Personal reflection and meditation
Imagine yourself at the last supper sitting with Jesus' disciples. Suddenly, unexpectedly, Jesus gets up, strips off His outer garment, wraps a towel around His waist and begins washing His disciples feet. He is slowly making His way towards you. What is it like for you to anticipate what the Lord is going to do for you? How do you feel about this?

Meditate on and memorize (read, write and repeat) John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

Bible Study
If you have a Greek dictionary like Strong's concordance look up the words from John 15:2 "taketh away" and "purgeth." Also look up the word "clean" from verse 3. Write out the definitions for each word.

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Now take another look at verses 2 and 3. What is Jesus conveying to His disciples here?

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Verse 3 appears to be words of assurance from Jesus to His disciples. Why is there a need for assurance? What is He assuring them about?

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Read Ephesians 1:4-5 and Hebrews 13:5b. If a person is really "in" Christ, need he worry about being cut off or taken away?

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What does Christ do for those the Father has given Him (Zechariah 13:1, Hebrews 9:14)?

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How have the disciples been made clean (Matthew 16:16-17, Ephesians 2:8)?

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Read John 13:6-9. Being made clean by Christ is one thing, but being willing to accept and believe that He has made you clean is quite another. Go back to the personal reflection and mediation. Has your response changed? Why or why not?

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Based on these scriptures what kinds of things can you expect God to prune from your life?

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Personal Application
Do you struggle with issues of guilt and shame? Have you, like Peter willingly accepted the cleansing power of Christ's forgiveness?

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What personal insight did you gain through this study?

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How did you sense God speaking to you through this study?

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What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

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Take these things to God in prayer, placing each burden of guilt and shame that you still carry at the foot of the cross and allow the power of Christ's blood to wash you clean.

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Copyright © 2002 Alan and Jean LeStourgeon