Lately, I find myself thinking about the love of Jesus.
Here’s a verse that jumps off the page and into my heart.
“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.”
John 13:1
Jesus loved his own . . . to the end.
Those last three words have been thrilling my soul. Here’s why.
At first glance, it appears that John is telling us that Jesus loved the apostles, whose feet He is about to wash, right down to the end of His time with them. And that is certainly true.
But there’s more to this phrase, “to the end.”
I looked up this verse on BibleGateway.com, and virtually all translations and paraphrases use the same words, “to the end.” But I found one that was different – the Amplified Bible renders this verse as follows:
“[Now] before the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words confirms the validity of the Amplified Bible by translating this phrase “to the utmost degree.”
That’s the kind of love that Jesus has for us. He loves us with a perfect, incomparable love. It’s off the charts. His love is the greatest love possible because “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Only God has this love, and He has poured it out on us through His Son, the Lord Jesus.
I’m blown away by this love because I am so undeserving of it. He doesn’t love me because I’m lovable. On the contrary, His love is amazing because I’m so unlovable. Why would He love — and even save — “a wretch like me”?
This is what Jesus’ love is like. He loves us to the highest and utmost degree. He loves us completely, perfectly, and eternally.
If you know Jesus, you will be the recipient of this love forever.
May we find contentment, peace, and joy in the love of Jesus today.
“It is staggering that God should love sinners, yet it is true.”
J.I. Packer
- What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast”? - April 12, 2026
- A Special Easter Message - April 5, 2026
- A Short Bible Study on King Jesus and His Kingdom - March 29, 2026
