CHRIST THE EXAMPLE OF MINISTERS.
john xiii. 15, 16.
For I have given you an example, that he 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.
we have in the context an account of one of the many very remarkable things that passed that night wherein Christ was betrayed, (which was on many accounts the most remarkable night that ever was,) viz. Christ’s washing his disciples’ feet; which action, as it was exceeding wonderful in itself, so it manifestly was symbolical, and represented something else far more important and more wonderful, even that greatest and most wonderful of all things that ever came to pass, which was accomplished the next day in his last sufferings. There were three symbolical representations given of that great event this evening; one in the passover, which Christ now partook of with his disciples; another in the Lord’s supper, which he instituted at this time; and another in this remarkable action of his washing his disciples’ feet. Washing the feet of guests was the office of servants, and one of their meanest offices: and therefore was fitly chosen by our Saviour to represent that great abasement which he was to be the subject of in the form of a servant, in becoming obedient unto death, even that ignominious and accursed death of the cross, that he might cleanse the souls of his disciples from their guilt and spiritual pollution.
This spiritual washing and cleansing of believers was the end for which Christ so abased himself for them. Tit. ii. 14. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people.”Eph. v. 25, 26. “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water.” That Christ’s washing his disciples’ feet signified this spiritual washing of the soul, is manifest by his own words in the 8th verse. of the context. “Peter saith unto him, Thou shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him. If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Christ, in being obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, not only did the part of a servant unto God, but in some respects also of a servant unto us. And this is not the only place where his so abasing himself for our sakes is compared to the doing of the part of a servant to guests. We have the like representation made in Luke xxii. 27. “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not ho that sitteth at meat? But 1 am among you as he that serveth.” And wherein Christ was among the disciples as he that did serve, is explained in Matt. xx. 28. namely, in his giving his life a ransom for them.
When Christ had finished washing his disciples feet, he solemnly requires their attention to what he had done, and commands them to follow his example therein. verses 12-17. “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto 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.”
When our Saviour calls on his disciples to imitate the example he had given them in what he had done, we are to understand him, not merely by the example he gave in the emblematical action, in washing his disciples’ feet, in itself considered; but more especially, of that much greater act of his that was signified by it, in abasing himself so low, and suffering so much, for the spiritual cleansing and salvation of his people.
This is what is chiefly insisted on as the great example Christ has given us to follow: so it is once and again afterwards, in the discourse Christ had with his disciples, this same night, verse 34. of the chapter wherein is the text: 1 ” A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Chap. xv. 12, 13. “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And so in 1 John iii. 16. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”