Few things strain a relationship more than unresolved offenses. Avoidance does not erase conflict—it deepens the divide. Small grievances, left unaddressed, become barriers, separating those who were once close. We all know the feeling—awkward silences, avoidance, the weight of unspoken words. Relationships cannot thrive without reconciliation and restoration.

This is not only true of human relationships but of our relationship with God. Sin creates distance, leaving a stain we cannot remove. Yet Christ does not ignore our sin or wait for us to make ourselves presentable. Instead, He moves toward us with a cleansing love that washes away sin and restores our fellowship with Him.

John 13 captures this truth powerfully. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus stooped to wash His disciples’ feet. What seemed like a simple act of humility carried deep significance. Christ’s love is not passive sentiment—it is an active, cleansing love. It does not merely overlook sin but removes it. His love does not wait for worthiness—it reaches the unworthy. And as He told Peter, unless we allow Him to wash us, we have no part with Him.

As the evening shadows lengthened over Jerusalem, Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Passover meal. This night would be unlike any other. The storm of betrayal was already forming, yet John tells us that Jesus’ love was neither diminished by His impending suffering nor dependent on what He would receive in return. As Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Passover meal, John opens this section with a statement about how Jesus loves His own:

John 13:1 NASB  Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Christ’s love was not contingent on what He would receive. He loved them, not because they were worthy, but because it was His nature. Jesus knew what lay ahead—the looming cross, imminent suffering, and the disciples’ coming abandonment. Yet His love remained steadfast. In a fallen world, love is often transactional—we give when we receive. But Christ’s love is entirely self-giving, undeterred by failure. And how did He express this unwavering love? Not with words alone, but through profound humility.

Christ’s Humility Demonstrates the Depth of His Cleansing Love

The phrase “to the end” does not merely indicate a time frame but the fullness and perfection of His love—a love that does not overlook sin but cleanses it. His love is not passive sentimentality; it stoops, washes, and restores. He loved them fully and unconditionally, even as hardship tested them. His love did not waver, even knowing the disciples would soon scatter in fear.

Even as Christ displayed the fullness of His love, a sinister plot was unfolding.

John 13:2 NASB  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,

It is jarring to see such darkness emerge just as Jesus’ love is emphasized. While Christ prepared to serve, Judas prepared to betray. As Jesus stooped to wash feet, Judas reached for blood money. The contrast could not be more striking—ultimate humility against ultimate treachery.

Christ’s love is perfectly selfless, extending even to those who betray Him.

Judas is difficult to comprehend. How could he witness Christ’s miracles and still betray Him? His heart had long been drifting, consumed by self-interest. John’s statement that Satan had already put it into his heart reminds us—when love is rejected, the heart does not remain neutral.

Jesus still loved him. Outwardly, Judas looked like the others, but Jesus knew the truth.

John 2:25 NASB: He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

He had warned that one among them was “a devil”, yet He still extended to Judas the same patience and kindness as the others. Jesus did not expose or humiliate him—He loved him to the very end.

But Judas’ heart was set. He had already decided Christ was not worth his devotion. The tragedy of Judas is not just that he betrayed Jesus but that he resisted His love. Many today do the same—offering outward displays of faith while inwardly rejecting His lordship.

Christ’s act of washing feet is a powerful demonstration of His cleansing love in action

Jesus’ foot-washing was not just humility; it symbolized the cleansing He provides. His love does not tolerate sin—it removes it. Yet Judas, though outwardly washed, remained defiled. Proximity to Jesus is not the same as belonging to Him. His betrayal was not a single moment of weakness but the final step of a heart that had long refused to be cleansed.

This is the love Christ still offers—a love that serves, cleanses, and reaches even the unworthy. But Judas’ story is a warning. One can be near Christ, profess Him, and practice outward faith yet remain unchanged. Those who claim allegiance to Christ but persist in disobedience echo Judas’ betrayal—offering words of devotion while resisting His cleansing. Jesus loved even Judas to the end, but love rejected becomes judgment. The question is not whether Christ’s love is available, but whether we will receive it in a way that truly transforms us.

