John 13:1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
I have come in my reading through the Scriptures to the very base of the summit of all the Scriptures: Mount Calvary. The upper room serves as a base camp of sorts, where Jesus could brief His disciples, prepare Himself, and observe the final Passover meal of this age.
I must pause at this monumental occasion and think back on the long distance He has traversed to this point. He hasn’t much further to go to the end of His journey, but the distance He has traveled thus far is dizzying. We began our journey with Him back in the book of Genesis, when the worlds were created by Him. Then, as man sinned in the garden, we were pointed to Him by a sacrifice that covered their shame and a promise of the coming of the "seed of the woman" who would crush the head of the beguiling serpent.
We saw Him in the tent with Abraham. We saw Him wrestling with Jacob. We were reminded of Him in the life of Joseph. We saw Him with His sword drawn in Joshua’s day. We were promised over and over of His coming through the Prophets. Then, one day, about 33 years prior to this evening in the upper room, He came. The seed of the woman came. The One promised before the world was formed came, born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life and proved by many infallible proofs that He was the Son of God.
What was it that spurred His coming down through the ages to the manger, to the workshop, to His ministry, and soon to the cross? I believe our verse answers it: "Having loved his own which were in the world."
All we have spoken of was an act of love. He loved us, therefore He promised His coming. He loved us, therefore He was debased. He loved us, therefore no amount of time or sinfulness could erode His promise! Having loved us, He came!
Although He has come, at this hour the last and most treacherous part of the path lies ahead of Him: betrayal, a heaviness no man has ever felt in the garden, ridicule, being spit upon, beaten beyond recognition, nailed to a cross, hoisted up naked before the world, hours of darkness the horror of which we will never know, and finally death—our death, the death of criminals.
He loved us, and even though this is the path that lies ahead of Him, He will love us to the end. He loved us before Caiaphas as He kept His mouth closed. He loved us at the whipping post as He took the stripes. He loved us as nails were driven into Him. He loved us beyond ridicule and shame. He loved us while we mocked Him, for He prayed, "Father, forgive them." He loved us truly until there was no breath left in His body. The sacrifice of Jesus was utterly consumed—nothing left. All of the love of God was poured out upon us. He loved us unto the end.
The love of God is eternal; it has no end. While Jesus’ earthly life came to an end, His love did not. The death of Jesus was not the conclusion of His love or His life but rather the beginning of a new and glorious chapter—the resurrected life.
His love for us carried Him to the very end of His earthly journey. Yet, the love of God did not stop there. Stronger than death, it prevailed. Three days later, He rose from the grave, and the same love that led Him to endure the darkness of Calvary also raised Him up in victory. This triumph over death has been extended to all His people.
Jesus loved us to the end of His life, and He will continue to love us to the end of ours. Just as death brought Him to the grave, it will one day bring us there too. But His love, stronger than death itself, will raise us up in His likeness.
He loves us to the end—and beyond!
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