What does it mean that Jesus loved His own to the end (John 13:1)?

The beginning of the Gospel tells us "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not" (John 1:10-11). The rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ was written very quickly into the page of John's Gospel, but when we read these wonderful words in John 13 we read that nonetheless there was something in the world that He called His own. When He came into the world it was brought to light by Him and it was brought to God by Him and for Him. There is a unique company in the world, thank God that company is still in existence today, and it is spoken of in these wonderful words, "His own". If His own things of John 1:10 were withheld from Him, if His own people Israel refused Him, it only brought to light the eternal purpose. He has brought to light, in the world that eventually crucified Him, a unique company that He very gladly owns as peculiarly His.

The expression "He loved them unto the end" does not simply mean that He loved them to the end of His pathway, it includes that of course, but it is not just the end that speaks of terminus, so to speak. There is an expression in another part of the New Testament, I just draw attention to it to emphasise the force of the word, in Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore, he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him". This word has the same root as 'end' in John 13:1, "He loved them to the end". It means that He loved them completely, He loved them utterly, He loved them abidingly, and whatever the circumstances that came across His pathway, whatever the circumstances that would come across their pathway, whatever the circumstances that come across your pathway if you are His, He loves them and you through everything. It is a good thing to know the love of the brethren, although this often has its limitations. Sometimes the brethren love because of selfish motives, but He loves utterly and He loves eternally. Even if the love of the brethren breaks down, His love never will, and if you and I were in the good of this we would be preserved from many of the breakdowns that beset our pathway. How often we get our eyes from off the Lord and onto the brethren and in such miserable experiences the Spirit of God applies the blessedness of the truth of God to our souls to remind us, not of the constancy of the love of the brethren, blessed though that is when it is there, but rather to remind us of the constancy of the love of Christ. So having loved his own which were in the world he loved them through everything.

"Now, before the feast of the Passover,247 Jesus, knowing that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own that (were) in the world, loved them unto (the) end" (verse 1). He was the only man whom nothing took by surprise. All was read and known and felt in the presence of God His Father. Not only was He aware throughout that He was to die, and of its form, character, and object in God's purpose, as well as in man's and Satan's malice, but we see here that its immediate proximity was before His mind with its immense consequences. Yet in John it is not man's or God's forsaking Him in that bitter crisis; but the hour came for His departure out of this world to His Father, instead of staying here as Jews expected according to the Old Testament for their Messiah. As the other Gospels bring out the evidence of His rejection by the people, our evangelist sees Him from the first rejected, and at the end preparing the disciples for the unlooked-for change at hand, when the Christ should be in heaven, and the Holy Spirit sent down to be in and with His own on earth, the Father, too, being the relation of God, not to Him only, but in due time and way to them also.

Further, He would show His love in fresh and suited forms. "Having loved His own that were in the world," He loved not merely till the end, as a question of time, however true this may be, but taking up each need, and incurring all labour for them, whatever the draught on it, unremittingly and without wavering. Such is the love of Jesus to His own in the world, where it is constantly wanted. We know what love He expressed to them at that last Passover (Luke 22:15), and how infinitely it was proved in His blood and death for them as a lamb without blemish and without spot, foreordained before the foundation of the world, but manifested at the end of the times for their sakes who believed. But now He would show them a love as active for them day by day, when He should depart to His Father, as when He fulfilled the Passover in dying for them.

"Before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world," where He had glorified the Father, "to the Father," the point in which He stood was this: "Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." That end was death, or closed in death; for it is the utterness of His love in its exercise, its trial, He here speaks of, not its continuity as God; though both go together. His going to the Father was come, for He was rejected. Man had proved reprobate, knew Him not, its Lord and God, or rejected Him. Was He to go simply away? He might; and boundless love had been shown, and God justified, but not satisfied. There were an "own" in the world whom He had found. (He bought the world for the sake of the Church, selling all that He had to buy that field with the treasure hidden in it.) He had found them, and loved them, and proved now how truly.

And mark what is said of them. "Having loved His own He loved them to the end." What is the end? It is the completion of all His love purposed for them. He loved them to the uttermost, to the end; but His love has no end. And now the hour had come for His departure out of the world and they were to be left in the world, but would that change His feelings for them? "Out of sight out of mind" is a well-known proverb, and another says, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", but divine love is not subject to the moods and tenses of human love. It is unwavering and everlasting, "the love of Christ which passes knowledge."

