We see the richness of the miracle, all the things that it tells us about – the filth from which we need to be cleansed, the guilt, the need for faith, repentance and obedience to Christ and his instructions; we see the rebuke to salvation by works. May there not be anybody who trusts in what they think they’ve done to belong to Christ, to go to heaven – ‘But, I’ve done this, and I’ve done this, and I’ve done this!’ None of that is any use. All our very best acts and works just pale into insignificance alongside our sinful hearts. How much we need a free salvation. Don’t look to the world, don’t look to human resources and advice, look to him! He is everything. He is the Light of the world. He is all we need.
We must say, ‘Lord, I come to thee, I repent of my sins. I believe in the blood shed on Calvary’s cross, and I worship thee, and I believe in thee as Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of life. Change me, Lord. I will be thine. I will obey thee. Change me.’ You see it all here. You see the washing; you see the belief in Christ as divine, as God, and the humble worship and submission and obedience to him. What a picture of conversion.