Jesus is Essential
John 13:21–25: When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
What a beautiful illustration of how Jesus reaches out with his accepting love to the world. The Upper Room was charged with our Lord reaching out to Judas. When he washed the disciples’ feet, he washed Judas’ feet too. Imagine that! He told Peter as he washed his feet, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.
And you are clean, though not every one of you.” “Judas, old friend,” Jesus was saying, “you’re not clean.” He was appealing to Judas’ conscience, giving him reason to reflect and repent. Can you imagine what it was like when the Lord washed Judas’ feet, when those piercing eyes of Jesus met the hollow eyes of Judas? Jesus was reaching out to him. “Judas, old friend, I’ve got your number. Why do you not turn around? 1
Walking with Jesus
The fear of losing fellowship with Jesus is a desperate feeling that only true believers would experience. How long can you live with some continual sinful habits without feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit to repent and to change your ways? What troubles Jesus, should also trouble us.
And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” Matthew 26:22
To look at Jesus, and to remain unclean, is to reject a hopeful eternity.
Praying
Lord, please wash my sinful soul with Your cleansing blood right now, and continuously.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
