3/31/11- John 13:1 The Length of the Love of Christ

¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

(Upper room in the City of David in Jerusalem)

Thoughts: John does not concentrate so much on the words of the Last Supper as the environment around it in the upper room, and his final teachings before his arrest.  John points out that Jesus knew his end was near when he said the words recorded in John 13-17.  For those of us who are older, we should consider not only making a will, but witnessing to our faith in our will- with some last words to our heirs.  The verses recorded here are tender, compassionate, and a bit melancholy.  Yet they are also full of goodness, hope, and grace.  Christ' s love did not stop when he knew he would die.  It did not stop when he knew or even saw his disicples desert him, betray him, and deny him.  His love did not fail then, and it does not fail now. 


Prayer: Thank you that you showed us love then and you show us love now. 


John Cavlin Abridged: John purposefully leaves some things out that are included in Matthew, Mark and Luke.  But he also adds some things- like the washing of feet.  By this visible sign he shows them his love.  Our Lord still holds the very affection for us that he held at his death.