“If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
-John 13:8b
We are a Cliff’s Notes, skip-to-the-end, bullet-point, Wikipedia, EHow, instant, and superficial information culture. In Jacob L. Stone's book, A Collection of Thoughts, he wrote, “The imperfect study of the Bible is the cause that creates unbelievers and scoffers.”
Therein, Stone references a quote from Alexander Pope’s work, An Essay on Criticism, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring.”
-John 13:8b
We are a Cliff’s Notes, skip-to-the-end, bullet-point, Wikipedia, EHow, instant, and superficial information culture. In Jacob L. Stone's book, A Collection of Thoughts, he wrote, “The imperfect study of the Bible is the cause that creates unbelievers and scoffers.”
Therein, Stone references a quote from Alexander Pope’s work, An Essay on Criticism, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring.”
I recently heard a pastor say to a group of church-going Christians, “Many of you are basing your eternity on the contents of a book (the Bible) you’ve never read and are simply relying on others to interpret and explain to you. You’ve been lied to before; how do you know you’re not being lied to about this?”
True enough, “the imperfect study of the Bible is the cause that creates unbelievers and scoffers,” but even worse – it creates casual, fair-weather, apathetic, and blasé “Christians” who play-at religion and spirituality. It perpetuates blindness to sinful self-righteousness in people who have never experienced the necessary, personal, authentic, and transformative work of Christ in their lives.
Conventional "wisdom," tells us "Don't expect a seat if you bring nothing to the table." You can throw that nonsense out because God Almighty says otherwise. Our Creator knows we bring absolutely nothing to the table, yet He died for us on the Cross in order to prepare for us an eternally lavish banquet table in His presence.
At the Last Supper Jesus began to wash the feet of His disciples, but when He got to Peter the disciple said, “No, you will never wash my feet.” On the surface this seems appropriate and even honorable by Peter until you really "drink deep." Peter has previously recognized Jesus as the Christ and now insists that God not lower Himself to washing the filthy, nasty, putrid, and noxious feet of such a lowly and sinful man.
Jesus’ response to Peter, and to us, is “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
Jesus had to lower Himself in taking on flesh, ministering to us, and taking our punishment at the Cross. All of which in order to reconcile us to God. Peter’s refusal ran much deeper into self-righteousness and Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
Jesus had to lower Himself in taking on flesh, ministering to us, and taking our punishment at the Cross. All of which in order to reconcile us to God. Peter’s refusal ran much deeper into self-righteousness and Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
Foolishly, we, like Peter, think that we actually have something of value within ourselves – apart from Christ’s washing – to offer God.
We like to think that as long as we do ‘good works’ that a universally-loving God (whoever and whatever that might be in a nebulous mix-and-match theology) will accept us into the pearly gates of heaven.
Jesus cleared all that misguided nonsense up at the Last Supper. It wasn’t enough that Peter left his boat, nets, job, possessions, friends, family, neighborhood, and security. It wasn’t enough that Peter followed, sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard Him teach. It wasn’t enough for Peter to personally cast out demons, do amazing miracles, and proclaim Jesus as the Christ. It wasn’t enough because Peter still thought there was something of value in Him, saying “No, you will never wash my feet.” To that Jesus lovingly said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
We like to think that as long as we do ‘good works’ that a universally-loving God (whoever and whatever that might be in a nebulous mix-and-match theology) will accept us into the pearly gates of heaven.
Jesus cleared all that misguided nonsense up at the Last Supper. It wasn’t enough that Peter left his boat, nets, job, possessions, friends, family, neighborhood, and security. It wasn’t enough that Peter followed, sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard Him teach. It wasn’t enough for Peter to personally cast out demons, do amazing miracles, and proclaim Jesus as the Christ. It wasn’t enough because Peter still thought there was something of value in Him, saying “No, you will never wash my feet.” To that Jesus lovingly said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
Jesus said the act of washing the disciples’ feet was “an example that you also should do just as I (Jesus) have done for you.” It’s a picture for us about accepting the necessary work of Christ as an essential prerequisite because, in reality, fallen humanity has absolutely nothing of any value to offer this omnipotent, perfect, and holy God.