Before Jesus took up the towel and basin, John gives us a glimpse into His mindset.

John 13:3 NASB  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

Jesus was fully aware of His divine authority. He was not confused about His identity—He was the eternal Son of God, sovereign over all creation. Therefore, He was not fearful of being misunderstood by His disciples. His identity and security did not depend upon them.

Yet this knowledge did not lead Him to demand honor but to humble Himself in service. Knowing all things were in His hands, He took a servant’s towel. He did not cling to His position but demonstrated love. True humility is not born of insecurity but confidence in God’s will. Secure in the Father’s plan, Jesus stooped low. His selflessness was not an abdication of power but its truest expression. The One with all authority chose to serve. He…

John 13:4-5 NASB  got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  ⁵  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

They had walked through Jerusalem’s dusty, filthy streets. Foot-washing was a necessary act before entering a home, usually performed by the lowest servant. The disciples knew this, yet none stepped forward.

Yet, as they entered, not one of them moved to take up the basin. They were too preoccupied with their own status. In fact, according to Luke’s Gospel, they had recently been arguing about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Each of them was willing to sit at the table with unwashed feet rather than stoop to perform this menial task.

Meals were eaten while reclining on the floor, meaning someone’s feet were close to another’s head. Neglecting foot-washing was not just unclean—it was rude. Yet no one among them took the initiative. So, Jesus arose, removed His outer garment, took up a towel, and prepared to do what none of them would.

Jesus did not command humility without first displaying it. True love moves beyond words into action. His cleansing love is not theoretical but tangible, sacrificial, and personal. By washing their feet, He revealed the heart of His mission—not just to remove dirt, but to cleanse sinners. No earthly king would stoop to wash his subjects’ feet, nor would a teacher lower himself to cleanse his disciples. Yet the One who spoke the world into existence knelt before men who would abandon Him. His humility defies every human expectation of power and greatness. But this moment extends beyond the physical act—it points to a greater reality: unless we receive the cleansing Christ offers, we have no part with Him.

This is the heart of the gospel. Christ came not only to serve, but to wash away the stain of sin and restore our fellowship with God. Yet we often struggle to grasp our need for His cleansing work. Whether through pride, self-reliance, or misunderstanding, we often resist the very grace that saves us.

Receiving Christ’s Cleansing Love is Essential for Renewing our Relationship with God

This truth is central to our walk with Christ. Spiritual renewal is not something we achieve through our own strength or effort, but something Christ must do for us. Still, we often hesitate, wrestling with the idea of being served by Him. We want to prove our worth, to clean ourselves up, to contribute in some way. We cannot dictate how Christ cleanses us; we must simply receive it.

We see this struggle play out vividly in Peter’s response. As Jesus moves from disciple to disciple, the tension builds. The room is silent except for the sound of water being poured, the splashing as feet are washed. One by one, Jesus kneels before His disciples, wiping away the dirt they were unwilling to touch. Then He comes to Peter. And Peter cannot remain silent. His reaction exposes the common human tendency—to resist the humility of divine cleansing.

John 13:6 NASB  So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”

Peter’s response is instinctive—shock and protest. His hesitation seems reverent, but it contradicts Christ’s intent. His respect is real but mixed with self-will. The same Peter who rebuked Jesus (Matt. 16:22) and later vowed never to deny Him (John 13:37) now resists His cleansing.

An unspoken tension fills the room. None of the disciples had humbled themselves to wash the others’ feet, exposing their pride when Jesus took the basin. Peter, the most vocal, may have felt this most acutely. His resistance was not just about Christ’s humility but his own failure. Jesus’ act was uncomfortable because it revealed their self-interest over love for Him.

Many of us have felt exposed when another’s willingness to serve highlights our inaction. The trash is full, dishes pile up, and crumbs litter the table—everyone sees it, but no one moves. Then, one person quietly begins cleaning, without a word or sigh. Suddenly, the rest feel it. No one called them out, yet their reluctance is obvious. The moment Peter saw Jesus kneel before him, it was not just his feet that felt unclean. It was his heart. And so often, when confronted with Christ’s humility, our first instinct is not to receive it, but to recoil from it.

