John 13:1 NLT
As I was reading again the accounts of Christ's last sit-down meal this side of the Cross, I was struck by this first verse in the different translations/versions of the Bible.
NKJV reads, "...having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
The Message - "Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end."
The NIV - "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
The Amplified - "And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree."
I've read it countless times over the years, but every time we read God's Word, it is alive and powerful. His love was and is so deep, so real, so utterly amazing...
Verse 2 tells how satan had already gotten a foothold on Judas. Verse 3 confirms how Jesus knew God had already put everything in His hands...and in verse 4, this same Jesus - ever the Teacher - gets up from His last meal this side of the Cross, takes off His robe and girds Himself with a servant's towel to wash the feet of the twelve - not eleven - ALL twelve of them. He didn't wait until after Judas left to wash their feet. It was all twelve... including the very one who would betray Him.
The full extent of His love. And it was in the role of a servant, washing the feet of His 12 disciples that He loved them to the highest degree. And if you read the rest of the chapter, you will find that's how He instructs us to love. Can we take it to the full extent of HIS love?
Prayer:
Father,
May the love we show and share distinguish us as Your disciples. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
As I was reading again the accounts of Christ's last sit-down meal this side of the Cross, I was struck by this first verse in the different translations/versions of the Bible.
NKJV reads, "...having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end."
The Message - "Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end."
The NIV - "Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
The Amplified - "And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree."
I've read it countless times over the years, but every time we read God's Word, it is alive and powerful. His love was and is so deep, so real, so utterly amazing...
Verse 2 tells how satan had already gotten a foothold on Judas. Verse 3 confirms how Jesus knew God had already put everything in His hands...and in verse 4, this same Jesus - ever the Teacher - gets up from His last meal this side of the Cross, takes off His robe and girds Himself with a servant's towel to wash the feet of the twelve - not eleven - ALL twelve of them. He didn't wait until after Judas left to wash their feet. It was all twelve... including the very one who would betray Him.
The full extent of His love. And it was in the role of a servant, washing the feet of His 12 disciples that He loved them to the highest degree. And if you read the rest of the chapter, you will find that's how He instructs us to love. Can we take it to the full extent of HIS love?
Prayer:
Father,
May the love we show and share distinguish us as Your disciples. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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