“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass:

as showers that water the earth.” 

— Psalm 72:6 (KJV)

These words written for the king of Israel find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Fresh cut grass releases a unique sweet fragrance. Mixed with this fragrance is the aroma of refreshing showers of rain. The dust is washed away, flowers are cleansed, and plants refreshed. Renewal, cleansing, and life all come from showers of rain. Our Lord is like refreshing rain showers. He cleanses, sweetens, and brings life.

Jesus used water to minister refreshment during his time on earth. It was the custom in our Lord’s time for a host to wash the feet of his guests. The accumulated dust from a day of walking on dirt roads needed to be cleansed away. Our Lord took up the towel and basin and cleansed and refreshed his disciples in this way. In our time we enjoy a refreshing shower or bath that washes away the grime and sweat of a day’s work. A shower does for us what the rain does for the earth.

Jesus not only washed his disciples’ feet, he also cleanses us from the grime and dust of sinful patterns. The Scripture, says “The blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7) and, “If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). When the dust from a day of life settles on our soul, Jesus offers us his basin and towel. Interactions with other people, the frustrations, mistakes, misspoken words, impure thoughts and attitudes need to be washed away. Jesus stoops to wash us and gently cleanses our hearts.

The rain cleanses, but it also freshens. There is new moisture for growth and renewal. In Israel, the Negev Desert will occasionally experience downpours of rain. These refreshing showers turn the parched wilderness into green beauty overnight. So too the refreshing presence of Christ renews us and encourages us to grow and go on. He gives us new encouragement, new incentive to move ahead in our faith, new perspectives that give hope to our weariness.

Prayer Starter: Let us pray with the psalmist in Psalm 126:4, “Restore… oh Lord, like streams in the Negev.” Cleanse and wash my dusty soul; pour your fragrance over me.