"If I Wash thee Not.."

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains"

-William Cowper 1771

          "Now 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.

     And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After 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. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou

wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

     Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13:1-8 KJV).

     I will turn 74 this year, and for all my white hair I must confess I understand holiness far less than I thought I did at 24 years of age. Every born-again believer recognizes his need of cleansing and Jesus' exalted position at the right hand of God to cleanse and intercede on our behalf. We recognize Jesus' thrice-holy authority as God and mediator, as the judge of the living and the dead, and as the Good Shepherd who gave His life for sinners like us.

     But we struggle with the thought of Jesus stooping to serve us, of His valuing us above His own life.

     And here, in attempting like us all to exalt Jesus and accord Him the glory He deserves as God Peter misses the point of Jesus.. He wants to wash us. If Jesus does not wash us we cannot be with Him.

     Every believer in Jesus purifies himself (1 John 3:3), that is, he struggles against his sinful nature. This state of affairs is described in stark detail in Romans chapter 7. But have you ever thought about what is would be like if we ever actually achieved perfection on this side of Heaven?

     We wouldn't need Jesus.

     Don't accuse me of exaggerating here. You've heard me whine continuously about ever-deepening revelations of my own sinfulness. I didn't think it would be this way. I thought as I grew in Christ I would become less sinful every day. Not all at once of course (I quickly outgrew that notion), but gradually, through the years I would become less and less sinful. But if I am less sinful, it doesn't feel like it. Every cross word to a wife or friend, every jealousy or resentment, every coveting and meanness stabs like a knife. I go to church where everyone sits seemingly happy and having it all together and I feel like I don't belong.

     I thought by now I wouldn't need Jesus to wash me, at least not so much.

     But friends, there is hope:

     "There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:41-43 KJV).

     I have come to see (kicking and screaming all the way) that I owe God far more than I could ever pay. And yet this situation I so often despise makes me need Jesus so desperately.

     Those who think they are so good that they feel no need for Jesus need to remember that "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)

     Are you tired of being a sinner, of the struggle and frustration of trying to be holy? Me too. But don't give up! This struggle proves you are on the right track, that you are indeed in Christ! Unbelievers don't have this struggle.

     Jesus must wash our feet until we leave these mortal bodies my friend.

     Our need to be washed is our shame, but it is His glory and delight to do so!

     "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13:1-8 KJV).