Title:  Wash Me Lord
Speaker:  Reverend Sheryl Shipman
Date:  5.04.03

Verses:  John 13:1-9

In our life we wash many things. We wash clothes, dishes, our bodies, etc. But, despite all the 
flashy advertisements we still have to wash these items again and again. Sometimes, stains are
still left behind. We are not yet clean. At best, all the most expensive soaps and detergents can 
offer is a temporary clean.

In the Scripture, we see that Jesus is washing the feet of His disciples, which was usually a slave's
task. He had no problem washing the feet of the one's he knew would later betray Him. But, He wanted
to teach them humility and show them how to serve others. 

Peter, shocked and surprised by Jesus' actions, refused to have his feet washed by Him. He didn't
understand why Jesus was doing this slave task. Jesus responded that unless He wash Peter, 
Peter would no longer have any type of relationship with Jesus. Unless, you except this wash, Peter, 
You can not accept what I have to offer. Unless, He wash your sins away, you will have no everlasting Life.
In response, Peter said "Wash not only my feet, but my hands and my head, also."

We are polluted and diluted by sin during our life. We are constantly exposed to sin (thru co-workers, 
television, radio, etc). We are in need of a spiritual washing, which will allow us to fellowship and 
have communion with Him. We stand in need fo a continual washing. Jesus, knowing all things (past, 
present, and future) used the last few hours of his earthly life washing His disciples feet. God wants
you and I to fully understand the significance of the washing.

Adam and Eve. Ate from the Tree of Knowledge and soon realized that they were naked. God covered
them with a temporary covering of fur.

Later, people began to follow after other gods. They became a stiffnecked and rebellious people. High
Priests had to offer up a blood sacrifice year after year. Yet the cleansing was only temporary. The priests
had to perform the ceremony repeatedly.

Jesus offered up a sacrifice ONE time and washed all of our sins away completely.

Jesus is coming back to recieve all of those who have been washed. Those who have not been washed 
are not clean and can not recieve what He has.


What Does He Have?
- Unconditional Love
- Forgiveness
- Peace Beyond Understanding
- Joy (the world didn't give it, the world can't take it away)
- Mercy
- All Power


When you wash your clothes, you notice the agitator in the washing machine. It moves the clothes from one
place to another. The agitator is just like our trails and tribulations - tossing us from here to there. When you 
are washing your clothes you also have to add detergent. You add the detergent to remove the dirt, the stains,
and the spots. Some of the stains are stubborn and hard to get out. But when WE have been washed, we can
apply the blood of Jesus and all of our sins come out sqeaky clean.

David said, "Purge me and I shall be clean. Wash mean and I shall be white as snow."
Wash my head so that I can think right. Wash my heart so that I can love unconditionally. Wash my mouth so that
I can sing your praises. Wash my hands so that I can serve mankind. Wash my feet so that I can go where
He wants me to go, even when I don't want to go.


Main Points:  Allow God to wash you. Jesus made His sacrifice so that when He returns, all of us could be clean and
return to Heaven with Him. Allow Him to wash you continually. <{{{><