Revelation 22:14 (ESV) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.
The washing of robes, as mentioned here, is a metaphor for purification from uncleanliness, meaning sin. This verse pronounces a blessing on those who are cleansed from their sin—a reference to those who are saved through their faith in Christ. People realise that they are sinners, symbolized by unclean garments.
Zechariah 3:3-5 (NKJV) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.
Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Ephesians 5:26-27 (NKJV) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
What makes this image striking is not the idea of washing to cleanse from sin but washing in blood to make white.
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
I conclude with a song written by Lewis E. Jones –
“Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.