. Afterwards you will understand
by J. R. Miller. He got up from the
table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and
poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples'
feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him. John
13, 4 and 5. What I am doing you do not understand
now, but afterwards you will understand. John 13, 7 At this
time, Peter did not know why the Messiah he really needed
was a Messiah with basin and towel. He was thinking of a Messiah
with throne and crown and scepter and earthly pomp. He did not
understand it, until after the blood of Calvary had been shed. Christ referred to these days
by afterwards. This saying of Christ, however,
may be used in a much wider sense. There are a great many things
that He does, which at the time we cannot understand, yet in
due time all of them will become clear. As they appear to us,
while we are passing through them, they are unfinished acts. When the work is completed, it
will appear beautiful. This is especially true of many
mysterious providences in our lives. One time Jacob thought
and said, All these things are against me. But he lived to see
that the very things which he thought were against him were
really all working together for his good. so it is always, in
the providences of God with His own people, we know that all
things work together for good to those who love God. The backside
of a tapestry appears to be a mystery of tangle and confusion, but
there is a beautiful picture on the other side. Just so, we
are looking at our lives largely on the backside We cannot see
the Master's plan until afterwards.