February 9

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands. and that he came forth from God. . . took a towel, and girded himself.” John 13:3-4

In Revelation 9 we read of a development which, to the author of that book, lay far in the future. “I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace.” This is figurative language, but the falling star is obviously Satan, and we know that the bottomless pit is his domain—his storehouse, we might say. This suggests that the end-time is to be marked by a special release of his powers, and men will find themselves up against spiritual forces in a new way.

The greatest need of the saints at such a time is spiritual refreshment. The incident at the supper declares that it was to refresh the disciples that Jesus came forth from God. I think that in a befouled world there is no greater power for God today than to come forth from him fresh with the clean air of heaven.