July 6
"A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean. . . ."
- John 13:10, NIV
In Jesus’ day the people went to common baths, similar to a public swimming pool, where they would bathe all over. However, as soon as they left the bath and walked along the streets, their feet would get dirty again. So when they arrived at their homes, it was not necessary to have a complete bath. They only needed to wash their feet of the dust and dirt they had picked up along the way.
Jesus was explaining to Peter that once you and I have been to the cross for our complete “bath,” we are clean. All of our sin – past, present, future, small, medium, large – is washed away by the blood of Jesus and we are totally, completely, permanently forgiven! Praise God! But we still sin! Our feet get dirty again! So every day we come back to the cross, not for forgiveness since we are already forgiven, but to confess our sin and be cleansed that we might maintain a right fellowship with God and with others and ourselves. Do you need a foot bath?
