You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
This phrase in John’s gospel seems a bit of a non sequitur. Yet I have come to believe that God’s Word, the Bible, is absolutely the way he wants it to be. Just as Jesus is a “stumbling stone” for those whose pride will not let them bow to their Creator, the Word also can be a stumbling stone to those who insist that the Bible must conform to their ideas of writing structure and form. God, in His wisdom, says the book is exactly the way he wanted it.
So let’s assume that God knows what He is doing. Let’s assume that what John tells us about what Jesus said is here for a reason. If the answer to the question, “Why is this sentence here?” is that God wanted it that way, then what does it say and what does it mean?
To the Jews, the concept of “clean” and “unclean” goes back to Moses giving God’s law to the Israelites. The unclean had to stay outside of the camp. The clean had to be cleansed by sacrifice or ritual that demonstrated submission to God’s will. They were part of God’s people.
When Jesus uses the word “clean” here, he is not referring to the cleansing of the body, but rather the cleansing of the soul.
Perhaps John inserted this sentence here because the Jews associated the cutting off of a branch with being unclean. If that is the case, then the context actually makes sense because Jesus speaks the words of eternal life. Having heard the words of Jesus, the disciples are “clean” meaning that they are part of Jesus, that is part of the vine he talks about.
Let’s Discuss: Why must the unclean be cut off from the branch?
I think one reason that the unclean must be cut off from the branch is because the branch is holy and cannot have a relationship with that which is unholy. If the branch is clean then the vine must be clean as well. If the vine is not clean, then it is showing it does not belong to the branch and must be removed.
Thanks Rich,
The concept of holiness is very important here. Well said.
I take it as an affirmation of the disciples who listen and follow Jesus words – they are branches that remain. Those who do not remain, who do not abide with Jesus or his word are unclean branches to be discarded.
I agree with Rich’s comment about holiness and would add that in this passage the concepts of purity/holiness, abiding, and keep/obedience to Jesus commands are all related. The branch that remains is holy/pure – set aside to bear fruit. Such people abide/remain with Jesus like a productive branch continues to abide in the vine rather than being cut off. Abiding with Jesus means listening, respecting, and obeying his words (keeping his commandments).
National Israel rejected rather than abiding with Jesus (will one day be grafted back in the vine) and Judas betrayed rather than abiding with Jesus. Jesus is the only way anyone can be made clean/pure/holy – he is our source of life!
Nathan,
I like how you have expanded on the topic. Jesus is our source of life because he is able to make us holy in God’s eyes through his sacrifice on the cross. He literally has bought us back from death by allowing himself to be sacrificed in our place.