s the evening meal was in progress, "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. (John 13:2-11)

In this event, what did Jesus mean when He said, "taking a bath," and what does "cleansing the feet" signify? Most of His disciples had already been cleansed by taking a bath. However, Judas Iscariot, who would betray Him, was not clean. Therefore, what does it mean to be cleansed through taking a bath and washing feet?

Humans are unclean from birth. The Bible says: “How then can a mortal be righteous before God?  How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright  and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!” (Job 25:4-6).

Humans are inherently unclean from birth because they come from unclean parents. Furthermore, due to the sin of Adam and Eve, all mankind is considered impure in God’s eyes. People try to purify themselves through good deeds and moral behavior, but this is not possible. The Bible says: “Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22).

Although the Israelites used animal sacrifices to atone for their sins, these were only the shadow which was to come in the future. Therefore, God Himself sent His Son Jesus to shed His blood so that we might be cleansed through it. The Bible says: “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

Why did Jesus not directly state that His blood cleanses sins, but instead began with the words, "If we walk in the light as He (God) is in the light…"? It is because impurity and purity can only be perceived in the light. When one is in darkness, they cannot discern whether they are unclean or clean. Since people live in spiritual darkness, they remain unaware of their own sins and continue to commit them; even believers may sometimes act like those who do not believe. As Paul wrote: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8). Believers accept that Jesus’ blood has cleansed them because they are in the light.  Therefore, they are considered to have taken a bath in a spiritual sense.

Why is it necessary to wash one's feet after bathing? In the time of Jesus, people in Israel used well water for washing. Although they could carry enough water for foot-washing, they could not transport sufficient quantities for full-body bathing; thus, everyone would bathe at the well. Upon returning home after bathing, individuals needed to wash their feet again. Similarly, on a spiritual level, being cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ signifies purification. Therefore, what does it mean for our spiritual feet to become dirty, and what causes them to become unclean?

Spiritual feet represent the heart. When Christians live in this world, their hearts become easily attached to worldly things, rendering them unclean. Jesus said: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”” (Mark 7:20-23). The body executes the actions commanded by the heart; for instance, a thief steals with his hand because the heart commands it. Therefore, there is a need to cleanse the heart.

How can the heart be cleansed? It cannot be cleaned by water and soap, nor by blood alone. The Scripture says: "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:26-27) Christ cleanses the Church, which is the body of believers, "with the washing of water through the word." However, it is not Jesus Himself who performs the cleansing; rather, believers must do the cleansing themselves. When a guest stays in someone's house, the host provides the guest with water, soap, and towels, but the guest washes himself while the host does not wash him. Likewise, Christ will not cleanse the believer directly; the believer must personally perform the cleansing.

How does a believer's heart become defiled? It becomes so through daily use of television, computers, and smartphones; through association with people; or by engaging in unclean activities. Filth from the world enters the heart through the ears and eyes. Just as dirty water from a plumbing system is unpleasant to see and smell, so too are things that enter our hearts through our eyes and ears defiling. Consequently, the heart becomes like a rotten, polluted garbage can. Therefore, one must be vigilant about what the eyes see and what the ears hear. Instead of filling their hearts with holy scriptures, believers often fill themselves daily with worldly filth. As a result, their mouths and bodies naturally produce these defiling things. Henceforth, let us deliberately bring only spiritual matters into our hearts.

A defiled heart must be cleansed with the water of the Word. How does this cleansing take place? It occurs through listening to, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's Word. Just as we wash our bodies every day, we should read Scripture daily. While most believers receive God's Word primarily by listening, listening alone is insufficient because it impacts only about twenty percent of the heart. When you personally read and study the Scripture, you can gain an additional twenty percent understanding. By memorizing and studying Bible passages, you will comprehend them more deeply and be better equipped to apply them in your daily life.

Scripture says: "How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:9-11).

A defiled heart cannot be cleansed merely by knowing the Bible; it requires personal effort. How should one begin? Just as people eat meals two to four times a day and cannot avoid doing so since food is essential for the body, Scripture serves as spiritual nourishment for our souls. Without feeding our spirits with God's Word, we cannot possess strength or vitality. Therefore, set aside 15–20 minutes each day specifically for reading the Bible. Choose a time when you are undisturbed and consistently read your daily portion of Scripture. It may feel tedious at first, especially in the beginning, but do not give up. After a week of consistent reading, a habit will form. When you read Scripture, pray briefly that God will help you understand it. Turn off your phone during this time. Choose a moment when no guests are expected, for this is a sacred occasion to converse with God—do not let others interrupt or distract you. Be disciplined and establish a routine. Start with easier passages so that reading becomes a natural habit. Begin by reading the letters of Paul: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Galatians, and 1 Thessalonians. Later, move on to the Gospels and other New Testament books. After finishing the New Testament, proceed to read the Old Testament.

When reading Scripture, underline key points in your Bible or write notes in the margins. For example, when reading Ephesians 2:1–3, you might highlight by underlining as follows:

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

In addition to underlining key points, you can write notes in the margins such as "dead in sin," "made alive," "living according to the desires of the body and mind," "subject to God's wrath," and so on. Taking these notes will be extremely helpful when you revisit the passage for review or reflection. You should not delay reading; start now, from this very moment. If you continue to postpone it, you may never actually read it. Just as no one else can nourish your soul if you do not feed it yourself, make time and effort to spiritually "feed" your soul just as you would physically prepare a meal for your body. In reality, when the body is strong, people tend to commit more sins; however, when the spirit is strengthened through God's Word, sin decreases, and you begin to live according to God's will, which also reduces many of life's problems. When the spirit is strengthened, your heart becomes joyful, and you become more successful in making wise decisions.

The Scripture says: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. " (Joshua 1:8).

May you become a person who is successful and achieves great things.

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