Ceremonial Cleansing

John 11:53-12:1 – So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Exodus 12:13 – The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

1 Corinthians 11:28 – Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Mark 14:7 – The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

Luke 7:47,50 – Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”… Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Application:

• ·         Just as the plagues were miraculous signs of judgment on the pharaoh and His people, so the Lord’s “passing over” the Israelites who placed themselves under the sign of blood was a pledge of God’s mercy.
• ·         All participants should test the attitude of their own hearts and actions and their awareness of the significance of the Supper, thus making the Supper, under God, a spiritual means of grace.
• ·         Jesus’ did not express lack of concern for the poor, for their needs lay close to His heart. He simply stated the truth.
• ·         The woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair: her love was evidence of her forgiveness, but not the basis for it. She was saved by faith.
• ·         Her sins were forgiven and she could experience God’s peace.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV