John Chapter 13
I struggle with words to describe the love of Jesus for His own, because His love is so great it is difficult to put down on paper. Jesus knew that His hour, His time to die had come and yet He spent time with His disciples. He had things He wanted to convey to them before that terrible moment. We often make it a point to spend time with those we love before travelling or leaving for a long trip. Jesus wanted to spend His few hours remaining with His own. We know that Jesus has love for all of mankind, but His love is expressed to an even greater degree to those who love Him (His own).
If you have ever doubted if Jesus loves you, I implore you to read this chapter over and over until His love seeps into your heart. When you realize that Jesus knew exactly what type of things would be done to Him and He didn’t try to run away, you can see His great love for you and for me.
Sadly, He even knew that one of His hand-picked twelve would betray Him. My Bible (ESV) says that the devil had already put it in the heart of Judas…to betray Him. And Jesus knew this! The devil had been looking for some time for a man who he could use, and he found him.
Let's Reflect
1. The first verse tells us that Jesus and His disciples celebrated early what feast?
2. Jesus knew in His heart that He would soon be going back to His heavenly Father, and wanted to teach His disciples something very important before He went. He began to wash the disciples’ feet. What was the lesson He wanted them to learn?
3. Did Jesus also wash the feet of Judas?
Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend in who I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
4. Everything that Jesus did and everything He said was to point to one truth – that He was sent to earth from the Father. In verse 20 Jesus told us that if we receive that truth, what will happen?
5. Even though Jesus knew it ahead of time, it bothered Him, it hurt Him that Judas was going to betray Him. The other disciples had no idea who He was referring to until He did what? And even then, they did not understand what He meant. What did they think Judas might be up to?
6. Jesus’ heart must have sunk when Judas left the room. The human part of Jesus was hurt by this act of betrayal. But ALL of this also had a special meaning to Jesus, what was it? See verse 31
7. Jesus taught us that love is the key. How will the unsaved people of this world know such love?
8. The type of love Jesus has for us is one we cannot comprehend. While many have shown love by giving up their life for others in battle, etc., no one would be willing to take on the sins of the whole world and die for that cause. What disciple thought he could follow Jesus even to death?
“Nowhere else is His speech at once so simple and so deep. Nowhere else have we the heart of God so unveiled to us… The immortal words which Christ spoke in that upper chamber are His highest self-revelation in speech, even as the Cross to which they led up is His most perfect self-revelation in act.” [Alexander Maclaren]
Devotionals
