He’ll Love You Till the End

It was evening. Jesus’ disciples had procured a room where they would gather to partake of the Passover meal. Jesus walked in, encountering the twelve men into whom He’d invested time, teaching, friendship, and prayer. Slowly panning the company before Him, He may have paused to recollect some fond memory in His relationship with each one.

Jesus had history with these twelve men.

As God-in-flesh Man, Jesus had walked miles with them. He’d extended His “come and see” invitation to each of them, and to a man, the answer was “yes!” He’d engaged in personal conversations one-on-one and teachable moments in the presence of the entire group. He’d gathered them around campfires and dinner tables to explain deeper meanings behind His parables and His actions. He’d performed miracles to help them solidify their belief that He was indeed the long-anticipated Messiah.

Jesus also had a future with these twelve men.

As God-in-flesh Man, Jesus knew that one in the midst of His closest earthly circle would betray Him, setting off the chain of events that would lead to His trial, torture, and execution by crucifixion. Jesus knew that one who had adamantly pledged his faithfulness would deny even knowing Him multiple times over the next several hours. And Jesus knew that when the shepherd was struck, the sheep would scatter. His arrest would find Him standing alone, with not one of the twelve in sight.

Jesus entered that room on the night before His death. He considered the one who would betray Him, the one who would deny Him, and the ones who would desert Him. And what did Jesus do? “He loved them till the end.” (John 13:1b)

You may think that your past makes you ineligible to receive so great a love. You may struggle to imagine that a perfect God could be dead set on pursuing you with all your imperfections. It may seem impossible that you would be accepted – even welcomed! – into the presence of Holiness Himself.

If that’s your mindset, you’re reading this today so that you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God sees you, knows you, and loves you – completely. You don’t need to hide. Your darkest secrets, your worst moments, and your ugliest sins don’t scare Him away. He already knows them, and He’s not going anywhere.

That God-in-flesh Man surrendered His life on a criminal’s cross to pay the debt you couldn’t pay, cleanse the sins that stain your soul, and make you righteous in the eyes of His holy Father.

All He asks is that you believe in your deepest heart that this was done all for love, all for you. He knows your past, He knows your future, and He’ll love you till the end.