HE LOVED THEM
Tuesday – September 24, 2019, Elul 24, 5779
Greetings my very precious brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. God is good and nothing but good. That is not just a religious saying, or pep rally talk to puff one another up, but it is the reality of God, of the Kingdom of God. Whatever is not good in our lives we have allowed even invited by our choices not His. Perhaps you are thinking right now, “why in the world did I start reading this?” Buck up and read on dear saints. Until we take full responsibility for our thoughts, our words, and the actions that follow we will be stuck in a spiral of defeat. White knuckling it until Jesus comes or we die. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to give us feedback and to partner with us in spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. Oh, by the way welcome back to this ongoing and powerful Bible Study of the Book of John. Let’s dive into todays lesson by first reading aloud our primary Bible text.
John 13:1-5 (KJV)
1 Now 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.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
As we studied yesterday Jesus is now fully aware of His mission and is laser focused on its’ fulfillment. When He was brought to Jerusalem for what seems likely to have been His Bar Mitzvah, we see some level of immaturity in that it was not time for Him to be about the Father’s business and would not be for another eighteen years. Jesus honored His mother and father and returned to Nazareth with them. In the meantime, He grew to a place where He was fully mature as a natural man and a spiritual man. He became fully trained in the Word of God and in the nature of His mission and where He was from and to where He was to return. He attained the age of thirty and financial independence which were requirements for a Rabbi. We see Him at the age of twelve referring to God as His Father which as we have seen over and over is blasphemy to the Jew. It is one of the reasons they want to kill Him when He starts His ministry. Not even His parents understood what He was really saying however His mother kept these sayings in her heart (mind, thinking). What about Joseph His supposed father? This is one of the last times we hear about Joseph; from Scripture it is not clear if Joseph leaves the family or dies before or in the early part of the ministry of Jesus. Consider the following Scripture.
Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
There is no doubt that Jesus sorrowed and was filled with grief on the Cross but could this also be referring to the death of his earthly father, Joseph? On the Cross the weight of sin and the wages of that sin bringing spiritual death and separation from His Heavenly Father no doubt brought a weight of sorrow and grief we cannot imagine. As we examine verse one in detail, we find Jesus fully aware that now is the time to leave the world and return to the Father. Let us think for a moment about the phrase “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” One might ask, who are “his own”? Are we talking about the Jewish nation or the disciples and other followers? As we consider the following passage it seems He is talking about those who have believed upon Him, have been saved if you will by faith out of time.
John 17:6-10 (KJV)
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
We like the disciples of that time are in the world but we are not of the world. To be of the world is to do things the devils’ way. To be in the world but not of the world is to be doing things Gods’ way. The word “loved” in our primary Bible text is the word ‘agape’ transliterated from Greek to English. Keeping in mind that agape (Godly love) is obedience to Scripture, selflessness, and observance of the Blood Covenant I don’t think we should conclude that Jesus loved only those who “have kept thy word” but all peoples. If the following applies to us, it applied to Him in the earth and now.
Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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