“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.”-John 13:1
There is deep truth entrenched in the sweet love of God here in this section of scripture. Jesus is about to wash His disciples feet and then go to the cross. The depth of the love in the act the foot washing is a precursor to the depth of the love in the act of Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins on the cross. His plan of redemption is coming to a climax and Jesus would soon go to the cross for His people.
His own who were in the world are not every single person in the world, but are those who are known by God-in fact, loved by God-from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) . There is a depth of intimacy here that goes beyond God’s patient dealing with the world, the flesh, and the devil. God’s love is about to be expressed unto the point of death. The people who actually benefit from the redemption of the cross are the ones, who in the end, are raised to everlasting life by God’s resurrection power. This is how much God loved His own who were in the world!
Not just His 12 apostles, but all of His own who ever have lived and who ever shall live. This would include everyone from Adam and Abraham-His own-to the Apostle Paul, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Sproul, Baucham, MacArthur!
He loved them to the end! What is the end? The end and ultimate act of His love is in His humility in washing their feet. The servant is the one who is to wash the feet, not the Son of God. Yet, here the Son is in the act of loving them to the end, and their feet along with their whole person will be washed.
The end also refers to the ultimate completion and end of His life and His work of redemption. “It is finished” Jesus declared on the cross moments before breathing His last (John 19:30) . The work of redemption was completed. The sin debt was paid for. The wrath of God was appeased through the death of Christ. The righteousness of Jesus was a perfect righteousness unto death and is credited to those who are loved by God and chosen to believe unto eternal life.
This is the good news of the Gospel of God’s amazing grace and love toward sinners. Do you believe in Jesus today? Trust Him with your soul!
Wisdom Walk 