John 13
by Philip Layton
Jesus washes his disciples' feet and predicts his betrayal and denial
Discussion Questions
- How literally should we take the command from Jesus in verse 14?
- Who do you think this disciple (v 23) could be?
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Going Deeper from 'Words of Life'
I want to share with you something wonderful, as an apostle and disciple of Christ. For it’s something I believe you would want to hear, and experience for yourself. It’s true; I was changed, completely, when Jesus called me by name to follow him. We spent three glorious years roaming the countryside, listening to the Master preach; seeing people healed – physically, emotionally, spiritually. It’s hard to put into words, the time spent with him.
Toward the end of our time together, he called us all to share a final meal with him. He told us he was soon to die; that it would be the end of this part of the journey as we knew it. At the meal he disclosed a betrayal to come. How could anyone experience the passionate love of Jesus, then betray him? Yet we are all human: afraid, vulnerable, egocentric. We mess up – often big-time.
He also said one of us would deny even knowing him. It could have been any of us, I guess. When it came down to it, would we really give up our lives for him? I’d like to have been able to say yes. But I’m a weak, selfish human being. Pitiful, I know.
Yet this is not all I want to share with you. I want to tell you what he said to us in that holy and sacred time, between referring to Judas and Peter. He told us simply to love one another. I say simply because it seemed so obvious, such a given; although, as macho men, we didn’t often verbally say ‘I love you’ to each other.
So, why did Jesus stress this? Why was it so vital that he should tell us, just before his scourging and ultimate death, to love one another? I think what he was trying to convey, with the intention that we should share it with generations to come, was that we are to incarnate Christ; to be ‘marked’ by his love. To emulate his love; who he was, and is.
Dear friends, I pray this may be lived out in each life; loving one another – always. Then people will truly see the living Christ!
Beverly Ivany
Photo courtesy freebibleimages.org