John 13 primarily is known for the time when Jesus humbly washed the feet of his disciples in the night of his betrayal. The chapter never ceased to amaze me of Jesus’ Servant Leadership!

But while I was meditating on this chapter I came across a particular group of verse that struck me. In John 13:6-9 (NIV), after washing most of his disciples’ feet…

He(Jesus) came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

It got me thinking, how many of us are like Peter?

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”(v.6) Lord, are you going to test me? Lord what are  you doing in my life? Personally, I’ve been asking that question myself, sometimes it does drive me nuts. God, what in the world is happening in my life? But Jesus’ answer comforted me….

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”(v.7)

We may not know what’s happening in our lives, it might look terribly bad, graciously good, definitely uncertain, but faith in a sovereign God is a comfort. God is calling us to a higher level of faith.

Peter (aside from Jesus) is one of my favorite characters in the bible. He is so vulnerable, let’s look at his response.

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” (v.8a)

‘No, God, that is not what’s suppose to happen in my life! I’ve worked hard for it! I’m going against what you want to do in my life! You don’t need to refine me, I’m fine!!!’

We run away from God. We want the product, not the process. The blessing not the refining. The gifts more than the grace.

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”(v.8b)

Unless we are washed, cleansed, refined, pruned (2 chapters from verse 13 talks about pruning), tested, proven to be true, then we have no part in Him (the Amplified Bible says “you have no share in companionship with Me”).

Do we seek Jesus more than the benefits? Does the relationship weigh more than the rewards?Are we after the presents or the presence of God?

But God is faithful and we are washed by none other than the precious blood of Jesus, to which, how can we say no?

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”  (v.10)

Isn’t it easier to obey/follow God when he tells us why we need to do the things he want us to do? Why we need to undergo the process he wants us to undergo? That is how Peter responded. In a way I think  he was saying :”Oh! why didn’t you say so, then wash me completely if that is what it takes to have a part of the perks.”

But that wouldn’t be faith.

Faith is trusting Him at His word. Of being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Why faith?

Because “… it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews11:6)

So it boils down to this: What do we pursue, the presence or the presents? Are we willing to undergo God’s process of faith? Why do we need to have faith? Why please God?

Why please God? Is it for the rewards? The verse above says: “…he rewards those who sincerely seek him”. The “rewards” are overflow of our faith and desire to “sincerely seek him”.

We please God because he deserves it!

Remember He washed us with no less than the precious blood of His son, for our sins, for our wrongs, when we didn’t deserve it. He deserves honor!

What’s happening in our lives?

“God, right now I don’t know, but I’m allowing  your way in me. I’m allowing you to wash me right now not because I’m after the gifts, the rewards which you have promised but because I want to be closer to you, to seek you sincerely and have a more and more intimate relationship with you.

Increase my faith!”

The question: Is your relationship with him your top priority?