Clean

Don Hussong shares this story:

After church, where she had been taught about the Second Coming, a little girl was quizzing her mother. "Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?"
"Yes."
"Today?"
"Yes."
"In a few minutes?"
"Yes, dear."
The little girl thought for a moment. Then she asked, "Mommy, would you comb my hair?"

We all want to be prepared when Jesus returns, but, obviously, whether or not we are having a "bad hair day" does not matter. What does matter is the condition of our soul. Are we cleansed from sin?

In John 15:1-2, Jesus explained that God—the supreme gardener—removes every branch that is not productive. Also, he prunes or trims the dead branches that are attached to the vine. Dead, broken, and excess twigs are cut away. This process of pruning is not performed to punish, but to enable the branches, and the vine, to be more productive—more fruitful.

Jesus told his disciples in John 15:3 that they were "clean." He stated, they were clean because of the word he had spoken to them.

The Greek word for "clean" is kathoros, which also means "pure." In the physical sense, the word was used in reference to vines that were prepared, by pruning, to bring forth fruit. Actually, the Greek word for pruning is kathairō, which means to remove useless "shoots" from a vine or branch. Also, this word conveys the idea of removing filth. So, a clean branch or vine had been pruned and was ready for the growing season. Consequently, in context, Jesus connected the physical practice of pruning to the spiritual cleansing that occurs when we are obedient to Him--who is the Word (John 1:1).

A clean branch can produce more fruit and is not burdened with wasting nutrients on shoots that are not beneficial. Since the disciples had responded to His teaching--His "word"--they were spiritually cleansed from the contamination of sin. This meant they were ready to be beneficial to the Kingdom of God.

Unfortunately, not all of the disciples were clean. We know that Judas, who conspired with the religious leaders to have Jesus arrested, was a branch that was removed. Obviously, he refused to be pruned, to be cleansed. His dirty deal caused great suffering for Jesus and produced so much turmoil in his own life that he committed suicide.

As a child, I didn't like to bathe. On one occasion, after being ordered to take a bath, I went into the bathroom and filled the tub with H2O. Next, I dropped a clean bath cloth and a bar of soap into the water. I splashed a little water on my face and wet my hair on the ends. Then, I walked out in a towel, appearing to have completed appropriate physical hygiene. Unfortunately, my mother took a glance at the tub. She knew how dirty I was before entering the bathroom. The water was too clear, the washcloth too fresh. So, after some strong persuasive words and actions by my mom, I returned to the site of the attempted deception to get a complete washing.

Consequently, just as being near a bath tub filled with fresh water does not clean us, being near Jesus--the Vine, the Word--does not cleanse us from sin. We must submit ourselves to Him and receive forgiveness. Then, we can be productive and fruitful for Him.

In order for you to be clean, what needs to be trimmed from your life today?