WASHING OUR HANDS

This phrase keeps coming to me: Washing our Hands.

Here are three ways of washing our hands:

-To lift our hands up to the Lord for spiritual cleansing.
Lifting our hands in gratitude. (See January 1 Journal entry)

-To wash them as protocol, sanitation as common sense requires. Also, to wash spiritually (John 13:1-17)

-To symbolically wash them as Pilate did.
“Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” (Matthew 27:24) This is a symbolic act of claiming no responsibility or guilt. The cop-out.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart.”
(Psalm 24:3-5)

“But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.” (Job 17:9)

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.” James 4:8

When James said, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners,” he was speaking figuratively, using the washing of one’s hands as a symbol of repentance and the washing away of sin. The non-cop out.

“A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” Jesus