Thoughts on the Gospel of John (122) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:2-5

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (122)
The contrast here could hardly be greater: on the one hand the unceasing love of Jesus for His own, and the hatred of the devil and the unfaithfulness of Judas on the other. A disciple who had experienced the deep love of his Lord for more than three years becomes His betrayer! This is an example of what may happen if you give free reign to greed and open your heart to the devil.

We might be frightened when we see the continually increasing influence of the devil on Judas. But at the same time we are presented with a source of comfort: the passage directs our thoughts away from ourselves and from the devil and toward Jesus and the Father in heaven. The Father "had given all things into His hands" - the hands of His Son. It is true that the devil has great power and that he hates Christ's "own"; but all power is in the hands of Jesus, who loves us. To the holy and pure Son of God, the Father could entrust "all things" - everything, whether in life or death, present or future. His life was spotless: He would return to God just as He had come from God - without being stained by sin.

God gave into the hands of His Son the power to carry out His plans; but here He uses His hands to do the service of a slave: He washes the feet of His disciples. How greatly He loves "His own"!

Today's reading: Numbers 8:1-26 · Matthew 6:16-23