Leviticus 15  This is another chapter that we would probably like to just skip over.. dealing with unclean "discharges"  from men or women. These could be natural occurrences.. or from some kind of infection. Either way, the person or persons affected would have to wash themselves and their clothes ... and sometimes anything that they sat on or touched had to be washed or maybe broken.. .  After that there was a set amount of time that they had to wait before they could be "clean".  Depending on the situation.. a guilt and sin offering would be required. 

Verse 31 gives us the purpose of these regulations.. "Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them." 

Two passages in the New Testament come to mind here:

Mark 5:25-34 - This is the account of the woman who had an  unclean discharge... an "issue of blood" as the KJV renders it.. She would definitely be considered "unclean".  She should not have touched anyone.. let alone Jesus.  But, here she was, in a crowd that was following Jesus and "pressing in on Him."  She believed that if she could just touch His cloak.. she would be healed. So, she did... and she was "immediately" healed.  Now.. if she had touched anyone else she would have been condemned.. just imagine what a Pharisee or Sadducee would do!..  But, Jesus had mercy on her.  He knew that power had "gone forth" from Him.  He knew that she had touched Him.. but instead of condemning her.. He commended her! " Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."  He didn't require her to go wash.. or to wait.. or to offer a sacrifice.. although she may have done all of that.  He just set her free and made her clean. 

The other passage that comes to mind is John 13:10.  The Lord and the disciples were together in the upper room for the Passover meal.  Jesus got up from the table and poured water into a basin and washed the feet of His disciples.  Peter did not want the Lord to wash his feet but Jesus told him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part of Me." Then, Peter wanted a whole bath!  Jesus spoke these words.. "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean;  and you are clean, but not all of you."  John goes on to say that Jesus knew that Judas was betraying Him.. and he was the one that was not clean. Judas received the gift of clean feet.. but he needed much more and refused it by hardening his heart. 

Jesus tells His disciples to "wash one another's feet".  I think this passage is most often used to teach us about the humility of Jesus.. the kind of humility that we must have as His followers.  But.. in light of Leviticus.. a new thought occurs to me.. To wash someone's feet.. to participate in the cleansing action.. is an act of great love and mercy.  We allow ourselves to touch the one who may have become unclean.. to risk our own cleanliness... to offer mercy instead of judgement. 

How ofter the Word reminds us to forgive one another.. to encourage one another.. to love one another.  The Lord wants us clean and wants us to help others to share in that sacred holiness.. so they will not "defile" His tabernacle  that is among us. For the sake of His church.. fort the sake of His Holy Name.. let us "wash one another's feet." 

Father, thank You for making a way for us.. to be cleansed and make whole. Thank You for mercy and compassion.. for Your great love and salvation.. for our Good Shepherd who has cleansed us from all unrighteousness by His blood.. shed on that cruel cross.. so that we might be holy.. as You have purposed to be. We give You all the glory and honor and praise!  You are a good, good Father. Hallelujah and Amen!  Help us Father, to love one another with the same depth of mercy and grace as Jesus showed us.. for we ask this in His powerful name. Amen.