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177 The Tabernacle The believer, having been washed "with the washing of regeneration," needs that washing no more. The cleansing effect of the new birth is not to be repeated. He to whom the precious blood of Christ has been applied has been set in a position of unchangeable righteousness in his stand- ing before God. To think of the necessity for a second application of that blood would be to dishonor it. It is the blood of the Father's well beloved Son, and it has once for all redeemed and made nigh every believer. The need now is for the washing of the soiled feet-the cleansing from the daily defilement of those who have been re- deemed. "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it," once for all, "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." He died to make us clean. He lives to keep us clean. We are made just as clean as His precious blood can make us, and that is "whiter than snow." We are kept just as clean as the water of His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit can keep us. The cleansing of the blood is once for all. The cleansing from the defilement of the desert sands is just as often as there is need for it. Bathers in the surf are often seen going to the bathing pavilion with a pail of water. This is to remove the sand with which their feet become soiled as they walk across the beach. In the believer's walk from the cross to the New Jerusalem, where he ·will be clothed in a robe of beauty like unto his lord's, he becomes defiled, and has constant need of the tender ministry of an "Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Our blessed Lord is there, in the presence of the Father, girded to serve our daily need, that we may "have part" with Him, in fellow- ship and communion and worship and service. When He shows us some evil way, some defiling spot, we may at
T ht T abernoclt sin of the world" (John_ 1:29). Arising from the supper, He t?ok a towel, and girded Himself, poured water into a ?asm, and began to wash the disciples' feet, wiping chem with ~he to:Wel wherewith He was girded. Peter, not under- standmg his Lord's purpose, refused to let Him wash his feet; he knew his own unworthiness, and felt that the Lord Jesus should never do for him what seemed to him as a menial task. "Peter saith unto him, Lord dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou ~owest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus a1:5wered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13 :6-8). In effect the Lord had said to Peter something like this: "Peter, this is a picture of the work which I shall perform f~r you when I return to the Father, cleansing you, restormg you to fellowship when that fellowship has been broken by sin in your life. You do not understand now, but you shall hereafter." Every believer is "in
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