By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit…
John 13:10
The Lord Jesus is washing the disciples’ feet. They must have been aghast that their Master was doing this lowly act of service. He comes to Peter, who objects. Yet the Master insists. ‘If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.’ If that’s the case, Peter responds, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’
Then comes verse 10. The Lord uses two different words, each being translated ‘wash’ in this verse. The first ‘washed’ means to bathe, while the second ‘wash’ references cleansing the extremities.
Let’s say you’ve showered this morning, but a few minutes ago your hands have been contaminated. Do you need a shower all over again? No, a few moments at the sink with a little soap will do the job.
When Christ saves a person, it’s like getting a shower. He washes us thoroughly. All of our filth is removed and we stand in His sight with the righteousness of Christ. 1 John 1:7 says, ‘…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.’ This is signified in the Book of Revelation by the wearing of white robes.
But as a child of God goes through life, we do sin, and require the ‘hand washing’ of getting each moment’s sins removed. This is what 1 John 1:9 is all about when it says God will ‘cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’
When David sinned horribly, his prayer was, ‘Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin’ (Psalm 51:2).
This habit of periodic confession of our sins to God makes possible ‘clean hands, and a pure heart’ (Psalm 24:1, 4).
Father, thank You for the full, thorough cleansing You gave to me when You saved me and placed me in Christ. As I fail You through life’s pilgrim journey, thank You for the cleansing You offer when I confess and forsake my sin. What a joy to live a clean life! Reveal to me any impurities in my life today, that I might make them right with You. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.