Basic HTML Version
388
From Heaven With Love
from the bath was clean, but the sandaled feet soon again needed to
be washed. So Peter and his brethren had been washed in the great
fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. But temptation had led
them into evil, and they still needed Christ’s cleansing grace.
Jesus desired to wash the alienation, jealousy, and pride from
their hearts. This was of far more consequence than washing their
dusty feet. With the spirit they had, not one was prepared for com-
munion with Christ. Until brought into a state of humility and love,
they were not prepared to share in the memorial service Christ was
about to institute. Pride and self-seeking create dissension, but all
this Jesus washed away in washing their feet. A change of feeling
was brought about. Jesus could say, “Ye are clean.” Now there was
union of heart, love for one another. Except Judas, each was ready
to concede to another the highest place. Now they could receive
Christ’s words.
[437]
We too have been washed in the blood of Christ, yet often the
heart’s purity is soiled. We must come to Christ for cleansing grace.
How often we bring our sinful, polluted hearts in contact with the
heart of Christ! How grievous to Him is our evil temper, our vanity,
our pride! Yet all our infirmity and defilement we must bring to Him.
He alone can wash us clean.
Why Christ Instituted This Religious Service
After Christ had washed the disciples’ feet, He said: “Know ye
what I have done to you? Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say
well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your
feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you
an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that
is sent greater than he that sent him.”
That His people might not be misled by the selfishness which
dwells in the natural heart, Christ Himself set the example of humil-
ity. He Himself, equal with God, acted as servant to His disciples.
He to whom every knee shall bow, bowed down to wash the feet of
those who called Him Lord. He washed the feet of His betrayer.
God does not live for Himself. He is constantly ministering for
others. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, that by His