Day 1104: Enduring love - John 13 vs 1 - 5

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2-4 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it round his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped round him. John 13:1-5 English Standard Version

It was fitting that Jesus should die at the Feast of the Passover, for it remembered God's redemption. The apostle Paul would later urge believers at Corinth to “keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, for Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) This was the reason why Jesus had come into the world. And, says John, having loved His own, He loved them to the end.

We need to pause and think of that. There was nothing in those disciples to call forth the love of Jesus. Indeed, while He was with them, they often fell far, far short of that love. Even at this supper Jesus would tell Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. Yet even now, the Lord was going to demonstrate His love by a gracious act of humility. If Jesus loved them to the end, let us take courage that He will love those today 'who are his own' to the end as well.

But what are we told here about where Jesus came from, and His destiny. (vs 2-4)

We read that He had come from God - and was going back to God. John began this gospel by telling us that. He said: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:4) Then he adds: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Now he tells us that the Father had “given all things into His hands.” Jesus is the only begotten Son, whom the Father sent into the world.

Now His going back to God is put in the lovely phrase ‘His hour had come to depart out of this world'. The time had arrived when Christ was going to die for those He loved, but be raised by the Father, and ascend to heaven once more. Knowing this, Jesus took off His outer garments, wrapped a towel around Himself, poured water in a basin, and washed His discipes feet! Even the feet of the one who'd betray Him.

I wonder if the apostle Paul had this scene in mind when he wrote to the Philippians and said: “If there is any encouragement in Christ - any comfort from love - any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy - complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”(Philippians 2:1-4)

And Paul continued: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And, being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Paul linked love with humility, and with putting the interests of others before our own. Of being willing to be a servant. Jesus loved His discipes to the end – and humbled Himself by becoming obedient, even to death on a cross. This is love that loved to the end, and it's love we must never forget.