BIBLE LESSON

“Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

— John 13:1

Jesus knew when the time had come for Him to die and go back to His Father who had sent Him into the world, and He also knew how He would die. But rather than think about himself, Jesus loved and primarily thought about the disciples He would leave behind in the world.

He would love them to end, so He did not waste a moment when He could be teaching them more about himself and the future He planned for them and for all who would follow Him because of their preaching and teaching. Even as Jesus hanged dying on the cross, He loved people so much that He kept teaching with every word He spoke.

Jesus' truthful teaching gave His followers a foundation upon which to live until they too departed to go to the Father. But notice how Jesus thinks of those who follow Him and be encouraged. Jesus calls “His own” those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior. Think of all it means to be “His own.” Think about Jesus loving you every moment of the day until the end, and then He keeps on loving you to the end of eternity — which can never end. But there is more!

In John 13:3, we learn the Father gave all things to Jesus. Therefore, believers know Jesus has all things available to meet their every need forever, and because Jesus loves us, He will always use all things wisely to do what is best for us.