“Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”). After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.” John 13:3-12 The Message Bible)
This “Monday Short” meditation is a sort of DYO (Do Your Own) exercise. I am providing you with three accounts that deal with cleaning. Your assignment is to come up with takeaways from each account.
The First Account, rightfully so, is the passage from John’s Gospel, provided above. The other two accounts have to do with car wash stories that you will have to read, using your spiritual prism, and move from an analogy to accurate truth(s) in regard to your spiritual cleaning. Before starting to write and/or store in your heart your takeaways, application that will benefit you on your Christian journey, let me give the other two accounts, both true.
Second Account: My wife brought one of those premier car wash packages from a notable local car wash. Before transitioning to working from home the majority of the time, every time that she passed one of these car wash locations she would stop and get a car wash. Afterwards, the exterior was immaculate. It was incredibly clean, shining from bumper to bumper for many days. However, to be fair, I should inform you this award-winning car wash only did the exterior and not the inside of the car. As you do your DYO exercise, I’m sure you will come up with more than one takeaway from this account.
Third Account: I stopped at a local thrift store looking for a deal last Friday. I went right in and out, not finding what I wanted, a rectangular wall hanging. I got in my car, turned on the ignition, and was prepared to go to the store, my original purpose for leaving the house. Suddenly I see a black SUV backing up out of the row in front of me. I pause, unsure of what this driver was going to do. By the way he was driving, I was saying, “He’s waiting too long to turn his wheels.” I was about ready to put my car in reverse and back out of the way. I didn’t get that far. The driver backs up into the space right beside me. It was no stranger. It was our church organist. I did not recognize him because his car looked different. I asked him if it was a new car. He said, “No. I just got a good wash.” I’m still looking at how clean it looked. It got my attention, for sure. The organist goes on to say, “It’s like us, we have to get the dirt cleaned off of us, every now and then; some more than others.” I concurred and laughed, but in my head my old nature spoke in place of my new nature’s “Amen” and said, “He ain’t lying!” Again, as you do your DYO, I’m sure you will meditate and once again come up with multiple takeaways.
Okay now! I did put parenthesis around Monday Short above! Smile my friend! Do your DYO work! Be blessed!
“If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.” (John 1:16 MSG)
Mark L. King