Now before the Feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to
the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the
end. (John 13:1)
John’s Gospel speaks of God’s love
for the world (John 3:16). Jesus’
mission is to save the world (4:42), to give it life (6:33) and light
(12:46). The disciples are commanded to
go into this world to continue Jesus’ work (17:18; 20:21). But Jesus’ love and commitment to “his own”
is highlighted in this passage. His love
for “his own” is different from his love for the world.
As we prepare to gather together this Sunday it’s important we
consider what John tells us about the Savior we worship. He loves us deeply. He loves us fully. He loves us to the greatest extent
possible. He loves us perfectly.
The Greek term word translated “to the end” is eis telos. It can defined as ‘to the end’,
‘completely’, ‘fully’, ‘comprehensively’, and/or ‘perfectly’. John MacArthur writes:
God
loves the world, but He loves “His own” perfectly, unchangingly, completely,
fully, comprehensively—eis telos. Let me say it simply:
He loves His own to the complete extent of His capacity to love His
creatures. He loves them enough to make
them joint-heirs with Christ. He loves
them enough to make them into His very image. He lavishes them with all the
riches of His grace for all of eternity.
He loves them as fully and completely as any human could ever be loved
by God—and His love knows no limits.
That’s what ‘eis telos’ conveys.” (The Love of God, p. 130)
Worship is a family affair.
It is a blood-bought gift for those who are “his own”.
You are invited.
It is this love that invites us in. It is this love that made a way for us to
come. It is this love that makes it possible for us to be cleansed of our sin
and come into the presence of a Holy God.
Jesus said to him, “The one
who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely
clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to
betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”(John 13:10-11)
In John 1:8-9 we read, “If
we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Peter belonged to Jesus. He had trusted Jesus and been forgiven. But he still sinned and still needed
cleansing. This is what Jesus was
showing Peter as he washed his feet.
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior you are forgiven,
declared righteous and are a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Still there is the need for daily washing,
for daily confession and forgiveness — for daily spiritual foot-washings.
This daily cleansing is accomplished in us through the work of
the Holy Spirit as we hear from God through His Word and are ‘washed’
clean. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might
sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so
that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Eph
5:25-27)
As you prepare for worship this Sunday pray that this spiritual
foot-washing will take place in your own heart before you come and as you
gather with God’s people.
No comments:
Post a Comment