Are you clean? (John 13:1-11) 110407
I like to go chalet with a small group of friends, especially youths. It will be during chalet, that I will be able to see the ‘true’ colors of my youths. I will find out how is their showering behavior, for some take at least an hour to shower, and others less than one minute; for some only shower after midnight, and others only early in the morning; for some have to take shower five times a day, and others don’t seem to need to shower at all. I will also find out how they sleep, for some snoring is like my motorbike engine, for some is like a 3-tonnes truck, for some don’t need to sleep, and for some can fall asleep in the middle of a conversation.
It is interesting to being a chalet with the youths, it is where you see how they have been ‘oppressed’ at home and try to live out the real self in that two or three days. There was this particular chalet I had with a group youths. They rented a room at Downtown East and asked me to join them. We have great fun, and great time for heart to heart talks. There was this particular day when we were coming back from some beach walk, we were to wash our feet before entering the room. I was the first one and they one by one squeezed in, so I instinctively washed their feet one by one. These youths were very close to my heart, as I have literally seen them grown from playful teenagers to responsible and God fearing young adults.
As I washed their feet, I was humbled. I was also thrilled that these youths allowed me to wash their feet, because this symbolized our relationship as discipler and disciples. Today’s passage is a reminder for me to remain humble.
As I read today’s passage, I was captured by these words of Jesus, "Not all of you are clean." (v11). I know that Apostle John brought out these words were to refer to Judas who was going to betray Jesus (v2), but it was also referring to Peter who wanted his hands and head to be washed by Jesus too (v9). Jesus’ act of washing the feet of the disciples had two folds meaning. One was to demonstrate humility, and the other was a symbol of acceptance of His disciples (v8). When Jesus said, "Not all of you are clean." He was referring to Judas for two reasons. Firstly, Judas was not clean because he had rejected the extension of fellowship from Jesus. He had forfeited his place in the circle of fellowship with Jesus. He had allowed the devil to remain in his heart (v2) and refused to let Jesus cleaned his heart. Secondly, Judas was not clean because He had chosen not to follow the path of humility. He rather chose riches of the world than the way of the Cross.
Are you clean? Maybe not all of you are clean. Have you rejected the fellowship with God’s people? Maybe you have been hurt by them before, but are you willing to come clean with them and make the relationship right again? Have you allowed the devil to put thoughts of unforgiveness, hatred, lust, misunderstanding and even anger in your heart? Maybe Jesus is speaking to your heart right now, asking you to let Him clean up your heart, are you willing? Do you have any things or riches of the world that are hindering you to follow the path of humility as Jesus did? Could it be your studies? Could it be your career? Could it be your family? Could it be your relationship? Could it be your ministry? Could it be your pride? Are you willing to join Jesus on the way to the Cross with humility? Are you clean?
