John 13:1 - Loved to the End

John 13:1 - Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 

Message: Loved to the End

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: I head into chapter 13 now and think back to Chapter 12 and the many different themes of that chapter, such as: people who are following Jesus and are recognizing Him for who He says He is, sent by God, with an eternal purpose to provide salvation. Yet, naturally, many others do not see and instead see Him as a threat to their own established ways. God wants to save people but this will come at a cost: Jesus dying and Jesus knows this and finds trouble in this at times, yet still trusting God. Others want Jesus to be something He is not, rescuing them now from the political forces. Believing in Jesus will be transforming to lives today, away from a life of living in darkness. This is forever the mark of man's existence - eternal life with God or eternal contempt not with God. Trust God, believe in Jesus today. 

As I head into chapter 13 to study and learn from it and how it will speak to me - I see that the Passover Feast is coming, but first something else ("Now before the feast of the Passover"). 

And "Jesus knowing His hour had come." Departure time. God had sent His Son into the world to announce salvation through Jesus. But His time on earth is limited because God wants to save people from judgment and while people are being saved at this time, upon his resurrection and ascension people will be saved with more abundance. Jesus knows this. Jesus has eternity in Him. While He can still be troubled at his impending death, and who of us is not fearful of that day, He can still trust God completely. 

He does this because He loves us - "having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." I am not sure if I have read John describe Jesus' love with these specific words of "He loved." Jesus' love is apparent everywhere He goes as He heals people and brings them to physical life and healing but also eternal life and healing, but in these words John mentions Jesus and His love for those here and His love will not end. 

Summary: Jesus knows his departure time from earth is soon, going to the Father, and His love for people remains. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- Jesus loved us enough to submit Himself to the worst death possible—death under the wrath and curse of God.

Prayer: O How You love me. Thank you for the great love and thank you for planting that love in me and your sacrifice for me. forever conquering the grave. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.