Devotional Thought for the Day: John 13:1–11 As Jesus prepares the disciples for the crucible of his death and the pain of his departure, what will they need? The same thing every generation of disciples need: not a pep talk, but a deeper understanding and experience of the gospel. Jesus loved these men “to the end” (v. 1)—that is, to the completion of his work as the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45–49); “to the end” that God will be glorified in the redemption of ill-deserving sinners; “to the end”—to the fullest extent. No one loves us like Jesus, and nothing will ever separate us from his love (Rom. 8:31–39). And his compelling love propels us into faithful service (2 Cor. 5:14). The water and towel, with which Jesus humbly washed the disciples’ feet, clearly anticipate the humiliation of his cross and blood, by which he would wash their hearts. Peter’s adamant refusal (literally “never to eternity”; John 13:8) demonstrates our innate resistance to God’s grace. Peter wasn’t being noble; he was being foolish, even self-destructive. Unless we submit to the criticism of our uncleanness indicated by our need of the washing of Christ’s blood shed on the cross, we have no life in Jesus. Jesus is always more ready to meet us at the throne of grace than we are willing to meet him there. (ESV Gospel Transformation Bible)
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:02:58 +0000
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