the desire of ages-第138节

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st's　act　in　washing　the　feet　of　His　disciples。　If　Jesus　could　so　humble　Himself；　he　thought；　He　could　not　be　Israel's　king。　All　hope　of　worldly　honor　in　a　temporal　kingdom　was　destroyed。　Judas　was　satisfied　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　gained　by　following　Christ。　After　seeing　Him　degrade　Himself；　as　he　thought；　he　was　confirmed　in　his　purpose　to　disown　Him；　and　confess　himself　deceived。　He　was　possessed　by　a　demon；　and　he　resolved　to　complete　the　work　he　had　agreed　to　do　in　betraying　his　Lord。

Judas；　in　choosing　his　position　at　table；　had　tried　to　place　himself　first；　and　Christ　as　a　servant　served　him　first。　John；　toward　whom　Judas　had　felt　so　much　bitterness；　was　left　till　the　last。　But　John　did　not　take　this　as　a　rebuke　or　slight。　As　the　disciples　watched　Christ's　action；　they　were　greatly　moved。　When　Peter's　turn　came；　he　exclaimed　with　astonishment；　〃Lord；　dost　Thou　wash　my　feet？〃　Christ's　condescension　broke　his　heart。　He　was　filled　with　shame　to　think　that　one　of　the　disciples　was　not　performing　this　service。　〃What　I　do；〃　Christ　said；　〃thou　knowest　not　now；　but　thou　shalt　know　hereafter。〃　Peter　could　not　bear　to　see　his　Lord；　whom　he　believed　to　be　the　Son　of　God；　acting　the　part　of　a　servant。　His　whole　soul　rose　up　against　this　humiliation。

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He　did　not　realize　that　for　this　Christ　came　into　the　world。　With　great　emphasis　he　exclaimed；　〃Thou　shalt　never　wash　my　feet。〃

Solemnly　Christ　said　to　Peter；　〃If　I　wash　thee　not；　thou　hast　no　part　with　Me。〃　The　service　which　Peter　refused　was　the　type　of　a　higher　cleansing。　Christ　had　come　to　wash　the　heart　from　the　stain　of　sin。　In　refusing　to　allow　Christ　to　wash　his　feet；　Peter　was　refusing　the　higher　cleansing　included　in　the　lower。　He　was　really　rejecting　his　Lord。　It　is　not　humiliating　to　the　Master　to　allow　Him　to　work　for　our　purification。　The　truest　humility　is　to　receive　with　thankful　heart　any　provision　made　in　our　behalf；　and　with　earnestness　do　service　for　Christ。

At　the　words；　〃If　I　wash　thee　not；　thou　hast　no　part　with　Me；〃　Peter　surrendered　his　pride　and　self…will。　He　could　not　endure　the　thought　of　separation　from　Christ；　that　would　have　been　death　to　him。　〃Not　my　feet　only；〃　he　said；　〃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。〃

These　words　mean　more　than　bodily　cleanliness。　Christ　is　still　speaking　of　the　higher　cleansing　as　illustrated　by　the　lower。　He　who　came　from　the　bath　was　clean；　but　the　sandaled　feet　soon　became　dusty；　and　again　needed　to　be　washed。　So　Peter　and　his　brethren　had　been　washed　in　the　great　fountain　opened　for　sin　and　uncleanness。　Christ　acknowledged　them　as　His。　But　temptation　had　led　them　into　evil；　and　they　still　needed　His　cleansing　grace。　When　Jesus　girded　Himself　with　a　towel　to　wash　the　dust　from　their　feet；　He　desired　by　that　very　act　to　wash　the　alienation；　jealousy；　and　pride　from　their　hearts。　This　was　of　far　more　consequence　than　the　washing　of　their　dusty　feet。　With　the　spirit　they　then　had；　not　one　of　them　was　prepared　for　communion　with　Christ。　Until　brought　into　a　state　of　humility　and　love；　they　were　not　prepared　to　partake　of　the　paschal　supper；　or　to　share　in　the　memorial　service　which　Christ　was　about　to　institute。　Their　hearts　must　be　cleansed。　Pride　and　self…seeking　create　dissension　and　hatred；　but　all　this　Jesus　washed　away　in　washing　their　feet。　A　change　of　feeling　was　brought　about。　Looking　upon　them；　Jesus　could　say；　〃Ye　are　clean。〃　Now　there　was　union　of　heart；　love　for　one　another。　They　had　become　humble　and　teachable。　Except　Judas；　each　was　ready　to　concede　to　another　the　highest　place。　Now　with　subdued　and　grateful　hearts　hey　could　receive　Christ's　words。

Like　Peter　and　his　brethren；　we　too　have　been　washed　in　the　blood　of　Christ；　yet　often　through　contact　with　evil　the　heart's　purity　is　soiled。　We　must　come　to　Christ　for　His　cleansing　grace。　Peter　shrank　from　bringing　his　soiled　feet　in　contact　with　the　hands　of　his　Lord　and　Master；

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but　how　often　we　bring　our　sinful；　polluted　hearts　in　contact　with　the　heart　of　Christ！　How　grievous　to　Him　is　our　evil　temper；　our　vanity　and　pride！　Yet　all　our　infirmity　and　defilement　we　must　bring　to　Him。　He　alone　can　wash　us　clean。　We　are　not　prepared　for　communion　with　Him　unless　cleansed　by　His　efficacy。

Jesus　said　to　the　disciples；　〃Ye　are　clean；　but　not　all。〃　He　had　washed　the　feet　of　Judas；　but　the　heart　had　not　been　yielded　to　Him。　It　was　not　purified。　Judas　had　not　submitted　himself　to　Christ。

