Jesus loved and lived with his enemy!

John 13:16-20

Then Jesus said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. “I’m not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I’ve selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture:

The one who ate bread at my table, turned on his heel against me. “I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me.”

Food for thought!

I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am!

These words of Jesus deserve our attention. He is saying something that I believe is extremely important. Jesus is saying: "I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am God." What is it that Jesus is telling us ahead of time? What is it that he is telling us in advance? Well, as you can see, it is about Judas. 

Jesus knew all about Judas' plans; he knew that this man would betray him. Jesus said, "One who eats supper with me will betray me", and after these words he immediately added: "I tell you this now so that when it happens, you will believe that I am who I say I am." Interesting, isn't it? 

Jesus was well aware that he was about to be betrayed by one of his men. Such knowledge might so easily have turned Jesus to bitterness and hatred toward Judas; but it made his heart run out in greater love than ever; Jesus loved and lived with Judas, his enemy; he even washed his feet. The astounding thing was that the more Judas hurt him, the more Jesus loved him. It is so easy and so natural for many of us to resent wrong and to grow bitter under insult and injury; but Jesus met the greatest injury and the supreme disloyalty of Judas, with the greatest humility and the supreme love.

Jesus knew what was happening. He knew the cost and he was ready to pay it. He did not want the disciples to think that he was caught up in a blind web of circumstances from which he could not escape. He was not going to be killed; he was choosing to die. At the moment they did not, and could not, see that, but he wanted to be sure that a day would come when they would look back and remember and understand. That's is why he said, "I’m telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am!"