The apostle John wrote how Jesus said, “He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak”, and in chapter thirteen and verse one of his book John shared how Jesus, “loved his own … unto the end” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “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, ...” John began with the words, “now before the feast” which means “moreover in advance and prior to the festival” “of the passover” or “pertaining to the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people's deliverance of old from Egypt)”, “when Jesus” which means “at the time and moment the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “knew that his hour was come” or “perceived, understood and discerned that his, Jesus', time and season arose and appeared” “that he should depart” which means “that he, Jesus, was to leave, pass over from one place to another and go forth” “out of this world” or “separate and away from the earth” “unto the Father” which means “to the Heavenly Father God”. John shared how Jesus “understood” that His “specific time” had arisen for Him to leave the earth and return to His Father God.
The verse continues, “... having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” John added the words, “having loved his own” which means “being fond of, loving dearly and well pleased with his, Jesus', ones who belonged to Him” “which were in the world” or “who were alongside and by Him within the earth”, “he loved them” which means “he, Jesus, was fond of, loved dearly and was well pleased with the ones who belonged to Him” “unto the end” or “to the succession, close, purpose, aim and finish”. John shared how Jesus was “fond of and pleased with” people to the completion and finish who belonged to Him.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus “knew” the timing for His “sacrifice” had come, and He “loved” people who believed and trusted in Him to the “end” of all He came to perform. Jesus appeared in the world not only to demonstrate His love toward people, but also to be the “appeasing sacrifice” for their sins so they may be forgiven and enjoy a personal relationship with God. Jesus is the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and those who examine His purpose and resolve to save people should yield their lives to Him and inherit everlasting life.
Next time we see John share how, “the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