Peter’s reverence was real, but it was incomplete. True reverence submits. True humility does not merely honor Christ with words but accepts what He offers, even when it is uncomfortable. Listen to Jesus’ response:

John 13:7 NASB  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”

Jesus’ response reminds us that our limited understanding should never be an excuse for resisting His work in our lives. Humility is required to accept His cleansing, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. This struggle is not unique to Peter. We experience it in our own lives—when we hesitate to confess our sins daily, when we neglect prayer because we feel unworthy or uncertain, when we resist surrender because we want to control the outcome. Yet Christ calls us to trust Him, even when we do not fully comprehend His work. Let Him do His work. Spiritual cleansing is not about our understanding—it is about our willingness to receive what only Christ can give. Peter’s resistance escalates in verse 8 as he emphatically declares,

John 13:8 NASB  Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

His words reveal a deeper issue—not just confusion, but refusal. He isn’t merely hesitant; he insists Christ conform to his understanding. Human nature resists God’s work, trying to reshape it through pride, self-reliance, or misunderstanding. Some attempt to approach God by their own efforts, believing they must clean themselves up first. Others resist because grace requires admitting need. Like Peter, they recoil at Christ stooping to serve them. But His cleansing is not on our terms—it is freely given, yet must be received. The greatest obstacle is not Christ’s willingness to cleanse, but our reluctance to accept it His way. But notice Jesus’ strong response:

John 13:8 NASB: Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Christ’s Response to Peter Emphasizes the Necessity of Cleansing for Fellowship

Jesus does not soften His words to Peter. His response is direct and absolute. This statement reaches far beyond the physical act of foot-washing—it points to the deeper reality of sin and the necessity of divine cleansing. Sin is not a surface-level issue that can be ignored or washed away by human effort. It defiles us at the very core of our being and creates an impenetrable barrier between us and God.

Sin has always separated humanity from God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve walked in unhindered fellowship with their Creator—until sin entered the world. Their first instinct after rebelling was to hide, to create distance between themselves and God. This is the pattern of sin: it alienates, isolates, and drives a wedge between the sinner and the Holy One. Isaiah 59:2 makes this reality clear:

Isaiah 59:2 NASB: But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Sin distorts our perception of God. It warps our understanding of His goodness and makes us prone to avoid Him rather than draw near. This is why guilt often leads to spiritual distance. When we’re burdened by sin we are more likely to resist prayer, avoid Scripture, and hesitate to approach God, not because God has turned away, but because sin blinds us to His grace.

Yet instead of recognizing sin as the root cause, the modern world offers a different diagnosis. Secular thought claims guilt is merely a psychological burden imposed by outdated religious norms, suggesting that abandoning these moral frameworks would bring peace. But experience says otherwise. Why, even in a society that rejects biblical morality, does guilt persist? Why do people still struggle with shame, regret, and the need to justify themselves? Secularism may dismiss sin, but it cannot erase the deep sense that something is wrong—not just in the world, but within us.

The world prescribes its own remedies. Self-help gurus tell us to embrace our flaws. Therapists offer coping mechanisms to manage guilt. Social movements redefine morality to align with cultural trends. Yet none of these solutions address the root issue. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones often pointed out, the world spends immense effort treating symptoms while ignoring the disease. A polluted river cannot be purified by skimming debris off the surface—the source itself must be cleansed.

This is precisely what Jesus is confronting in His response to Peter. “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me”. The issue is not simply about Peter’s discomfort with Jesus’ humility—it is about his need for cleansing. And that same need applies to us.

Genuine fellowship with Christ depends on accepting His cleansing love. Jesus makes it clear: there is no relationship with Him apart from His cleansing work. To refuse it is to refuse Him. No moral effort, religious devotion, or good intention can erase sin—only Christ can. Just as Peter had to receive Christ’s washing, so must we. True fellowship comes not through self-reliance but through humble acceptance of His grace.

After resisting Jesus’ act of humility, Peter quickly swings in the opposite direction.

