He Loved Them To The End Series

“HE LOVED THEM TO THE END”

JOHN 13:1-38

GREENMOUNT AND O’LEARY CHURCHES OF CHRIST

September 12, 2021

Maplewood Manor Sept. 16, 2021

Video Link: https://youtu.be/qT5i9c2GW-s

INTRODUCTION:

1) We have been looking for several months at the Gospel of John.

A) Last week we finished the twelfth chapter of the Gospel.

aa.) Some have labelled first 12 chapters of John as the “Book of Signs.”

aaa.) It dealt largely with Jesus’ public ministry, and the Jewish institutions and festivals of his day.

ab.) Chapters 13-21 could be called the “Book of Glory.”

aba.) Even here it can be further be broken down with chapters 13 -17 being private time between Jesus and the Apostles, and chapters 18-21 being his final glorification.

2) Today in some of the one-on-one time with his Apostles Jesus revealed his Love for these men.

A.) In fact, the end of verse one sums up the entire passage with the words: “He loved them to the end.”

B.) Chapter thirteen shows his love for them, as well as the love they were to have for each other.

I) HE SHOWED LOVE TO THEM WITH A MEAL.

1) It was before the feast of Passover.

A) Many have stumbled over these passages of Scripture because the Passover Feast would be the next day when Jesus was on the cross, or shortly after.

aa.) Scholars have questioned if this was the actual Passover Feast or was it something entirely different?

ab.) Commentaries have argued if this was or was not the actual Passover feast.

ac.) I don’t want to get involved in all the arguments on this text but will just bring out a few points from the Scriptures.

aca.) The Old Testament law established the date of Passover as the 14th. Day of Nissan in the Jewish calendar, which falls in March or April of our calendars.

.01) Jesus and his disciples would have observed the 13th. day of Nissan, or the day before the great feast.

acb.) In the Gospel of Matthew, that Jesus spoke of this as the Passover Feast, even though he would be observing it a day earlier than the appointed time.

.01) Matthew 26:17-19

acc.) If this was the Passover feast, was it acceptable to be observing it on any day other than the 14th. of Nissan?

.01) In answer to that question, the law itself made allowances for those who could not observe the feast at that time for one reason or another.

.011) For those in that category, the law allowed individuals to partake of that feast on the same day, one month later.

.0111) This date became known as the second Passover.

.012) We must remember that changing a date did not go against the unchanging nature and person of God.

.013) In the same way it did not go against the standards, or perfection of God, and therefore Jesus, as the Son of God had the authority to observe this feast a day earlier than the assigned time.

.014) Jesus could change this day without changing the unchangeable aspects of God.

2) His hour had come to leave this world.

A) Jesus had completed his entire earthly mission except for his sacrificial death on the cross a few hours after this.

aa.) It was time to spend with the disciples for one last display of his love for them.

ab.) Later on that evening, Jesus would introduce the Lord’s Supper to these men.

aba.) In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus would take the emphasis from the Passover Lamb that marked their physical deliverance from Egypt.

abb.) The object of their attention would now be Jesus, whom John the Baptist had earlier identified as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

abc.) 3:00 p.m. the next afternoon, Jesus would proclaim “It is finished!”, and with that pronouncement would hang his head in death, and the word, of God for the redemption of the world would be complete.

3) The devil had already entered Judas.

A.) In fact a parallel account Jesus gave Judas a way out of his sin and treachery, and the opportunity to be forgiven by Jesus.

ba.) In a last attempt to save the soul of Judas, Jesus told him that the son of man would go as it had been predicted, but woe to that man who would betray the Son of man.

baa.) Jesus further told him it would be better to have never been born than to betray the Son of Man.

bb.) This whole meal that night was a time for Jesus to show his love to the 12.

bba.) Even with the evil in the heart of Judas, Jesus still wanted to give him love, and to offer him the forgiveness of God if he would only take it.