That’s where the whole philosophy of being a “good person” goes right out the window. But Jesus at the Last Supper goes well beyond being a mere picture or otiose example and instead permeates, shapes and overflows from the lives of His genuine disciples.
That’s where the whole philosophy of being a “good person” goes right out the window. But Jesus at the Last Supper goes well beyond being a mere picture or otiose example and instead permeates, shapes and overflows from the lives of His genuine disciples.
True enough, allowing Christ to wash you is the essential prerequisite, but it too is insufficient. Judas was present that night at the Last Supper and he too, like all the others, was washed by Jesus. Soon after the washing example - Judas departed and exchanged the truth, love, perfect work, and person of Christ for some lint-coated pocket change.
We can just as easily deceive ourselves into missing the merciful and gracious work of Christ by either:
A) foolishly believing, as Peter did, that we have something to offer God, or
B) by exchanging it, as Judas did, for selfish gain.
We can miss out on the necessary and redemptive work of Christ by pulling a -Peter- i.e. trying to earn our way into heaven without ever being washed –or– by pulling a -Judas- i.e. exchanging the gift of Christ for selfish-gain in this life.
A) foolishly believing, as Peter did, that we have something to offer God, or
B) by exchanging it, as Judas did, for selfish gain.
We can miss out on the necessary and redemptive work of Christ by pulling a -Peter- i.e. trying to earn our way into heaven without ever being washed –or– by pulling a -Judas- i.e. exchanging the gift of Christ for selfish-gain in this life.
Jesus washed everyone at the Cross, but there are those who refuse to accept it. Despite all their donations, mission trips, countless hours of service, sacrifices, and participation - He says, “You have no part with me.”
There are also those who have accepted the Cross of Christ as a superficial, cultural, decorative or ceremonial trinket, and have betrayed Jesus in exchange for personal comfort, security, and the status-quo.
There are also those who have accepted the Cross of Christ as a superficial, cultural, decorative or ceremonial trinket, and have betrayed Jesus in exchange for personal comfort, security, and the status-quo.
Shortly after departing from Jesus’ presence, and collecting his silver, Judas hanged himself rather than repenting and accepting the grace gift Christ had offered him.
Jesus told the remaining disciples, “Therefore, having been brought through, disciple all the nations…” They did. Simple obedience by Jesus' followers permanently impacts, transforms, and shapes the world.
Before His disciples could do anything of any value they had to accept and realize they had NOTHING apart from the gift of Christ.
Jesus told the remaining disciples, “Therefore, having been brought through, disciple all the nations…” They did. Simple obedience by Jesus' followers permanently impacts, transforms, and shapes the world.
Before His disciples could do anything of any value they had to accept and realize they had NOTHING apart from the gift of Christ.
The same is true for me and you. We bring nothing to the table, but we can leave it in simple obedience just as Jesus instructed.
Are you engaged in discipleship through the example of humility Christ gave us? Do you consider others as more important than yourself without counting the cost? Are you lovingly rebuking the Peters’ who feign humility because they need to know our self-righteous acts amount to filthy rags?
Are you making disciples of convenience and superficial religion or have you allowed Christ to do His work in and through you? Are you drinking deep from the eternal wellspring of Scripture? Are you leading others to do the same? That’s the litmus-test of authentic faith, i.e. the transformative work of Christ working in -and through- you to produce it in others to the ends of the earth.
Do you still think you bring something to the table or are you out discipling as He commanded?
Are you making disciples of convenience and superficial religion or have you allowed Christ to do His work in and through you? Are you drinking deep from the eternal wellspring of Scripture? Are you leading others to do the same? That’s the litmus-test of authentic faith, i.e. the transformative work of Christ working in -and through- you to produce it in others to the ends of the earth.
Do you still think you bring something to the table or are you out discipling as He commanded?
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com
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