John 13:9 NASB: Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

His response is dramatic, even impulsive. At first, he wanted nothing to do with Christ’s cleansing. Now, he demands more than what Jesus intends to give.

It is human nature to swing from resistance to excess, missing the heart of Christ’s offer. Peter assumes that if washing is necessary for fellowship, then more must be better. But true cleansing is not about quantity; it is about receiving Christ’s cleansing on His terms. His mistake is not just misunderstanding the act but grace itself.

Many approach salvation similarly. Some resist God’s grace, unwilling to admit their need. Others, once convinced, try to overcompensate—believing they must add to Christ’s work. They impose extra rituals, excessive guilt, or burdens, as if effort could secure greater cleansing. But salvation is not about excess; it is about accepting Christ’s sufficiency.

Jesus’ response will soon clarify this: cleansing is not about how much water is used but about who does the washing. Only Christ cleanses, and only on His terms. Jesus’ statement in John 13:10 makes a crucial distinction between two types of cleansing:

John 13:10 NASB  Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean…”

Jesus uses two different Greek words here—one for a complete bath (λελουμένος, leloumenos) and another for a smaller, repeated washing (νίψασθαι, nipsasthai). This distinction is vital to understanding how His cleansing love works.

The word “bathed” (λελουμένος) is in the perfect tense, meaning a completed action with lasting effects. This refers to the once-for-all cleansing that happens at salvation, also called justification. Justification means that when a person is saved, God declares them righteous in His sight—not because of their own goodness, but because of Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to them. It is a legal declaration, much like a judge pronouncing someone not guilty. Once a person is justified, they are fully cleansed before God, never needing to be saved again. This is why Jesus tells Peter that someone who has bathed does not need to keep washing—just as we don’t need to keep getting re-saved. Instead, what we need is the daily cleansing that keeps our relationship with God close and unhindered.

However, Jesus follows this with another word: “wash” (νίψασθαι), which is in the present tense, indicating an ongoing, repeated action. This represents sanctification—the daily cleansing believers need as they continue walking in a sinful world. If justification is about God declaring us righteous, sanctification is about God making us more like Christ over time. It is the process of being purified from sin’s influence and growing in holiness. The imagery is powerful: a person who has bathed does not need to keep bathing, but their feet will still get dirty from walking. In the same way, a believer who has been fully justified does not need to be re-saved, but they do need continual cleansing through confession, obedience, and walking with Christ. Sanctification is not about earning salvation—it is about living in the cleansing that Christ provides, staying close to Him, and allowing His love to transform us daily.

This distinction is essential because many Christians struggle with the assurance of salvation. Some believe they must be “re-saved” every time they fall into sin, while others neglect sanctification, assuming grace excuses them from confession and repentance. But Jesus makes it clear: justification secures our place with Him, yet we must return to Him daily for renewal. His love washes away the stain of sin once and for all in justification and continually renews our relationship through sanctification.

Christ Distinguishes Between Those Who Are Truly Cleansed and Those Who Remain Defiled

This statement reveals a crucial distinction—there is a cleansing that is once and for all, and there is a cleansing that must be continually received. Jesus uses the imagery of bathing and foot-washing to illustrate the difference between justification and sanctification.

Many believers misunderstand this balance. Some doubt their salvation because they still battle sin, fearing that their failures indicate they were never truly cleansed. Others ignore the need for ongoing sanctification, treating grace as a license to remain as they are. But Jesus makes it clear: justification secures our place with Him, yet we must return to Him daily for renewal.

Proximity to Christ Does Not Guarantee True Cleansing

Not all in the room that night were truly clean.

John 13:10-11 NASB:  …but not all of you.”  ¹¹  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Judas had walked with Jesus for three years. He had witnessed miracles, heard divine teaching, and shared in ministry alongside the other disciples. Yet, despite his proximity to Christ, he had never received true cleansing. His heart remained defiled.

This is a sobering reality: being near Christ is not the same as belonging to Him. A person can attend church, read the Bible, and participate in religious activities while remaining spiritually unclean. External association with Christ does not replace genuine faith in Him.

