To Get Ourselves Clean

In John 13 Jesus is washing the disciples' feet & Peter does not want his feet washed by Jesus.  Jesus answers him "if I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Peter then wants his hands and head washed as well. But Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."  Then later in the chapter Jesus commands us to wash each others feet.

So there is a concept presented that we are to keep ourselves clean ("he who has washed" implies having washed) and wash each others feet to keep each others' feet clean. When we wash each others feet (literally)  we not only become the servant of all like Jesus was, but our hands become clean while we wash one another's feet. This applies spiritually as well.

Psalm 24 says that he who has clean hands and a pure heart may ascend the hill of the Lord. We can get our hands clean by serving the body, and we can keep our hearts pure by "washing (or bathing) ourselves with the word."* There is responsibility corporately & to get ourselves clean. 

 

*Ephesians 5:26