John 13:6-9

To Peter’s credit, his opposition was one motivated by humility. What he opposed was the reversal of the roles the Lord appeared to be initiating. He was the servant after all and Jesus was his Master. He had been privy to see His Master’s hands heal the leper and restore sight to the blind. He had even seen Jesus raise the dead and believed Him to be the Son of God yet now He stoops to wash his feet? It seemed to him that he should be the one washing the Lord’s feet instead of the other way around. It was a paradox, quite frankly, beyond Peter’s comprehension. Yet Jesus’ purpose in this act of service was to teach a great spiritual lesson to His boys and to all of us as well – there would be a necessity of regular spiritual cleansing to remain in constant fellowship with Him. We are all in need of continual cleansing and renewal to remain in fellowship with God. We sin, we fall, we break fellowship, we humbly repent (turn) and we are then restored. This is not regarding our salvation rather our abiding fellowship with Him. Remember the vine and branches analogy Jesus sets forth in Scripture? This would be a reference to this abiding principle:

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5 (NIV)

Nothing eternal is ever accomplished in the flesh. When our fellowship is broken through sin, we unfortunately begin to operate in ways that seem right in our own eyes. Quite clearly Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling believers that anything of eternal value occurs.

“O God, never suffer us to think that we can stand by ourselves, and not need Thee.” John Donne

Jesus silences Peter’s objections by stating his lack of understanding. His vision was now veiled yet later he would comprehend. How often that happens to us as well. Our vision is blurred by our circumstances and we raise objections as well as “kick against the goads” regarding God’s best for our lives. Often, like Peter, we oppose what we do not understand. Because we presently remain in the dark regarding God’s perfect will, we are not to object to what He allows rather we are to embrace it. There is always something considerable for us in each circumstance. Our willing obedience will open our eyes to more of His ways. Never forget, Christ’s way is supremely the best way. Just as Jesus said to Peter He says to us:

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Paul puts it in yet another way explaining that one day our partial knowledge will give way to a perfect and complete knowledge:

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)

Besides all this, we have a beacon of light and hope in Romans 8:28 promising the believer that whatever He allows in the lives of those who love Him will be used for their good:

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“Could you ask for a better promise? It is better that all things should work for my good than all things should be as I would wish to have them. All things might work for my pleasure and yet might all work my ruin. If all things do not always please me, they will always benefit me. This is the best promise of this life.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon