Washed in His word

November 6, 2019

While reading the Gospel of John today, my attention was drawn to Jesus telling His disciples as He washed their feet that they were already clean (except for one) and just needed to have their feet washed (Jn 13:3-10). This was before the cross and the resurrection. We find clues as to His meaning in John 15:3: “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you,” and again in His prayer to the Father for His disciples recorded in John 17:16-19: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” The apostle Paul says Jesus gave Himself up for the church to “sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Eph 5:25-27). Is that why, when Jesus’ side was pierced with a spear, “at once there came out blood and water…” (Jn 19:34)?

Jesus has more to tell His disciples about the power of His words: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told Me” (Jn 12:46-50).

Because of Christ’s shed blood, we can enter the very throne room of heaven to seek the counsel of heaven (Hb 10:19-22). And the Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ teaching and His words (Jn 14:26). Then, Jesus sends us, just as the Father sent Him (Jn 20:21, also Jn 17:8). “[As] He is so also are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17). As His words abide in us, we bear much fruit and can ask Him “whatever [we] wish” (Jn 15:3, 5, 7-8).

Meditate on these scriptures.

Every believer who abides in Jesus and His words and who listens to the Holy Spirit and obeys has been given authority to speak words of light and life into death and darkness! Lord, help me to live in the awesome power of Your words, to take them in and process them until they become my mindset and life principles.

Jesus’ words have washed us clean. When we speak His words over others who are receptive, the cleansing process begins in them. Lies are washed away, revealing truth; wounds are healed; the Holy Spirit exposes sin, and God’s kindness brings repentance and forgiveness.

Lord, help me speak the words You give me to speak by Your Spirit, not on my own authority but by the commandment of the Father. May those words wash others and bring them closer to You.

Muslims consider the Qur’an to be Allah’s infallible word revealed to Muhammad. They believe Qur’ans on earth are perfect copies of the original, kept in heaven. The words of the Qur’an hide the truth about Jesus and contradict what He says about Himself in the Bible. Lord, may we Your people speak the gracious truth of Your words over Muslim people who are longing for Truth and the freedom He brings (Jn 8:31-32) so they too can be clean. Give us courage to pray for them in person with revelation and authority.


About Leslie

Leslie knows by faith and experience that our heavenly Father puts His prayers in our hearts and then listens to our hearts’ cry as we pray them back to Him. We hear God, and God hears us.

Subscribe Prayer Resources Prayer Letters

Pray for Your Mosque Community

Monthly Prayer Focus
Mosque communities are often the target of hate and racism, but we are called to love. Perhaps the most loving thing we can do is to pray. Use this monthly blog to help inspire prayers of love and compassion for those who call your neighbourhood mosque their home.
Monthly Prayer Guide Newest R
View all

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.

Nelson Mandela

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus