Wednesday 5th November
Read John 13:1-5
“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. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.” (NIVUK)
It is easy to think of the events that occurred that Passover abstractly. Jesus dies so that we might live – an exchange occurred that saved us. Jesus paid the price that we owed so that we could return to life with God.
That is not remotely what John wants us to grasp. It is not less true – the events of that Passover achieved all those abstract things – but it is a weak and emaciated rendition. John wants us to grasp that the motive lying behind Jesus’ deliberate actions was love. In two sentences the entire gospel can be grasped.
Jesus takes the initiative. He was about to pass through and ‘leave this world’ and return to the Father. But in doing so He left behind those He loved, ‘in the world’. John records for us five chapters of His final parting words as a full expression of the complete love He has for His followers. For us.
John wishes us to grasp that Jesus’ love began with His arrival and mission and would be seen through until His final breath and beyond when His mission was complete.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) (NIVUK)
