To the End

Today’s Verse:

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. ~John 13:1

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Perhaps one of the greatest thoughts we should have is: “How much do we love others as the Lord loves us?” The passage we are considering this morning says of Jesus: “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” Jesus loved everyone, but this passage takes us to His disciples and His love for them. It says that He loved them unto the end. That is a remarkable statement when we consider how much hurt these disciples gave to Jesus in His final hours as He went to the cross. Can you love people, even the unlovable, unto the end?

Jesus loves the incorrigible.

Just preceding this passage, we read about the unbelieving Jews and Pharisees who heard His Word and saw His miracles but did not believe on Him. In spite of what appeared to be a hopeless cause, Jesus still loved them. I think of the people who cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him”: He loved them to the end! I think of the thief who did not call on the Lord to save him, but railed on Him: He loved him to the end. Our Lord loves every sinner so much that, even to his final moments, He gives him an opportunity to be saved. Jesus loves a sinner so much that it is possible for this sinner to be saved at the 11th hour.

Jesus loves the indifferent.

After supper was over, Jesus took a towel and basin filled with water and started to wash the feet of every disciple, one at a time. All of these men were indifferent about washing one another’s feet, let alone our Lord’s. These men were indifferent to our Lord and serving Him with their best. They were lukewarm about serving. Jesus says that lukewarmness is the one sin that makes Him sick. Yet, He also says, “As many as I love, I rebuke.” He is standing on the outside, knocking on the door of the indifferent heart, asking to come inside. Jesus loves the indifferent to the end.

Jesus loves the insubordinate.

Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet. Jesus was teaching the importance of spiritual cleansing of our lives for right fellowship and service. Peter basically told Jesus, “Hands off; You can’t touch me!” Peter was defiant and unwilling to submit to the Lord for his cleansing. This is like a rebellious child that will not submit to his parents for correction. In spite of Peter’s defiance, Jesus loved on him to the end. When we see Peter looking into the eyes of Jesus after he denied Him three times, and later, when he swam to shore to meet Him after an all-night fishing expedition that was a failure, Peter experienced that his Lord loved him to the end. Jesus did not give up on Peter, even though he did some things that were very grievous. Jesus loves the insubordinate.

Jesus loves the insincere.

Jesus’ act of washing the feet and teaching the disciples was possibly the one final, loving attempt to get Judas to realize that he was not saved and needed to get saved. Judas had everyone fooled except Jesus. Satan entered into Judas’ heart, and he strategized a plan for the sellout of Jesus. As Jesus dealt with Peter, He said, “Ye are clean, but not all.” When He said this, He was saying out loud that one of these men was not saved: it was Judas! It was one more attempt by Jesus to persuade Judas to repent of his sins and turn to the Lord. Jesus loves the insincere. Our Lord does not give up on us. Let us not forget that our Lord loves all of us unto the end. Be challenged, this morning, to love like Jesus loves!

Have a loving God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 25-27

#John #LoveofGod