“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 13:8).

On the night He was betrayed, Christ humbly served His disciples by washing the feet of each in turn. But Peter thought it highly inappropriate for his Master to stoop to such a task. The Lord used this situation to teach His disciples a very important spiritual lesson. Unless we are willing to accept God’s offer of frequent cleansing, we have no part with Him. Note carefully that this is not “no part in me” (damned), but “no part with me” (fellowship).

After perceiving that fellowship with Christ is gained by washing, “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” (John 13:9,10). Here is the principle of the security of the saints. We are once bathed (salvation) and need only wash thereafter (confession). Traveling the dusty roads of Palestine in sandals necessitated frequently washing one’s feet. Similarly, navigating a sin-filled world as a weak mortal found the psalmist crying, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults!”

The Apostle John learned the Lord’s lesson well: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8). Like Peter, we must humble ourselves and admit sinfulness. Thank God that the apostle did not leave the matter with a statement of our dirtiness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). Let us frequently pray as the Lord instructed: “Forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those who trespass against us” that we might know His cleansing and fellowship. DW