After　Christ　had　washed　the　disciples'　feet；　and　had　taken　His　garments　and　sat　down　again；　He　said　to　them；　〃Know　ye　what　I　have　done　to　you？　Ye　call　Me　Master　and　Lord：　and　ye　say　well；　for　so　I　am。　If　I　then；　your　Lord　and　Master；　have　washed　your　feet；　ye　also　ought　to　wash　one　another's　feet。　For　I　have　given　you　an　example；　that　ye　should　do　as　I　have　done　to　you。　Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　The　servant　is　not　greater　than　his　lord；　neither　he　that　is　sent　greater　than　he　that　sent　him。〃

Christ　would　have　His　disciples　understand　that　although　He　had　washed　their　feet；　this　did　not　in　the　least　detract　from　His　dignity。　〃Ye　call　Me　Master　and　Lord：　and　ye　say　well；　for　so　I　am。〃　And　being　so　infinitely　superior；　He　imparted　grace　and　significance　to　the　service。　No　one　was　so　exalted　as　Christ；　and　yet　He　stooped　to　the　humblest　duty。　That　His　people　might　not　be　misled　by　the　selfishness　which　dwells　in　the　natural　heart；　and　which　strengthens　by　self…serving；　Christ　Himself　set　the　example　of　humility。　He　would　not　leave　this　great　subject　in　man's　charge。　Of　so　much　consequence　did　He　regard　it；　that　He　Himself；　One　equal　with　God；　acted　as　servant　to　His　disciples。　While　they　were　contending　for　the　highest　place；　He　to　whom　every　knee　shall　bow；　He　whom　the　angels　of　glory　count　it　honor　to　serve；　bowed　down　to　wash　the　feet　of　those　who　called　Him　Lord。　He　washed　the　feet　of　His　betrayer。

In　His　life　and　lessons；　Christ　has　given　a　perfect　exemplification　of　the　unselfish　ministry　which　has　its　origin　in　God。　God　does　not　live　for　Himself。　By　creating　the　world；　and　by　upholding　all　things；　He　is　constantly　ministering　for　others。　〃He　maketh　His　sun　to　rise　on　the　evil　and　on　the　good；　and　sendeth　rain　on　the　just　and　on　the　unjust。〃　Matt。　5：45。　This　ideal　of　ministry　God　has　committed　to　His　Son。　Jesus　was　given　to　stand　at　the　head　of　humanity；　that　by　His　example　He　might　teach　what　it　means　to　minister。　His　whole　life　was　under　a　law　of　service。　He　served　all；　ministered　to　all。　Thus　He　lived　the　law　of　God；　and　by　His　example　showed　how　we　are　to　obey　it。

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Again　and　again　Jesus　had　tried　to　establish　this　principle　among　His　disciples。　When　James　and　John　made　their　request　for　pre…eminence；　He　had　said；　〃Whosoever　will　be　great　among　you；　let　him　be　your　minister。〃　Matt。　20：26。　In　My　kingdom　the　principle　of　preference　and　supremacy　has　no　place。　The　only　greatness　is　the　greatness　of　humility。　The　only　distinction　is　found　in　devotion　to　the　service　of　others。

Now；　having　washed　the　disciples'　feet；　He　said；　〃I　have　given　you　an　example；　that　ye　should　do　as　I　have　done　to　you。〃　In　these　words　Christ　was　not　merely　enjoining　the　practice　of　hospitality。　More　was　meant　than　the　washing　of　the　feet　of　guests　to　remove　the　dust　of　travel。　Christ　was　here　instituting　a　religious　service。　By　the　act　of　our　Lord　this　humiliating　ceremony　was　made　a　consecrated　ordinance。　It　was　to　be　observed　by　the　disciples；　that　they　might　ever　keep　in　mind　His　lessons　of　humility　and　service。

This　ordinance　is　Christ's　appointed　preparation　for　the　sacramental　service。　While　pride；　variance；　and　strife　for　supremacy　are　cherished；　the　heart　cannot　enter　into　fellowship　with　Christ。　We　are　not　prepared　to　receive　the　communion　of　His　body　and　His　blood。　Therefore　it　was　that　Jesus　appointed　the　memorial　of　His　humiliation　to　be　first　observed。

As　they　come　to　this　ordinance；　the　children　of　God　should　bring　to　remembrance　the　words　of　the　Lord　of　life　and　glory：　〃Know　ye　what　I　have　done　to　you？　Ye　call　Me　Master　and　Lord：　and　ye　say　well；　for　so　I　am。　If　I　then；　your　Lord　and　Master；　have　washed　your　feet；　ye　also　ought　to　wash　one　another's　feet。　For　I　have　given　you　an　example；　that　ye　should　do　as　I　have　done　to　you。　Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　The　servant　is　not　greater　than　his　lord；　neither　he　that　is　sent　greater　than　he　that　sent　him。　If　ye　know　these　things；　happy　are　ye　if　ye　do　them。〃　There　is　in　man　a　disposition　to　esteem　himself　more　highly　than　his　brother；　to　work　for　self；　to　seek　the　highest　place；　and　often　this　results　in　evil　surmisings　and　bitterness　of　spirit。　The　ordinance　preceding　the　Lord's　Supper　is　to　clear　away　these　misunderstandings；　to　bring　man　out　of　his　selfishness；　down　from　his　stilts　of　self…exaltation；　to　the　humility　of　heart　that　will　lead　him　to　serve　his　brother。

The　holy　Watcher　from　heaven　is　present　at　this　season　to　make　it　one　of　soul　searching；　of　conviction　of　sin；　and　of　the　blessed　assurance　of　sins　forgiven。　Christ　in　the　fullness　of　His　grace　is　there　to　change　the　current　of　the　thoughts　that　have　been　running