The Washing Of The Word
Several days ago, when my prayer partner and I were praying, the Lord gave her a beautiful understanding of what Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet. Let’s look at that passage and talk about it.
John 13:3-15
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter said to Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know later. Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet but is clean all over, and you are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray him; therefore said He, You are not all clean. So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord; and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Jesus, the Word, was washing their feet, symbolic of the walk of life on this earth. We pick up dirt and junk as we go about our day, just as the disciples had picked up the dust and dirt of the ground as they walked. Our souls need a continual cleansing of the washing of the water of the Word. Our minds, which are part of our souls, need renewing to the ways of God and His Kingdom. Our emotions need to be cleansed of anger, pride, jealousy, envy, greed, etc. And our wills must be kept conformed to His will, which is the Word. Then we use the Word to wash others’ walk of life as we pray the Word of God over them.
Later, in John 15:3, Jesus told the disciples: Now, you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. He Who was the Word not only spoke the Word to them but He demonstrated it also to them. Our walk here on this earth must receive a daily dose of the cleansing power of the Word of God. His Word convicts us, purifies us, sets us apart for Him hour by hour and day by day. What a wonderful privilege all of us as God’s children have to stay pure before Him as we bathe in His Word every day.
The Word of God is purification for our souls. Every day the Word of God must wash over our souls to cleanse us, to purify us and to keep us holy before Him. Jesus told Peter that if Peter didn’t allow Him to wash his feet, Peter would have no part in Him. What Jesus was telling Peter was this: I am the Word. I am cleansing you for your walk on this earth. If you don’t allow me to wash you, you cannot walk in a pure way. Every day our feet are cleansed to walk on the pure pathway of God. His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. The light of His Word shines on our path and at the same time cleanses us of the impurities we pick up along life’s journey.
God is so good to us. He provides everything we need to have a victorious walk on this earth. Our lives can be lived in purity before Him as we make His Word our guide and purifier.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:25,26 that Christ loves us and gave Himself for us so that He might sanctify us (set us apart), having cleansed us with the washing of the water of the Word. Praise God! What a blessed people we are.
John 13:3-15
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter said to Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know later. Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet but is clean all over, and you are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray him; therefore said He, You are not all clean. So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord; and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Jesus, the Word, was washing their feet, symbolic of the walk of life on this earth. We pick up dirt and junk as we go about our day, just as the disciples had picked up the dust and dirt of the ground as they walked. Our souls need a continual cleansing of the washing of the water of the Word. Our minds, which are part of our souls, need renewing to the ways of God and His Kingdom. Our emotions need to be cleansed of anger, pride, jealousy, envy, greed, etc. And our wills must be kept conformed to His will, which is the Word. Then we use the Word to wash others’ walk of life as we pray the Word of God over them.
Later, in John 15:3, Jesus told the disciples: Now, you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. He Who was the Word not only spoke the Word to them but He demonstrated it also to them. Our walk here on this earth must receive a daily dose of the cleansing power of the Word of God. His Word convicts us, purifies us, sets us apart for Him hour by hour and day by day. What a wonderful privilege all of us as God’s children have to stay pure before Him as we bathe in His Word every day.
The Word of God is purification for our souls. Every day the Word of God must wash over our souls to cleanse us, to purify us and to keep us holy before Him. Jesus told Peter that if Peter didn’t allow Him to wash his feet, Peter would have no part in Him. What Jesus was telling Peter was this: I am the Word. I am cleansing you for your walk on this earth. If you don’t allow me to wash you, you cannot walk in a pure way. Every day our feet are cleansed to walk on the pure pathway of God. His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. The light of His Word shines on our path and at the same time cleanses us of the impurities we pick up along life’s journey.
God is so good to us. He provides everything we need to have a victorious walk on this earth. Our lives can be lived in purity before Him as we make His Word our guide and purifier.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:25,26 that Christ loves us and gave Himself for us so that He might sanctify us (set us apart), having cleansed us with the washing of the water of the Word. Praise God! What a blessed people we are.
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 10:16 PM
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