Jesus loving to the end.
Notice—
I. THE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST. This was the knowledge respecting his death. Its speciality lies, not in his knowing the fact that he would die, but in certain circumstances connected with it, the knowledge of which was calculated to pain and discourage him.
1. He knew the time of his death. This is wisely hid from us; but he knew the hour and the minute.
2. He knew that the time of his death had already come. "Knew that his hour was come," etc. Comparatively speaking, he was already within the deadly hour, and had only a few minutes between him and the last conflict.
3. He knew the awful circumstances of his death. He knew that it would be by crucifixion, with all its physical torture, public shame, and insult. Earth and hell competed in making his death as painful and ignominious as possible, and his physical sufferings were but a faint shadow of his mental and spiritual, which could only be known to and fully realized by himself. He acted through life in the full knowledge of these, which would naturally paralyze his actions and dry the springs of his energy.
4. But in his knowledge there were some alleviating features.
II. THE SPECIAL LOVE OF JESUS. "Having loved his own."
1. The special objects of his love. "His own." The world was his own—it was made by him, and now he had become its tenant. The inhabitants of the world were his own—he had created them in his image; and what sad impressions were his as he saw on every hand the Divine image marred and disregarded! The Jewish nation were his own, but they disowned and rejected him. But his disciples were specially his own.
2. Some of the special features of his love. His love to his disciples must be somewhat distinguished from his love to the world.
3. The perfection of his love. "Unto the end."
(a) Unworthiness in its objects. But this had no effect upon the love of Jesus. His disciples were weak and imperfect; one of them denied him, and all left him in the hour of trial; but he remained faithful to them.
(b) The trouble of the parties—of the lover and the objects of his love. But this had no disparaging effects upon the love of Jesus. The trouble of his disciples increased his love for them, and it was intensified by his own. Indeed, on account of his love for them he was crucified. He knew beforehand that his death would be most cruel; still, this knowledge, so far from causing his love to flag, made it most heroic, and to blaze with increasing brilliancy through the gloom.
(c) Separation of the parties. With human love, it is often "out of sight out of mind." But separation brought Jesus nearer to his disciples than before. The arms of his love embraced them through death, and he carried them away in his heart. He could not go home all the way without sending back two white-robed messengers to direct and comfort them. The distance between heaven and earth only made them nearer.
4. The elevation of one of the parties. The chief butler of Pharaoh forgot Joseph after being restored to royal favor. But this was far from being the case with Jesus. He was exalted to the highest position and glory, but forgot not his earthly friends. He ascended, in fact, to receive gifts for them, and, faithful to his promise and punctual to the minute, sent back to them his Holy Spirit, the greatest Gift of his love, and the Executor of his purpose in them. Amidst the music and happiness of heaven he will not cease to love his friends till their faith is complete and their character perfect.
LESSONS. Contemplation of the love of Christ should inspire his disciples:
1. With the profoundest gratitude to him.
2. With the most devoted and self-sacrificing consecration to his Person and service.
3. With the most humble but implicit confidence in their salvation through him. Such love must secure every needful grace, ultimate perfection of character, and full and eternal felicity.—B.T.