Love That Sees It Through
Pastor Ryan Williams
Part of Abundant Life
July 20, 2024

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus is about 24 hours away from his crucifixion.

“He loved them to the end.”

The Greek word for the end, “eis telos” is translated more literally to perfection, or completion.
• “To the uttermost”
• “To see it through”

John 13:3 – 5 – Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose up from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

*The authority in servanthood: *

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said, “All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth.”
• God has entrusted Jesus with all the power and authority in the universe.

*Robert Ingersoll *
“Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test.

• Jesus proves once again that the power to do whatever he wants will not corrupt him because he will stay submitted to display the heart of his Father.

And he stooped down and washed his disciple’s feet.
• Putting on the towel was to take the mark of a slave.
• Washing feet was to perform the actions of a slave.

Jesus is not serving from a place of weakness but from a place of full authority as the King.

Luke 22:24 – A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

John 13:8 – Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Peter needed to let Jesus love him through this act of service.

There’s a big difference between a position or title and God’s Kingdom Authority.

A New Command to Love
*John 13:34 - 35* – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

GOD’S LOVE FOR ME IS SO GREAT HE LOVES ME WITH A LOVE THAT HAS NO END.

1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Our ability to love others well isn’t based on our ability to love God, it’s based on our ability to receive the love he has poured out on us first.

Questions for Discussion:
1) How have you seen God’s love “see it through to the end” in your life?
2) In your opinion, why is servanthood such a powerful catalyst to spiritual authority in God’s Kingdom?
3) Do you feel you model the servanthood of Jesus well in your life? Why or why not?
4) How would you interpret the statement, “There is a big difference between positions and titles and God’s Kingdom authority?”
5) What are some ways you have noticed spiritual authority functioning in your life?
6) Is it easy or hard for you to accept the love of God for yourself? Why or why not?
7) Why is it so important to receive God’s love to love others well?