John 13:21 instruction vs. destruction

Jesus was becoming visibly distressed. I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.

Observation:

Jesus knows the heart of Judas, He knew even before Judas was born that he would betray Christ. It never stopped Jesus from loving Judas. Here in chapter 13 we see Jesus washing Judas feet just like he washed all the other disciples. He confirms out loud that He knows there is one among them that will betray Him. I believe He did that for our benefit. It is like He is saying "I know what a child of mine is about to do to me, but I will love and bless him anyway". 

Nevertheless, Jesus is distressed, why? If He already knew Judas would betray Him, why is He distressed? I believe it is because He loves Judas and His heart hurts to see Judas take the path of death. Deuteronomy 30:19 says I set before you life and death; blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that your children may live. God's heart is that all of us would choose life and His heart breaks to see us continually choose death.

Application:

In the same group of scripture Jesus tells us to do what He has done. This command is more significant than just serving others, it is loving others who have and will betray us. 1 John 4:19 says we love because He first loved us. We don't love and serve others because we expect a return from them, we love and serve others because God has and does love and serve us. 

This also means that we can expect heart break. People will disappoint us and choose destruction when abundant life is in their grasp. But be encouraged, not all will choose destruction. There were 12 disciples, only one chose the path of destruction, the other 11 chose the path of instruction. All twelve fled and hid when Jesus was being persecuted; all twelve failed Him. The difference between the 11 and the 1, is that 11 of them had chosen in their heart to be Christ's, so in the failure they were instructed and abundant life grew from that instruction. For the one, however, only death, because his heart was turned toward evil. So don't give up, love anyway, this one could be number 11 not number 12. 

Prayer:

Father, there is so much to be uncovered here it seems almost overwhelming to me. I pray for those You have given me, my husband, my children, others that I walk with on this journey, please turn their hearts toward instruction and help them remain faithful during the times of sifting, so that all of them may have abundant life. Father, I also ask for the perseverance that comes from Your refinement. Help me to press through when loving others is difficult; help me to believe the best when all I see is yuck.