Section 8
of what He is in His expression. If the Lord had remained in all that He was in His virtues and attributes, He would have been unable to wash His disciples' feet.
GIRDING HIMSELF
When the Lord had laid aside His garments, He girded Himself with a towel (v. 4). Figura tively speaking, for the Lord to gird Himself meant that He was bound and restricted with humility (cf. 1 Peter 5:5). In humility He gave up His lib erty so that He might minister to His disciples.
THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE WORD, AND THE LIFE
The Lord washed the disciples' feet with water (v. 5). Here water signifies the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), the Word (Eph. 5:26; John 15:3), and the life (John 19:34). As we shall see, the Lord washes us spiritually by the working of the Holy Spirit, by the enlightening of the Word, and by the oper ating of the inner law of life. In the Scriptures, each of these items is symbolized by water.
WASHING AWAY THE DIRT
OF THE EARTHLY TOUCH
The Lord has come through incarnation to