John 13:8

In the secend branch of this Exposition, upon occasion of Peters more peremptory refusal, there is a further Exposition of the meaning of this washing, and of the necessity of what he intended to point at thereby. For Peter not acquiescing in what Christ had told him, but proceeding from admiration to a wilful refusal, that Christ should wash his feet, as conceiving it his duty in modesty to refuse; however Christ should presse it: Christ taking hardly with this, renounces all communion with him, and disclaims that Peter had any interest in him, unlesse he did wash him. Which doth not import only that his wilful refusing to stoop to Christs Will in this external washing, would, if he persisted in it, prove him to be in a bad condition, though that be true in it selfe: But chiefly, (as the following exposition of washing their feet in particular makes clear) it points out that Christ, by washing their feet, would (not institute a Sacrament, but) put them in minde of soule washing, which as it can only be done by him, so without it, men can prove no interest in him. And so the meaning of this washing in general is, to point out the necessity of washing sinners by Regeneration, Justification, and begun Sanctification, which was also the signification of their several washing under the Law, Ps. 51.

From Peters refusal, Learn, 1. Men may have much seeming humility in the matters of God, which yet is but preposterous and sinful, and learnt from carnal reason; for, such was Peters humility, condemned by Christ here. See Col. 2.18, 23. 2. It doth not justifie mens tentations and sinful humility, that it seems to rise from much good, but we are to distinguish betwixt what is really good, and what tentations Satan fastens on it; for, this condemned humility did begin at admiration, at Christs condescendence, v. 6. and grounded it self upon his respect to Christ, and disesteem of himself. 3. It is an evidence men are under a tentation, when they are stiffe, and do pertinaciously stand out against Christs verdict; And in particular, it is but sinful humility, when men will not submit to Christs verdict and Will; for, this was the fault in Peters humility, that he would not take satisfaction from Christ, concerning what he was doing. 4. It is but sinful and preposterous humility, which refuseth Christs offer, whatever it be, or how unworthy soever we be of it; for, this also was Peters fault, Thou shalt never wash my feet; He thought himself unworthy of this condescendence, and therefore utterly refuseth to admit of his offer; so the contrary of this in the Churches admitting of Christs commendation, seeing he was pleased to have a desire toward her, Cant. 7.1, 2, &c. with v. 10.

From Christs answer to Peter, Learn, 1. Saints, by what they do out of a pretext of humility, may be running on a snare, and deserving sad threatnings from him; for, Peters humility meets with this entertainment. 2. It is Christs method, oft-times with his people, to break their obstinacy with sad threatnings, and to boast them to their mercy, and from their preposterous humility, when faire dealing will not perswade them; for, thus doth he deal with Peter. 3. It is the saddest of threatnings and judgments, to be secluded from an interest in, and communion with Christ; Therefore is it held out to Peter as a very sad case, Thou hast no part in me, that is, no interest in him, and consequently, no communion with him, nor share in that inheritance purchased by him, and so is no coheir with him. 4. The contempt of an Ordinance or Command of Christ, how mean-like soever, deserves the saddest of threatnings, and that the contemner should be secluded from Christ; for, this holds true, even of the outward washing, and his resisting thereof, when Christ required it, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. By which sad threatning Christ drives Peter to submit. 5. Soul-purging from sin is so necessary, that without it men can have no evidence of interest in, or communion with Christ; for, it holds chiefly true of the thing pointed at, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 6. It is neither the goodnesse of our nature, nor legal purifications, or our own endeavours, that can either prove, or make us clean; But it is Christ alone who must wash us, that we may participate with him, and who must apply the merit and efficacy of his blood for that end; for, If I wash thee not, faith he, thou hast no part with me.