Day 313: John 13, 14 and 15

Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet (John 13:10).

 

It had been a long day leading up to the last supper. Jesus and his disciples had walked into town from Bethany, taught in the temple, and wandered the streets of Jerusalem. When, during their meal together, Jesus got up and started washing his disciples’ feet, they could hardly believe it. Peter protested: You’ll never wash my feet!

But Jesus responded, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.

Peter surrendered, Then not just my feet; wash my hands and my head too.

Jesus explained, Those who’ve had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean (vv. 8-10).

In walking through this world day after day (in spite of the fact we mostly drive over paved roads), we still pick up the dust and dirt of the world on our feet. We might struggle with mental images that incite lust, unforgiveness for wrongs suffered at the hands of others, or even guilt for wrongs we ourselves have perpetrated.

We haven’t turned our backs on the faith; it’s just that our feet have picked up some dust. We need to let go of those things and give them to God before the filth becomes part of us. Confession and repentance is like a refreshing basin of water with which to cleanse the spirit of the world’s dirt.

Do your spiritual feet need washed? Of what do you need to repent?