What Jesus knew – He told His disciples at various times of His coming death and resurrection:
(NASB) Luke 18:31-33 “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
32 ‘For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,
33 and after they have scourged him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.’”
And Jesus did this because of His love for His followers and that includes you and me.
It was before the Feast of the Passover and Jesus knew that His hour had come. He knew that he would leave this world and go to His Father. Jesus knew that He loved His own disciples and He also knew that He would love them to the end. (John 13:1)
Since Jesus loved those men and women, we know that He loves men and women (boys and girls) today. He knew that suffering was going to happen and He faced it because of His love for people like you and me. In fact, His love is still for you.
Jesus arranged for the twelve disciples to eat a Passover meal together. During that supper, the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus… and Jesus knew that! (John 13:2)
The Father had given all things under His authority to Jesus. And Jesus knew that. He knew that He had come forth from God and that He was going back to God. (John 13:3)
Knowing all of this, Jesus got up from the table, laid aside His garments, and took a servant’s towel and wrapped it around His waist…then the Son of God knelt at each of the disciples feet and washed each one… even the feet of Judas Iscariot. (John 13:4)
After He finished washing their feet He said:
(NASB) John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
A little later after having eaten, after Judas Iscariot had left to finish the betrayal of Jesus, Jesus told the remaining eleven men:
(NASB) John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’”
Jesus knew His betrayer, Jesus knew His death was fast approaching… and yet He loved them… and yet He loves you and me.
~ Take it to heart ~
Jesus was going to the cross because of His great love for you and for me.
(NASB) John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”