SCRIPTURE:
20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.
Number 19:20
OBSERVATION:
Wow, what a profound statement. This is the first time seeing this scripture in a different light. Those who were unclean and did not purify themselves would be cut off from the presence and community of God. They had to do the work to be clean in the presence of the Holy God.
This makes what Jesus did with Peter that much more beautiful and meaningful. The scene begins with Peter refusing Jesus offer by saying, “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:8). Jesus brought the sanctuary to Peter. Jesus was the water that cleansed Him. We didn’t make ourselves clean; God made us clean by coming to us. We can’t have communion with God unless we are willing to be washed by Him.
We can’t purify ourselves on our own. We need Jesus Christ to wash our feet. There are three parts to this. 1. We need to recognize that we are dirty. 2. We need to recognize that we can’t clean ourselves. 3. And finally, we must humble ourselves to His cleaning.
APPLICATION:
There was a time in my life when we were doing a foot washing at a camp in Hilo, Hawaii. Because we were leaders, we washed everybody else's feet. However, it came time for the leaders to wash each other's feet. And I remember saying, “I am good.” I didn’t want anyone touching my feet. That’s when I realized that the hard thing to do sometimes is to allow another person to wash your feet, namely, Jesus Christ.
However, unless we laydown our own self-righteousness and intellectual prowess, we will not have communion with the way, the truth, and the life. In light of this reality, I will daily let God wash my feet because of the nature of walking in the world; I need daily washing. I hate that it is God, because he shouldn't be washing feet; however, there is no one else who can make me clean. He is both water and the towel; he is both the lion and the lamb. He is the only one who can transform me from glory to glory. I follow him, because the King of the world became a man and died on a cross so that I can be clean.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
Would you guide me to love and let you wash my thoughts, actions, and words with your spirit. You are the only one who can take my sin away. Amen!
Amen