Yet, even knowing Judas’ betrayal, Jesus still washed his feet. Christ’s love extends even to the unrepentant. He offers cleansing to all, but not all will receive it. Judas rejected what was freely given. His heart remained hardened, and he left the table unchanged.

How does a Christian receive this daily washing?

Bring your defilement to Christ through regular confession of sin.

Christ’s cleansing love is available, but we must come to Him in humility to receive it. Confession of sin is the first and most immediate way we experience His ongoing cleansing. In 1 John 1:9, gives us this promise:

1 John 1:9 NASB  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The word for confess (ὁμολογέω, homologeō) means to agree with God about our sin—to acknowledge it, rather than excuse or hide it. Just as Peter had to let Jesus wash his feet, we must come before Christ in repentance, bringing our sins into the light.

Many struggle with confession because pride resists exposure and shame makes us want to withdraw. But avoidance only allows sin to fester. The disciples’ feet were dirty whether they acknowledged it or not, and so are our hearts when we allow unconfessed sin to remain. Confession is not about groveling for acceptance—it is about restoring fellowship with the One who loves us. Jesus did not reject Peter for needing cleansing, nor does He reject us. He invites us to come, to be washed, to be renewed. Without confession, we remain like Peter at first—insisting we have no need of cleansing, all while sin quietly dulls our hearts. But when we humble ourselves, He is faithful to forgive, restore, and renew.

Abide in Christ through the cleansing power of scripture.

Jesus told His disciples,

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

This reveals another vital way Christ cleanses us—through His Word. Just as water washes away dirt, Scripture purifies our minds, refines our hearts, and shapes us into His image. Ephesians 5:26 speaks of Christ’s ongoing work in the church:

Ephesians 5:26 NASB: so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

We do not drift toward holiness; we drift toward compromise. This is why abiding in Christ’s Word is essential for continual cleansing. Many believers wonder why they feel distant from God, yet neglect the very means by which He renews them. His Word convicts us, corrects us, strengthens us, and brings us back to Him. When we saturate our lives with Scripture—reading, meditating, and obeying—it reshapes our thoughts and desires.

A person who rarely bathes will not notice their own filth until they step into the light. In the same way, a believer who neglects Scripture will become desensitized to sin. Psalm 119:11 says,

Psalms 119:11: Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

We receive daily cleansing not by glancing at the Word occasionally, but by abiding in it—letting it challenge, convict, and transform us from within.

Walk in the Spirit & experience a continuously cleansed life.

Confession cleanses us from past sins. Abiding in the Word renews our minds. But walking in the Spirit is what keeps us in a state of continual cleansing.

Galatians 5:16 NASB  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

The Spirit does not simply convict us when we sin—He empowers us to resist it and guides us toward holiness.

To walk in the Spirit is to yield to His leading, depend on His strength, and pursue obedience. This is where many struggle. Some confess sin but return to the same habits. Others read the Word but fail to apply it. Walking in the Spirit is about actively applying what we know, relying on God’s strength rather than our own. Romans 8:13 says,

Romans 8:13 NASB: for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

This is daily cleansing in action—not just avoiding sin but replacing it with righteousness.

Walking in the Spirit requires daily surrender. It means listening when He convicts, choosing to obey even when it’s hard, and staying in constant communion with God. Just as dirty feet need regular washing, our hearts need moment-by-moment dependence on the Spirit’s work. He is always at work in us, always calling us back to Christ, always washing us with grace. The question is not whether He is willing to cleanse us—it is whether we will allow Him to do so.

A Call to Be Cleansed – Responding to Christ’s Love

Jesus’ words still ring true: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” The question is not whether we need cleansing, but whether we will let Him wash us. Some resist like Peter; others, like Judas, stay close outwardly but never surrender. Still, others long for renewal but hesitate.

The answer is simple: Come to Him. Let Him cleanse you. If sin has created distance, confess it—He is faithful. If your heart is weary, return to His Word—it revives. If you have strived in your own strength, walk by the Spirit—He will lead you. Christ’s cleansing love is for every day, every failure, every moment of renewal.