THIS CHAPTER THEREFORE begins with a description of the spirit in which Jesus gathered His disciples together for the last Passover Supper. The other Gospels have told us all we need to know as to the surrounding circumstances; here we are made aware of the atmosphere of Divine love which graced the occasion. He was in the full knowledge of His approaching death, which is viewed as a departure out of the judged "cosmos" to the Father whilst He leaves behind in the "cosmos" a few who are recognized as "His own." He had spoken of these in chapter 10 as "His own sheep," indicating that He would lay down His life for them; now we discover how His love had been set upon them. He loved "to the end," which as regards this world was death; but since death itself is but the door into life eternal for them, the love abides to eternity.

Divine affections are connected with the work of the Lord, who had been thus drawing out their hearts to cling to Himself, and was now going away. They were troubled. The thing that He takes up still, is their having to part with Him. He was going to the Father. "Very well, I cannot give you up - I must make you fit to be with Me." "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet." "If I cannot be with you, you must be with Me, and I cannot have a spot in heaven." They were clean "through the word I have spoken unto you." But He cannot have them picking up dirt on the road, He must wash them. He became a Servant when He became a Man. Having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end, that is out and out - right through. He will gird Himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them even in glory. He makes Himself Minister of the blessing. His heart is not colder there than here, and this makes it doubly blessed to us. If my mother gives me a trifle I would not part with it for the world. There is not a joy we shall have in heavenly things that Christ will not give. He never ceases to be a Man nor to have Divine love in His heart.

The basis of this service is the love which has been manifested once, but not exhausted, at the cross; for it remains, and will remain, the same to the end. "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." (John 13:1.) It was not enough for the Lord to save us; His love would purify us from all defilement; and it is for this that He takes the place of a servant. Nothing can stop or hinder this service for His own. He girds Himself to wash the disciples' feet at the very moment of Judas' betrayal of Him. (John 13:2.) The possession of all things, His own dignity as coming from God and going to God, do not deter Him either from this service; on the contrary, He makes use of His power, in humbling Himself to serve His beloved ones. Such is His love manifested in the washing of the feet.

The disciples of Jesus had known His love for them as having been cared for and sheltered by Him throughout their companying with Him in many different situations. Just before His departure from this world to go to the Father, Jesus was gathered with His own for the Paschal supper, which was about to have its fulfilment in His death. It was regarding that time it is recorded for our instruction, that “having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Jesus knew that in their weakness they would all forsake Him and flee, but His love for them was unaffected even though He would feel their desertion with deepest sorrow.

It was about this time that the Lord had said to His disciples, “I am among you as He that serves” (Luke 22:27), and how blessedly was this expressed as Jesus “laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself” (John 13:4). Although so great in His Person, the love of the Son of God had brought Him down from the presence of the Father to take a bondman’s place, and to serve, not only His God and Father, but, His disciples. Not even the presence of the betrayer could deter the Son of God from this blessed expression of His love towards His disciples.

Then we are told that “having loved His own that were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Nothing could quench that love. There was everything to test it, everything to drive it back into the heart that gave it birth. Amongst His twelve disciples there was desertion, denial, treachery. There was the dark chalice of bitter death to be drunk; there was the malice of men, the power of Satan, the forsaking of God; and all this must be met and endured if He is to have these few feeble followers with Him in the glory. Will His love bear such a strain as this? Will He really go to the cross for them? Will He stand in their room and stead in the presence of a righteous and holy God? Yes, He will do all this, for “having loved His own that were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

As the Lord washed the feet of His disciples (John 13) their hearts must have been affected by His love and consideration for them, but it is apparent from verse 7 that what He would teach them by His service was not understood by them until they later received the Holy Spirit. He had ever loved them, and now as going to the Father His love continues "unto the end." He was about to change His circumstances of rejection, in which the hatred and betrayal of men had manifested itself, for the affection and glory of His Father's presence. He must leave His own here in a hostile scene, but would assure them of His constant unceasing love for them — a love which would continue to serve them through all. Love which could feel in every way for them as here, but more than this, love which would so serve them that they might have "part with Him" in the enjoyment of the Father's love and in communion with Him. He had served them here in circumstances of humility, as glorified in heaven He would serve them still.