John 13:10–11

Our Lord washed the feet of His disciples as a symbolic act. He said, "The one who has bathed [Greek louō, to wash the WHOLE body] does not need to wash [Greek niptō, to wash A PART of the body], except for his feet, but is completely clean." The first washing matches the ceremonial washing of the priests all over, which was never repeated. The second matches the washing of the hands and feet at the bronze basin, done again and again.

The "washing of regeneration," the cleansing brought about in new birth, never needs to be repeated. Despite everything in this world that works against it, the effect is permanent... In how many ways we are reminded of the unfailing character of God's precious grace! The love that has laid hold of us for eternal glory is not going to be defeated in what it has taken in hand to do. The washing of the feet can be repeated again and again, but not the bathing of the whole person.

There is the first bathing, the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which is never repeated. But there is the need of having the feet washed whenever they are defiled along the way. Neither one refers to blood, but to water — necessary as it is that Christ's blood washes us from our sins for redemption.

Now water is a well-known symbol for the Word... Paul speaks even more directly when he uses the phrase, "the washing of water by the Word," and this in connection with cleansing — though there it is the Church, not the individual believer (Eph. 5:26). It is very clear, then, why the Lord used water in the scene before us. He was showing that after He left, He would cleanse their feet — their walk — by applying the Word. How, then, is this application of the Word produced? When we sin, the Lord undertakes our cause with the Father. He then exercises the office of the Advocate. The result for us is that the Spirit of God begins to deal with us about it, in God's own time. He brings the sin to our memory and applies the Word to our consciences. This produces self-judgment in us and leads us on to confess our sin, and so we are restored.

There is no repetition of that first and absolute cleansing of the person. If our feet get defiled as we walk through a muddy world, that defilement must be washed away, because it hinders our communion with Him. And He sees to this as Advocate with the Father, if we sin. The firm foundation of God stands, and our standing remains. But if we defile our feet, He deals with us by His word and Spirit, and so restores the communion that had been interrupted. He applies His advocacy to this need now that He is on high.

Then note that the washing of the feet, even by the Lord, gave neither life nor salvation. It is not for sinners but for saints, and is done only for the latter. That it gives neither life nor salvation is plain: Judas was not left out of the washing with actual water on that occasion. The time to unmask him had not come, so his feet were washed with the rest. Was the Lord unaware of what this man really was? He told them all that He was not. In the washing of regeneration Judas had no part. Being born of water and of the Spirit was an inward change he was a complete stranger to. Only for those who first have part in the washing of regeneration does the Lord now wash the feet.

He used two words for wash, the first of which means to wash all over, or bathe. So He said that a man who has been bathed needs only to wash his feet. He was pointing to the two washings of the priests. First came the bathing when they were set apart for their office (Lev. 8:6), which happened once for all. Then came the frequent washings of hands and feet every time they entered the sanctuary (Ex. 30:19). This once-for-all bathing is ours when we are born again... So here, the Lord said to the disciples, "You are clean," adding, "but not every one of you" — with Judas in mind. Despite all his claims to faith, no new birth had ever reached Judas.

The washing of the feet, even by the Lord, gave neither life nor salvation. It is not, as we have said, for sinners, but for saints, and is done only for them. That is clear from one fact: the Lord did not leave Judas out when He washed with actual water that evening. The time to unmask him had not come. The Lord washed his feet along with the rest... In the washing of regeneration Judas had no part.

The new birth holds and is never repeated, because it stays true and good. When one who is born again fails, that failure comes under Christ's active love and advocacy. He brings the soul to judge himself, so that fellowship is restored. Again, the case of Judas is not one of losing life. It shows that he had never been born of God, and no Scripture ever says he was.

Until Judas showed himself by betraying the Lord, he had his place among the apostles. We learn later why he was counted among them — so that the Scripture might be fulfilled (13:18; 17:12) — while the Lord knew all along what he was, and the terrible sin he would commit. No one could deceive Christ. He knew what was in man (2:25). He knew that some of the crowd which had followed Him across the water did not believe (6:64). He knew who would betray Him (13:11). He is a Divine Person who knows all about everyone. He let that knowledge appear only as circumstances arose.

There was one who was not born of water. Satan took advantage of that very one, and all the more because he was so near Christ. Nothing hastens the ruin of a man who has not received life from God like being near Christ. Someone may come into the presence of Christ not to receive life, but to push his own will and his own plans. He becomes nothing but the prey of Satan, and that in the form of direct opposition to the Son of God.

There was one present for whom it would have no meaning. The Lord has to say, "You are clean, but not every one of you." The betrayer had never been "washed all over." He had never been born again. So he would never feel the need for the Lord's gracious service, and never know its refreshment.