“If I do not wash you, you
have no share with me.”
A very simple thought this morning, but perhaps an important
one.
It is helpful to recognize what is being symbolized in our Lord’s
marvelous display of love and humility at the very beginning of John 13. When
Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, the spiritual issue being addressed is not their eternal salvation. Judas had
his feet washed right along with the rest of the disciples, and subsequently
went to “his own place”. So the “share” at stake in allowing the Lord to wash
our feet is not our “heavenly portion”. Salvation is settled separately, as
Jesus told Peter: “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except
for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not
every one of you.”
One man had his feet washed who had never consented to take
a bath: Judas. His footwashing did not help him in any way, shape or form. He
went right out and betrayed the Lord only moments later. If anything, the
footwashing he had received testified against him.