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John

John 
Day 
Day 213

John 15:1-17 "THE DEEP WORK OF CLEANSING"

Day 213 – John 15

THE DEEP WORK OF CLEANSING

Few appreciate the deep work that God must do in our life, just with reference to cleansing or pruning in the context of the illustration of The Vine and the Branches. Let us consider Jesus’ statement on this subject.

“You are already clean because of the word
which I have spoken to you.”
John 15:3

“YOU ARE ALREADY CLEAN…”

What was Jesus speaking of, even as He made this statement? Though the Gospels did not clearly and specifically record just when the cleansing process began, we may well trace this concept of being cleansed to the day when they placed their faith in Jesus as their Saviour.

Remember how John the Forerunner proclaimed Jesus as “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36)? Contained within that single sentence was a message of salvation and of course cleansing. Faith in Jesus as the Lamb of God would naturally result in their sins being forgiven.

As Jesus preached the Word of God, and people came to have faith in Him, so did they receive cleansing from their sins? Forgiveness of sins and cleansing were related concepts. With forgiveness came cleansing of sins. Thus Jesus could speak to His Disciples as people who “are already clean”.

Judicially, those who believed in Jesus were already clean in the sight of God. Their sins had been forgiven. Their sins would never be held against them on judgment day! This was the word that Jesus spoke not only to the Disciples but also to all who listened to His Word (Refer to John 8:1-12 for a classic illustration of how a person can be pronounced clean and forgiven by Jesus).

FURTHER CONTINUOUS CLEANSING

When Jesus washed the feet of His Disciples, He taught another great truth. Though a person may stand judicially clean before God, the fact remains that he is still quite capable of sinning- everyday!

Jesus understood that, and thus He taught His Disciples just why He needed to wash and cleanse their feet (John 13:1-17). There will always be a need for washing and cleansing of feet – everyday!

PRUNING OF BRANCHES

Jesus went on to teach His Disciples about the work of pruning that the Father would do in their lives. Because of the problem of sin, their lives and ministry could be badly affected. Just as branches needed pruning in order to be productive, so believers need to be pruned or cleansed so that they could produce more fruit.

The distinction between the first cleansing and all subsequent cleansing must be noted. The first work of cleansing has to do with salvation. All subsequent work of cleansing has to do with sanctification. The latter has to do with the fact that God through the cleansing process enables the believer to become more and more holy or sanctified. It is in the state of sanctification that the believer produces fruit in his life and ministry.

THE POWER OF THE WORD OF JESUS

Whether it is the initial act of cleansing, or the subsequent work of pruning – the common denominator is the Word of God. The work of cleansing is to be done in and through the Word of God particularly.

Let us recall the famous line from Psalm 119. The text reads,

“How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your Word.”
Psalm 119:9

What did Jesus mean when He spoke of being cleansed through the Word that He spoke? Let us ponder over the following thoughts related to the Word that Jesus preached!

1. The Word that Jesus preached had power and authority!

This was the observation of all who heard Jesus. They could not help but observed this truth.

“What a word this is! For with authority and power
He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Luke 4: 36

2. The Word that Jesus preached brought life

This was what Jesus Himself declared concerning the Word that He preached.

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life”
John 6:63

3. The Word that Jesus preached enables a person to break the bonds of sin

Jesus boldly proclaimed this truth concerning the Word He preached.

“And you shall know the truth (His Word)
and the truth shall make you free”
John 8:32

4. The Word that Jesus preached promises cleansing

It should not surprise us that the word Jesus taught had both authority and power to bring about cleansing. Thus He could say to His Disciples,

“You are already clean because of the Word
which I have spoken to you.”
John 15:3

What power there is in God’s Word! Let us study His Word faithfully. How we should yearn to know His Word much better.