Gideon

Chapter 23

WHAT IS THE WORD OF GOD, EXACTLY?

08-19-12

(John 13:1-3) Now before the feast of the [last] passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put [unclean demonic spirits, fallen angels = (the devil’s thoughts)] into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

1. (John 12:4-6) Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the [treasurer’s] bag, and bare what was put therein.

(John 13:4,5) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments [the earthly coverings that we wear that indicate earthly financial and social status]; and took a towel [of white linen, symbolic of the undefiled purity of His heavenly covering, i.e., His Great Glory], and girded himself [for only He as God could gird Himself with Glory]. After that he poureth water [symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and of the Word of God] into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet [a N.T. fulfillment of the O.T. washing of the priest’s hands (work) and feet (walk) at the brazen laver; i.e., the process of sanctification], and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

1. Commentary: “he poureth water” = water is a biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also symbolized by the rhema word of God. The rhema word is the revelational word of God that is derived from and out of the logos word of God. Rhema is the produce that is contained in the railroad boxcars of a sentence. The body of Jesus Christ is the logos word of God (John 1:14), His words are the boxcars of the train. Thus, while Jesus Christ walked this earth containing within His body the Holy Spirit prior to His ascension, Jesus Christ was the walking talking “twoedged sword,” the logos of Heb 4:12 “a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” and the rhema of Eph 6:17 “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” If “God is love” 1 John 4:8,16, then His only begotten Son is also love, and the Holy Spirit is love. Therefore the words (logos/rhema) issuing forth from God are love, and the water used for washing away our sins is God’s word (logos/rhema) which is love.

2. (Eph 5:25,26) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church [i.e., you], and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word [Gk: rhema] [by the Holy Spirit],

(John 13:6-11) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash mu feet? [Gk: nipto; to cleanse (espec. the hands or the feet or the face)]. 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 [Gk: nipto] my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash [Gk: nipto] thee not, thou hast no part with me [i.e., because you have no sanctification] [“that they die not” Exo 30:20,21]. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head [i.e., wash me with your love]. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed [Gk: louo; bathed (the whole person)] needeth not save [Gk: except] to wash [Gk: nipto] his feet, but is clean [Gk: clear, pure] every whit [Gk: completely] [saved, redeemed completely]: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

(John 13:12-17) So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed [Gk: nipto] your feet; ye also ought to wash [Gk: nipto] one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy [Gk: blessed] are ye if ye do them.

Amen