John 13:7-8, “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
In John chapter 13 we read about the Passover the Lord ate with His disciples. The first Communion service also took place that night as Jesus gave this precious ordinance. At the end of supper (John 13:4), the Lord girded Himself with a towel, poured a basin with water and began to wash the disciples’ feet. When Jesus came to Peter, he said, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” The Lord told Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” When Jesus said this to Peter, He was NOT telling him that he would lose his eternal life and home in heaven, but that he would miss out on this precious time of fellowship. Peter would then say, “not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Peter, with his words, was declaring that he was willing to do whatever it took for him to fellowship with the Lord. Peter understood the blessings found in that fellowship. He had witnessed the Lord’s numerous miracles; he had heard the Lord teach marvelous things; he had rested in the peaceful presence of the Son of God and Peter did not want to risk losing any opportunity to experience more of the same.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read about Mary and her sister Martha spending time with Jesus. In verse 39, it was Mary who “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” Martha, who “was cumbered about” (over occupied) in serving, asked Jesus if He cared not “that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” The Lord responded to Martha by saying, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” The “good part” in this portion of scripture is similar to the “part” in John 13:8. Mary, in choosing to take advantage of the opportunity to spend time at the feet of Jesus enjoyed something that otherwise would have been lost. She, in her longing desire to learn from the Lord by being close to Him, was blessed to have “part” with Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, what are we willing to do to fellowship with Jesus? Do we count time with Him as our priority of life? I realize that we live in a very busy world. There’s always something to do, but if we are willing to set some things aside, the blessings in spending time with the One Who loved us so much that He gave His precious and perfect life for sinners like us on the Cross of Calvary will be worth the price we pay to have “part” with Him. Amen!