“But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.” — Deuteronomy 23:11
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the Kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” — Revelation 1:5
The Lord teaches a powerful principle: there is no fellowship without cleansing. In Deuteronomy, the man who was unclean could not remain in the camp. Before he could return among God’s people, he had to wash. The washing did not earn his place — it restored his fellowship. God’s presence required purity.
Revelation lifts this truth higher. What water could only picture, Christ fulfilled. Jesus Christ has washed us — not with water — but “in his own blood.” This is not outward cleansing, but inward redemption. We are not just restored to a camp — we are brought into the presence of God Himself.
Illustration #1 — Naaman Washed Clean (2 Kings 5:10–14)
Naaman, a leper, was told by Elisha to wash in Jordan seven times. At first he resisted — his pride stood in the way. But when he obeyed and dipped himself, “his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Cleansing comes by humble obedience to God’s way — not our own. The water did not heal him — God did. Just as the law required washing, Naaman’s cleansing pointed to a greater spiritual need: we must be washed God’s way.
Illustration #2 — Peter Washed by Christ (John 13:8–10)
When Jesus came to wash Peter’s feet, Peter refused: “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter then yielded. Christ taught him that though he was clean (saved), he still needed daily washing for fellowship. Salvation washes us once for all (Revelation 1:5), but daily defilement must be cleansed for continued fellowship with Christ.
Before a man could enter the camp — he had to be washed. Before a sinner can enter God’s presence — he must be washed in the blood.
Water could cleanse the flesh…
But only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse the soul.
The Physical Death of Jesus Christ
In 1986, the American Medical Association published an article titled “The Physical Death of Jesus Christ.” It details the entire process of Jesus’ trial to His death on the cross.
In Luke 22, before Jesus is arrested, it is written that He was in great distress and sweating blood. Although rare, it is recognized as Hematidrosis, a condition caused by high levels of stress.
At the time, the crucifixion was considered the worst death for the worst of criminals. But this is not all Jesus faced. He endured whipping so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. He was beaten so horribly that His face was torn and His beard ripped.
A crown of thorns, 2–3 inches long, cut deeply into His scalp. The leather whip used to flog Him had tiny iron balls and sharp bones. The balls caused internal injuries while the sharp bones ripped open His flesh. His skeletal muscles, veins, and bowels were exposed, causing major blood loss. Most men do not survive this kind of torture. After Jesus was severely flogged, He was forced to carry His cross while people mocked and spat on Him.
Crucifixion was a process meant to instill excruciating pain, creating a slow and agonizing death. Nails as long as 8 inches were driven into Jesus’ wrists and feet. The Roman soldiers knew the tendons in the wrists would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the courage… Jesus endured this reality for 3 hours!
The Gospel of John writes that after Jesus’ death, a Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear and blood and water came out. Scientists explain that from hypovolemic shock, the rapid heart rate causes fluid to gather in the sack around the lungs and heart. The accumulation of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called a Pericardial effusion and the lungs is called a pleural effusion.
To the world, Christianity is as foolish as it can get. They believe it’s for the weak. But when you are confronted by the reality of the cross, it’s clearly not a pretty sight. It is brutal and horrific.
This is the weight Jesus carried. The weight of the sins of the world, all so that we can live. God’s wrath is fully satisfied in Jesus. This is what it took. Repent and believe! Jesus is “God among us” in the flesh. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus loves you so much that He went through this spiritual and physical punishment for your sins and mine.
Jesus is the LORD, Almighty God, Everlasting Father.
Thank You, Jesus.