Lesson 10: Washed by Jesus

Question 7

Come to the Cross
In closing today, I want us to see an important connection. Jesus connected this foot washing with what He came to do at the cross.
Look at verse 7: 
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
John 13:7
What would happen later? What would happen that would open their eyes, give them understanding, and make it clear what message Jesus was conveying in washing their feet?
Do you remember the four stages of the foot washing account? 
Jesus was at the table of fellowship, 
Jesus rose and took off His outer garment and clothed Himself with a towel,  
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, and 
Jesus went back and sat down at the head of the table.
Now put these together with Jesus’ statement that He would do something “later” that would open His disciples’ understanding of what the foot washing symbolized. 
Do you see it? The foot washing was a foreshadow, a picture of the greater washing that would come, a foretaste of the cross! Look at the four points again from this perspective:
Jesus was fellowshipping with God the Father in heaven. 
Jesus Christ rose from fellowshipping with His Father, removed all His glory and clothed Himself with a human body.
Jesus Christ went to the cross, there to shed His blood and die for humanity. He washed us from our sins (Revelation 1:5), cleansed us from all impurity and made us white as snow. He didn’t merely wash our feet, He washed our whole head and hands, our heart and minds, our consciences and our entire body and souls! “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). 
Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and returned to the place in heaven where He was. 
We can see this same beautiful progression of Christ in Philippians 2:5-11. 
I told you earlier that during my years of sin and rebellion I felt such a keen sense of impurity, of being defiled in my heart and mind, in my conscience and just my whole life! 
I tried going to counselors and support groups, to recovery groups and accountability groups. And yet, the experience of guilt and shame, the covering of condemnation and sin-slavery was so powerful on me. 
But, friend, I’m so happy right now I could jump up and down! You know why? Because Jesus washed me! He cleansed me on the inside as He has taught me to be Washing at the cross. 
I want this for you too. If you’re experiencing any of the guilt and condemnation, any of the defilement of impurity, please know that it can all be washed away. And when the guilt and defilement of sin are washed away, the power of sin is broken.
Come to the cross, behold what Christ has done and believe! Let it pierce your heart to the very core and humble you, let it cleanse you from within by accepting the pardon purchased for you by Jesus’ blood, and let it turn you completely away from impurity. 


Question 7. Please share how this story in John 13 reveals the cross of Jesus Christ to you:Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
In the next lesson, we will study how to walk by the Spirit.