“[Jesus] having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end .” John 13:1 ESV

During the Passover supper, as Jesus sat around the table looking at each disciple, one by one, He knew all the ways in which they would soon fail Him — betrayal, denial, abandonment. (John 13)

He rose from the table, removed His outer garment, wrapped Himself in the pureness of a clean towel and began to wash away their filth. A foretelling of the events shortly to come.

He loved them to the end.

As He knelt at the feet of Judas, staring up into his eyes, He knew of the betrayal that was planned.  And He did not withhold His love.

Bowing before Peter, He probably smiled slightly, because He knew Peter was passionate, eager.  But He also knew he would deny Him three times.  Yet, He pressed in all the more; He loved him to the end

He humbled Himself in front of each one of these men knowing they would scatter and abandon Him during His last hours.  He bowed Himself low, took on the role of a servant and loved them to the end.

As the hours ahead placed a heavy weight on Jesus’ heart, He knew it would also bring sorrow for the disciples.  Still He never pulled away to protect His own heart or to make it easier for the ones He loved.

Jesus clothed Himself in sacrifice, bowed Himself low, and wiped clean the filthiest part of all of us — our soul.

He withheld nothing. He loved us to the end.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 ESV

Let’s take a few minutes to evaluate our love toward others.

It doesn’t take long in any relationship, friend or family, before we encounter disagreements and disappointments.

When we find ourselves facing a challenge in our relationship:

• Do we press in past the hard? 
• Do we make an effort to serve the other person, even if we don’t feel like they have earned it?
• Do we love them to the end?
• Do we allow others to love us to the end?
• Do we make room for love?
• Or, do we scatter in the discomfort of disagreement?

Take time today to tell the ones you care about that you love them. 

*original post date: Feb 13, 2015