When God Says …
“Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus 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. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.” (John 13:9-11 KJV)
The Lord Jesus Christ gave Peter somewhat an ultimatum remark, that if he remained stubborn not to have his feet washed by Him, saying "if you don't want me to do this then you will not have part of me." Peter being as he is, reneged. Then burst out asking the Lord to give him a full bath. And the Lord Jesus, with intent to make this an illustration of great significance, emphasized to Peter and to us too who read and reflect on these now that having had a full bath already (referring to our salvation by grace through faith, once and for all), we don't need to have full bath again and again. We only need washing of our feet from the dirt gathered trudging in the world. We are to wash each other's feet from the mud of the world, as the Lord is showing.
The Lord Jesus uses this to remind us that we do the same spiritually in faith being part of Him and members of His body as Children of God. Like the apostles, except one named Judas the betrayer, we all too by faith in Christ Jesus have been fully bathed, spiritually. That is, we are saved once and forever by faith in Him. But we need washing from the filth of the world regularly by the Word and by the Holy Spirit, which the water represents. The same water that the Lord offered to the Samaritan woman. One welling from within us springing unto eternal life the moment we drink it (John 4:13-15). Judas whose feet the Lord washed would have been fully washed had he came back to the Lord believing. Like Peter who denied the Lord and the criminal on the cross by the Lord's side who changed his mind and believed, he would have gotten the Lord's declaration: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” (Luke 23:43 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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