Grace and Truth, John 13:1-30, Love to the End

Verse 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.

 

Jesus loved his disciples until the last minute he was with them.

 

Verses 4-5: so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 

He washed his disciples’ feet, giving them a lesson and example to serve each other.

 

Verses 8-10: “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

 

Jesus calmly dealt with Peter’s usual impulsivity.

 

Verses 18-19: “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.”

 

He continued to teach them Scripture, and worked to increase their faith.

 

Verses 21 and 27: After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

 

I believe Jesus had loved Judas, and it broke his heart that Judas was betraying him. And though the other disciples didn’t understand what was happening, Jesus dealt honestly with Judas.

 

Thank you, Jesus, for your strength and for your love.