(The following is the April 21 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 13 and pay close attention to verse 1.)

“Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (v. 1).

The Bible states on several occasions that Jesus’ time had not yet come when speaking of events earlier in his public ministry. But the time of his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension was now near. His focus might have been on himself if he had been merely human, but he was also divine. So was his love. Concerning his faithful followers, “he loved them to the end.”

God’s love for us drove Jesus to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His love compelled him to speak God’s truth to everyone, even when it was not welcome. His compassion made him face Golgotha, confidently obeying the Father’s will. Nothing could stop him from fulfilling his purpose or interfere with Jesus loving his own to the end.

That is how we should love him in return. Although imperfect and inconsistent, our love for Christ should increase as our relationship matures. We prove our faith is genuine by loving him to the end of our earthly lives as he loved others.

A strong love for Christ also shows in how we love others – those already dear to us and others hard to love. We demonstrate it through caring for physical and spiritual needs. We reveal it through compassion for the lost, praying for their salvation, and speaking and acting in ways that show concern for their eternal destiny.

Jesus loved his own to the end. It is a privilege and joy for us to love Jesus and others likewise.

Next Step:
Is your love for Jesus growing, or have the flames of passion diminished to occasional embers? What about your love for others? Who do you need to be more intentional about loving?