Blood and Water

Cleansing by Blood and Water

As Christ hung upon the cross a Roman soldier reached up and thrust his spear through His side, out came blood and water.  The words of an old song say it very well: “there is power, power; wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb.”  The power of the blood of Christ never ceases to amaze those who come into its cleansing tide and are made free from a lifetime of sin and defilement.  Unlike the blood of sacrificial animals offered for sin during Old Testament times, Jesus’ blood wipes away the guilt and shame of sin and cleanses the conscience of the believer.  So that begs the question; if His blood cleanses us why would Jesus and another New Testament writer mention a washing by the water of the word?

In the following verses we read of a cleansing that takes place through the spoken word.  "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  John 15:1-3 NKJV

In some translations the word prune in verse 2 is translated purge or cleanse.  We usually think of pruning as a cutting off of branches, but we see both a cutting off and a cleansing taking place in this portion of scripture.  When we look at verse 3 Jesus says, “You are already clean because of the word.”   Therefore He is talking about a cleansing of that which remains connected to Him as well as taking away fruitless branches.  The words Jesus spoke to His disciples accomplished two things, cutting off fruitless branches as well as cleansing those that would remain in and take part with Him. 

A few years ago I read a little book called The Secretes of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson.  In it he explained how the word purged in John 15 could also be translated to lift up as raising a vine up from the ground.  The branches with fruit that grew close to the ground would become soiled from the mud splashing up as it rained.  The husbandman or vinedresser would lift and tie them up higher to keep them clean.  In this analogy we understand that the need for cleansing was no fault of the branch or the fruit but because of its proximity to the dirt it became soiled.    

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV

Paul exhorts husbands to love their wives just as Christ loves His bride the church, to cleanse her by the washing of water by the word.  Husbands have been empowered to speak a purifying word over their wives to lift them up and set them apart unto holiness.  In John 15 God the Father is referred to as the husbandman or vinedresser.  The keeper of a vineyard would work to clear away anything that hindered the health and growth of the vines.  He would build a fence and even a watch tower to keep an eye out for intruders and the little foxes that would spoil the vines.  Part of a husband’s role is to protect, encourage and lift up his wife, to wash her from the road dirt of this life so to speak.  Words void of love can defile, discourage, and bring a curse, but speaking the truth in love wipes away the lies of the wicked one.  

 

It was a common practice in Jesus’ day for a host to wash the feet of guests who entered their house.  I suppose it was not only a courtesy to the guest but to keep the house clean.  Since they shared paths with animals one’s feet could easily become dirty and even covered in dung.  Now days those in western cultures wear different types of shoes and walk far less distance and are unlikely to encounter animal dung providing dog owners use their little pooper scoopers effectively.  Therefore we need help understanding how to apply the principal of foot washing in modern times. 

Jesus wanted to wash His disciple’s feet but Peter initially refused to allow it until he understood the consequences.  Jesus made it clear that Peter would have no part with Him unless he received cleansing for his feet.  Not wanting to loose his connection to the vine if you will, Peter did such an about face he asked that his hands and head be washed also.  Jesus explained that it was only necessary to have his feet washed because otherwise he was already clean.     

I would like to draw a parallel between the practice of foot washing and being washed by the water of the word.  We can inadvertently become unclean by stepping in something along our path figuratively speaking, or dust can drift and settle on us from those who we cross paths with.  The ungodly speech and lifestyle of those around us can soil our soul even though we choose not to agree or enter in with them.  The scripture says that Lot being a just man was vexed in his soul by witnessing the wicked lifestyle of the people of Sodom.  (See 2 Peter 2:7-8)

If Peter’s refusal to be washed could prevent him from taking part with Christ could there also be some implications for us today.  Jesus made it clear that Peter was not being cleansed from his sin but the road dirt that had collected on him.  All of the disciples needed their feet washed but there was one among them that needed repentance and cleansing from sin. Judas was planning to lead the mob to the place where they could capture Jesus.  He was also the one referred to when He said “not all of you.”  In John 13:10-11.  Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."  11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."  NKJV 

It is evident that Judas at some point did not receive cleansing from sin, even though his feet were washed his sin and self deception ultimately led to his betrayal of Christ.  By this we see that foot washing did not remove Judas’ sin because it was not inadvertent but premeditated and un-repented of.   He not only lost his part with Christ but lost out on eternal life.  Jesus said it would have been better for that man if he had never been born.  (See Mark 14:21)

No doubt the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin but the washing of the water by the word is for that inadvertent encounter with sin, the things we have no control over but we are subjected to just by living among sinners.  Jesus washed the feet of His disciples to remove the lingering aroma of dung and dirt from them.  Things that get on us can create a distracting odor, spiritually speaking, and even cause shame.  We need to have these things washed off every now and then lest they hinder our intimacy with Christ.

Jesus told Peter that he would have no part with Him lest he be washed.  Jesus wanted Peter to remain in Him just as a branch is connected to the vine.  Jesus was clearly speaking of being washed with water not blood. In John 13 He said that he who has been cleansed needs only to wash his feet. 

Peter initially refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet likely because he didn’t understand the ways of God’s Kingdom.  To be great in His Kingdom is to be the servant of all.  Since Jesus is the living word and the greatest in the Kingdom He was a living demonstration of the word through service to others.  When we lift up and encourage others who have been weighed down by the trials of life we are washing their feet so to speak.  We can remove guilt, shame and the sense of being unworthy from those we speak God’s word of encouragement to. 

We all need people in our lives that will speak encouraging words as well as confront things that may be fruitless branches in our lives.  Fruitless branches can be attached to wrong thinking that draws our attention and efforts into something useless and even opposed to the ways of the Kingdom.   In Luke 9:51-56 we read the account of James and John asking if they should call down fire on a group of people who would not welcome their ministry into their town.  Jesus rebuked them saying they didn’t know the spirit behind their thoughts.  He had not come to destroy but to save men’s lives.  They likely thought if Elijah could do it they could too.  The problem was Elijah represented the judgment of the Old Covenant while Jesus came not to destroy but to redeem.  With His words of correction, Jesus reached out and snipped off a wild fruitless branch from the vine.  Even Peter’s misunderstanding of servant-hood not wanting the Greater One to wash his feet was another fruitless branch that had to come off.  Jesus not only lifted up and encouraged His disciples washing their feet but cut off the wild fruitless growth when it appeared.

He is the vine and we are the branches.  The branches can not bear fruit unless they are connected to Him and will bear even greater fruit when fruitless branches of misunderstanding and even lies of the enemy are removed from us.  One of the best ways to stay connected to Him is to connect with His body the church.  Get in a small group where you can be lifted up, encouraged and receive an occasional bit of loving correction, a clipping away of fruitless branches.  Close relationships require commitment and can involve a bit of pain or humiliation at times but the rewards are priceless.  I believe this is one way to both give and receive the washing of water by the word of God.