Dear Explorer,
Read John 13:6-11
Jesus prefaces this section by telling Peter that what He is doing will not be understood until later. Since Jesus died the next day, we must assume that He is referring to after His death, burial, and resurrection. So, what was changed by Jesus' death that would give us insight to these verses?
Our relationship to God. Jesus was the Lamb of God who was sacrificed to pay the price for our sins. Only then can we be in a right relationship with God. Before Jesus' death the only way to God was through the priest and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament.
What is the “whole” cleansing or bath that Jesus refers to in John 13:10?
Inviting Jesus into our lives, having our sins totally forgiven, and being transformed by letting the Holy Spirit be in control of our lives. That's quite a bath!
Jesus says here that Peter will understand this picture of washing better after Jesus has established our salvation. We look at this section with a knowledge that Peter did not have at the time.
Okay, we've stated what the whole bath includes. So, what is the foot washing supposed to represent in John 13:10?
This is the on-going cleansing that we need because we fail to obey the Holy Spirit's instructions.
We could paraphrase John 13:10 to mean this:
Those who invite Me (Jesus) into their lives, get a thorough cleansing of their sins, and the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of them to direct their lives and empower them to follow Me. They don't ever need another spiritual bath like that.
But they will need to confess their sins when they fail to obey the Holy Spirit's instructions.
Now, we've defined sin as choosing to follow SELF instead of the Holy Spirit.
How do we deal with those sins that constantly crop up?
I have learned to run to Jesus and confess my sins quickly so that I can be cleansed immediately – or at least as soon as I recognize that I'm dirty. So, throughout my day, I'm talking to Jesus and dealing with any disobedience that might come up. And it WILL come up!
But I also like to review my day with Him before I get into bed. That way He can show me places where I've accumulated sin without noticing it. Then I learn where I can do better with His help and I confess it and get it cleaned up.
Many people get into the habit of praying every night just as their head hits the pillow, "Father, forgive me if I've sinned today." Now, that might qualify as a Dennis the Menace bath -- but it doesn't allow the Holy Spirit to really address the problems. How much better to spend a few minutes asking God to reveal your performance for the day. Let God gently wash the areas that are dirty; clean out under the nails and apply some lotion; address the corns and calluses; deal with those trouble spots. Ask God for guidance in those places where you are weak. Confess those places that are troubling you and where you "always" fail. Ask Him for wisdom to draw from His strength and not your own.
And if you haven't memorized 1 John 1:9, now would be a really good time to do so!
Don't miss an interesting phrase at the end of John 13:10. What does Jesus say?
John explains what Jesus meant in John 13:11. On Day 258 we discussed Judas.
Here we see Jesus saying that Judas had not invited Him into his life and therefore was empty (not bathed) and his sins were not forgiven.
In His service, dale
Next study