John 13

Here we go!  John 13 is today's devo.  Jesus is with His disciples celebrating "Passover"or a holiday that celebrating a time in Israel's history where death "passed over" the Israelites in Egypt.  It was also a time that was near the capture of Christ before His crucifixion.  So these are some of the final moments that Jesus has with those who are close to Him and have had a front row seat to His ministry.  Judas was one of those people.  He had seen everything!  He had witnessed every healing, seen the water turned into wine, heard Christ defense against the Pharisees and knew Jesus personally.  Yet, he was stealing from the treasury and it goes a step further in this passage by saying the devil had "already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot...to betray Him." (v2, v27)  You see, you can spend a lot of time around other Christians, around Christ Himself and still have selfish motivations and not be a true Christ follower.

It is interesting that someone so close to Jesus would betray Him.  But if you think about the life of Judas, it starts to make a little bit of sense.  It is obvious that he is not a part of movement that Jesus has started and that he has selfish motivations. That being said, he has already given the devil an opportunity to gain footing in his life.  He has given into temptation time and time again, thinking he is pretty clever, and it has caught up with him.  The Bible calls that "giving Satan a foothold" in your life (Ephesians 4:27).  It could be something small initially but if it isn't dealt with, it will snowball into something BIG.  This is what happens to Judas.  He has been betraying Christ all along but only now has it come to this.  His conscience is dead and his focus is off (1 Tim 4:2).

However, Christ begins to serve His disciples, despite the pain of knowing He will be betrayed.  Can you imagine?  The Son of God washing the filthy feet of these men who are imperfect.  The King is serving the servants (Matthew 20:28)!  Jesus is setting an example for us of how to treat one another.  To have an attitude of service (v14).  Peter, thinking that he is going to score some extra points on his disciple test, says "Never shall you wash my feet!"  I can see Peter thinking, "This will 'WOW' Jesus.  Maybe He will forget about the other times that I've blown it." Jesus tells Peter "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." I can almost hear Peter under his breath "DANG IT!!!" Jesus is making a point.  Once you have trusted in Jesus, there will be times when you mess up and you need forgiveness (ie Christ to wash you).  But since you have already put your faith in Him, the judgment of sin has already been erased.  You will just need to ask forgiveness for that sin not for all sins and the ultimate sin of not trusting in God. 

Knowing that this is one of the last meetings He will have with all of His peeps, Jesus reminds them that there is one characteristic that will show others that they are true disciples of His.  At this point, He could mention anything.  It could be studying God's law, giving their money, helping the poor, debating the Pharisees, healing the blind, jumping the highest or even dart throwing (I don't know I just needed something else on the list).  But Jesus didn't say that.  Instead He says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (v34-35) 

What?  Seriously?!!  Love?  That's it.  Don't we all show love for one another in some way without even being a Christian?  But if you look at the biblical view of love, you'll see something different than what you normally define as love.  Love, according to Scripture it is patient, kind, not jealous, not prideful, not rude, not self seeking, doesn't keep a record of past screw ups...etc.  That kind of love stands out.  That kind of love sets you apart as Jesus followers.  Do you love others like that?  Are you standing out?

Cool Facts:

"His hour" or "My hour" is frequently used by Jesus and writers of the Gospel to describe Christ's death, burial and resurrection.  It is also used of His return!