Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 44

He Loved them Unto the End

John 13:1Now 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.

It was a most trying time in our Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry where He would suffer shameful betrayal and desertion from His disciples. The suffering steps to the cross would soon begin. Yet, whether to His disciples or to the lost, He remained true to the mission that His Father had sent Him – He loved them unto the end.

JC Ryle said well, “Knowing perfectly well that they were about to forsake Him shamefully in a very few hours, in full view of their approaching display of weakness and infirmity, our blessed Master did not cease to have loving thoughts of His disciples. He was not weary of them: He loved them to the last.”

To think of such let-down would have driven a mortal man to great despair yet our Lord patiently and lovingly bore all. The Apostle Peter who, himself, deserted our Lord Jesus, having later repented, recounted the greatness of that love wrote:

²⁰For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. ²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²²Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. ²⁵For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Pet. 2:20-25 KJV)

He exhorted the believers to exercise such patient love as our Lord did. In fact, He sets the example by washing His disciples’ feet before He went to the cross.

⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8 KJV)

Truly, we cannot fully fathom the magnitude of such love. But to acknowledge the confession of the prophet Jeremiah:

³The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jer. 31:3 KJV)

Such unconditional, sacrificial and persevering and patient love have existed and with it caused the heart of sinful men to repent, forsake sin and invite the Lord Jesus Christ to dwell in their poor hearts.

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(Jn. 3:16 KJV)

Let us be thankful for God’s love for us. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having saved us by His death and His resurrection from the dead three days later, shed aboard that love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5), has in these last days prior to His coming again, exhorted us that we may share Jesus Christ and His love for us to others.

⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Rev. 1:5 KJV)

This is a message to His church that we have a mission of love, as unworthy sinners saved by grace, to persevere in the good work of sowing the seed of the gospel. And we are calling the church to spread that love by giving a gospel tract with a prayer to someone that God brings your way.

And taking time to share the love of God that men everywhere may repent. Only God can change a heart plagued with sin, hatred and bitterness, to cleanse and fill it with His love.

We need to take time in our personal Bible study and quiet time to equip ourselves with the wherewithal of the gospel so that we may give a reason for our faith in Jesus Christ. Peter articulated this well:

¹⁶Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. ¹⁷For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. ¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Pet. 3:16-18 KJV)

Truly, we do not know the length of our mortal life and when there will be time no more. But while we have life and strength, let us do Christ’s bidding to fulfil the Great Commission that He has entrusted to His disciples:

¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt. 28:18-20 KJV)

May the Lord send us forth. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee