their feet were indeed tainted by this world,
but what does it say here about the attitude of Jesus?
Such men as they were, yet... "Having loved
his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the
end", and to show His love He humbled Himself.
He laid aside the garment of His own glory and took the
form of a bondservant. He girded Himself with a towel -
the symbol of humble service. He did not say: 'Oh, what a
lot of dirt you have on your feet!' - He washed it away.
Then He
said: "I have given you an example, that
ye should do as I have done to you" - 'You are
priests unto God. Take the water of the laver and wash
one another's feet. Only thus can you be companions of
the holy place, of the heavenly calling.'
Do you
notice that there is a blessing attached to this? It is
in verse seventeen: "If ye know these things,
blessed are ye if ye do them." So there
is a blessing attached to washing one another's feet!