He Loved Them to the End
A Holy Thursday Lectio Reflection on John 13:1–15
On the night before His Passion, Jesus knelt before His disciples—not to be praised, but to serve.
"Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.—John 13:1, RSV
He took their dust-covered feet into His holy hands. Feet that would run away. Feet that would stumble. Feet that would stand near the fire and pretend not to know Him. Still, He washed them.
He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny Him. He washed the feet of Judas, who would betray Him. He washed the feet of Thomas, who would doubt Him. He washed the feet of the others, who would flee when the darkness fell.
And He did not flinch.
This is mercy in motion—silent, kneeling, washing.
Jesus did not give a lecture that night. He gave an example. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 RSV). The God who created the heavens stooped to serve those He knew would fail Him. And He did so with tenderness.
He loves to the end.
That means His love doesn’t depend on our strength. It reaches us when we are doubting, when we are tired, when we are ashamed. It finds us even when we are hiding from Him.
This Holy Thursday, perhaps we can ask: What part of my heart needs to be washed today? What guilt or failure have I tried to keep hidden from the touch of Christ?
Let Him come close.
Let Him wash the places in you that you think are too messy, too wounded, too unworthy.
And then, like Him, bend low.
Because somewhere near you is someone else who feels unworthy. Someone who needs not a sermon, but a servant.
Let us begin again with the posture of Jesus: not lofty, but lowly. Not accusing, but cleansing. Not demanding, but offering.
Let this be our imitation of Christ. Let this be our Eucharist lived out.
And may we never forget: He never stops loving.
© 2025, Lawain McNeil, Mission Surrender, LLC.