I. As illustrative of his character —
[No one can behold Jesus washing "bis Disciples' feet, without feeling a reverence for his august character : and the more we contrast his dignity with their meanness, the more are we constrained to admire his condescension and love.
But we shall have a very partial and inadequate view of this action, if we regard it merely as a single and detached instance of humility. To understand it aright, we must see it as exhi- biting in a very lively manner his general character.
What a beautiful illustration does it give us of his incar- nation ! Behold him laying aside his robes of majesty, and clothing himself in our flesh, and coming, " not to be minis- tered unto, but to minister" to our guilty race3!
How aptly does it represent to us the whole tenour of his life ! From the cradle to the grave his humility was uniformly conspicuous. Born in a stable, and of mean parents, he wrought at the trade of a carpenter till the age of thirty : then, submitting to baptism, as though he had been a sinner, he entered on his ministry, and prosecuted it in the midst of temptations, of want, and ignominy, till his obedience was consummated in the accursed death of the cross. And to all this he condescended for our benefit, for our salvation.
Nor does this action less fitly characterize him in his present exalted state. " Though he is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly V though "he is that high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, yet will he dwell with him that is of an humble and contrite spirit0." There is no one upon earth so mean and vile, but this exalted Saviour is ready to visit him, to dwell with him, and to minister unto himd: nor is there any office which he will not gladly execute for the good of our souls.
Even the character he will sustain among the glorified saints in heaven is also represented in this significant action : for though he will ever be the head of his people, yet' will he gird himself as their servant, and minister unto them in the most humble and affectionate manner, while they are partaking of the feast which his heavenly Father has provided for them*.
How admirable does this action appear when considered in this extensive view ! and in what endearing light does it exhibit our blessed Lord!]
But this action is further to be considered,
II. As emblematical of his work —
•l Phil. ii. G— S. Matt. x\. 28. Mark x. 45. b l's. exxxviii. 0. c Isai. lvii. 15.
ll John xiv. ?.'}. <• Luke xii. 37.
1678.1 Christ's condescension. 3
[Our blessed Lord himself shews us that there was a mystical signification in what he did to his Disciples : for, when he had washed them, he asked them, " Know ye what I have done unto you?" for which question there could have been no room if there had been nothing mysterious in the transaction. He also said to them, " Ye are clean ; but not all ;" because the traitor, though washed equally with the rest, was yet under the power and guilt of all his sinsf.
So particularly were the circumstances of this event ordered and overruled, that they marked in the most striking manner the nature, the necessity, and the excellency of that work which Christ came to accomplish.
Its nature is declared : for he came to wash men from the guilt of sin by his blood, and from the pollution of it by his Spirit. In this very view the prophet spake of him long before as a fountain that should be opened to cleanse men from their sin and uncleannessS: and the Apostles represent the great end of his incarnation and death to have been, " to sanctify and cleanse the Church with the washing of water, by the word h."