Love them to the end-John 13:1-17

Key Verse 13:1

“”Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end..”

Today’s sermon deals with the last meal Jesus would have with his disciples. At this solemn time, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. There are no love songs about a person’s feet nor are there any rom-coms about falling in love because someone has nice feet. Feet are the part of the body we tolerate and hide in shoes. And yet the God who spoke galaxies into existence — who could have opened this final evening with a miracle, a speech, or at minimum a nice meal — started it by getting on His knees with a basin and a towel. Twelve disciples. Twenty-four feet. 120 toes. Including the feet of the one who’d already negotiated His arrest price and would later betray him.

In one upper room, on the night before the cross, Jesus defines love not as something you say — but something you do. Something you do on your knees, with your hands, and for people who may not deserve it. I divided John 13 in 3 main points Love that is Forever, love that Stoops, Love that blesses.

First, Love is forever — To the end

Look at verse 1 “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

The foot washing event happened during the Passover meal. What is the Passover? For 400 years, Israel had been enslaved in Egypt. God sent ten plagues, the last being the death of the firstborn. But He provided a way out: a lamb’s blood on the doorposts, so the Angel of Death would “pass over.” If their doorpost was covered by the blood—safe. Without it—not. For 1,400 years they remembered this. Now Jesus says His hour has come. In just 24 hours, He would become the true Lamb—not saving one family for one night, but all who believe, once and for all. Passover was the rehearsal; Jesus was the fulfillment.

John writes, “Having loved his own… he loved them to the end.” “His own” is personal—these were like family. Jesus knew their flaws, doubts, and pride—and loved them anyway. And then John says He loved them to the end. Now here’s why that matters — because if we’re honest, most of our love comes with invisible terms and conditions. We love people when they’re easy to love. When they return our calls. They smile at us. When they appreciate what we do. When they’re on our good side. The moment someone disappoints us, or forgets our birthday, or owes us money they’re mysteriously slow to repay — our love gets a little cooler, doesn’t it?

When Augustine of Hippo reflected on this verse, he noticed the phrase “to the end”—eis telos in Greek. He said it means two things at the same time: to the very last moment and to the fullest possible extent. In other words, to the ‘end of time’. This love didn’t shrink when Judas reached for the money. It didn’t disappear when Peter started to crack under pressure. It kept going—through betrayal, through suffering, all the way to the cross. It continued through the silence of the grave. It continued after the resurrection and the ascension. And the amazing thing is… it continues even today.

So how can we love like that—love “to the end”? If we’re honest, by sheer willpower it’s impossible. Our love has limits. We get tired. We get hurt. We run out of patience. Sooner or later our love hits a wall. The real question is: How do we overcome our small, limited love? The answer isn’t trying harder. It’s remembering Jesus. When we remember that Jesus became the Lamb of God, everything changes. He gave His life so that we could be saved—so that we could pass over from sin and death into life. When we see that kind of love—His sacrifice, His mercy, His grace—it begins to reshape our hearts. The more we remember how deeply we are loved by Him, the more we find the strength to love others. In other words, we don’t produce this kind of love on our own. We receive it from Jesus first… and then we pass it on.

Father Damien (1840–1889) was a Belgian Catholic priest who devoted his life to caring for people with leprosy on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. He is an amazing example of one who loved to the end. He contracted leprosy himself through close contact with his patients and continued serving until his death, fully embracing the suffering of those he loved. He was canonized as a saint in 2009 for his heroic self-sacrifice and unwavering compassion.

One of them was Oskar Schindler was a German businessman. He spent his entire personal fortune to bribe SS officers and protect his workers. By the end of the war, he had saved over 1,200 Jewish lives — spending everything he had, risking his life, until there was nothing left. At the end of the war, he wept because he felt he hadn’t done enough. His love for people he had no obligation to protect cost him everything. That’s eis telos in a business suit.

Second Love that Stoops

How did Jesus show them his ‘love to the end’? Look at verses 2-5 “2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Picture your best meal with friends—laughter, stories, joy. That was the scene, but beneath it, darkness was brewing. One man had already sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Another would soon deny Him three times. The disciples didn’t know—they were just enjoying the moment. Now imagine being Jesus, knowing all that. Most of us wouldn’t handle it well—we’d lose our appetite or want to clear the room.

At this joyful, yet solemn moment, what did Jesus do? Instead of giving a long speech or taking the place of honor, He did something completely unexpected. As we read in verses 4 and 5, He got up from the table, took off His outer robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing His disciples’ feet.

What? If we’re honest, that’s hard to imagine. If you knew someone was about to betray you and another was about to deny you, washing their feet would be the last thing on your mind. Personally, I might be tempted to do the opposite—maybe step on their feet, skip their dinner plate, or at least call security! But Jesus did the unthinkable. He washed everyone’s feet. Twelve disciples. Twenty-four feet. That probably took a while. By the time you fill the basin, dry the feet, and—who knows—maybe even get between the toes… that’s not a quick job. And remember, among those feet were Judas’ feet and Peter’s feet. Jesus knelt down and served the very men who were about to betray Him, deny Him, and abandon Him. That’s not just remarkable. That’s a kind of love that goes completely against our natural instincts.

In the first century, foot-washing belonged to the lowest household slave. Rabbis didn’t do it. Their students washed their rabbi’s feet, never the reverse. When it came to Peter, he pulled his feet away and said you shall never wash my feet. He refused to accept Jesus as a servant. He didn’t realize Jesus came as a servant. Then Jesus said to Simon Peter. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Then Peter was shocked and said, then wash my hands and feet as well! This is Peter, all passion, not much understanding.

Look at verse 12-14 “12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

Here we learn something important from Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Sometimes we think God only works through big, dramatic moments—things like the parting of the Red Sea, the raising of Lazarus, or of course Jesus dying on the cross. And yes, God does work through those great events. But God also works through small acts of grace, like Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. These small acts of grace are also part of what it means to “love to the end.” There was nothing spectacular about it. No crowds cheering, no miracles in the sky—just a towel, a basin, and a humble act of service. Jesus even said that giving someone a cup of water in His name would be noticed and rewarded in heaven. And the truth is, these kinds of acts usually aren’t glamorous. Sometimes they’re unseen. Sometimes they’re messy, smelly, irritating, and time-consuming. They require patience. But it’s often in those small, quiet acts of love that God is doing some of His most powerful work.

Recently, I watch a podcast on Joe Rogan who said he was attracted to Christianity because they the F*** nicest people he has met. They are polite and willing to allow you to cut in line as you exist the parking lot. Of course, Joe is still a young Christian. He has still to meet the F*** self-righteous and rude Christians. Pray he can love him as well. Pray for Wesley Huff who apparently has been his counselor and Bible teacher.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been taking a class on mental health in the church, and it’s given me much to reflect on. In many ways, the church is like a spiritual hospital. Each of us comes carrying wounds—brokenness from sin, life experiences, and personal struggles. Within us is the potential to respond like Judas or like Peter. No one walks in with a perfect life. Many are navigating phobias, trauma, PTSD, and other very real mental health challenges.

What matters most is the support of a loving community. Yes, we teach the Bible and pray—but from this passage, we also learn from Jesus the importance of washing one another’s feet. Believe it or not, even a simple act like washing someone’s feet can become a powerful step toward healing.

One thing that stood out to me is something Rick Warren shared. As Christians, we often expect miracles—we think if we just pray more or read the Bible more, everything will suddenly be fixed. And sometimes that does happen. But sometimes it doesn’t. In those moments, it’s not just about expecting a miracle—it’s about learning how to manage and walk through the struggle.

Managing life and caring for others is a lot like “washing feet.” It’s not glamorous. It can be messy, uncomfortable, time-consuming—even frustrating. But it’s deeply meaningful. During one session, Pastor David Baik shared a story about caring for people in his congregation. There was a woman who struggled with anger, and everyone felt like they had to walk on eggshells around her. Her husband tried everything—travel, changing environments, good food—but nothing seemed to help. Then one day, someone gave her a puppy. And almost overnight, something shifted. That simple, small act of grace made a real difference in her life. Even the puppy participated in Jesus’ love by licking and sleeping on her feet.

May God bless our West Loop community to be a safe place where we practice Jesus’ love who stoops and washes others feet.

Third-Love that blesses others.

Look at verses “15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

In the last few verses, a stated cultural fact that no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger great than the one who gives it. Verse 15 sounds like Jesus is trying to pulling rank. We can misinterpret Jesus saying “I’m the master, so you better obey me!” No, he is addressing a misconception about true greatest and leadership.

Jesus knew His disciples struggled with both pride and insecurity. They were influenced by their Roman rulers and longed to be the greatest among them. Each one wanted status, authority, and recognition—to be the GOAT (greatest of all time) rather than the LOAT (least of all time). In many ways, we’re no different. We’d rather be the CEO than the one serving behind the scenes. But Jesus challenges that mindset. Though He is God incarnate—the Creator and truly the greatest—He taught that in God’s kingdom, the one who serves is greater. Philippians 2:7 captures this beautifully: “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Jesus was the true GOAT, yet for our sake, He became the LOAT. In the end, Jesus redefines what it means to be blessed. It’s not about power or position, but about those who humble themselves and follow His example of servant-hearted love.

The washing of the disciples’ feet was a brilliant move by Jesus. Without it, their pride and insecurity could have torn everything apart. Christianity would not have flourished. Instead, it transformed them—especially Peter. Imagine the impact: Peter would become teary-eyed when he recalls Jesus washed his feet knowing he would deny Him, and that Judas would betray Him. That’s what it means to “love to the end.” This moment reshaped Peter’s view of leadership and discipleship. Later he wrote, “Clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5)—a phrase that points to tying on a servant’s towel. Through that humility, Peter became a compassionate leader, reaching people like the Roman centurion Cornelius and guiding a diverse early church.

One of the key reasons Christianity grew so rapidly was its message—hope, forgiveness, and a life of serving others. At one point, a Roman Emperor Claudius Julianus in 331-363 AD became deeply concerned about the rise of Christianity and the decline of traditional Roman religion. He pulled rank and commanded the Roman priests to imitate the Christians—their generosity, their care for the poor, their willingness to serve. But many struggled to keep it up, because that kind of love—loving all the way to the end—isn’t easy. However, Christians were different. Basil of Caesarea opened the first hospital in 369 AD. During the Middle Ages, the world was struck by plague that wiped out 30% of the roman empire. During times of plague and crisis, when many physicians, pagan priests were fleeing the cities, Christians stayed behind to care for the sick and dying.

How blessed if people live by the LOAT principle of Christ. How wonderful if each person tries to out serve one another. Surely marriages, children and our society will be truly blessed.

In this passage, we learn Love that Forever, love that Stoops, Love that blesses. May God bless our west loop community to wash each other