John 13

v1-17: Jesus loved His disciples. "He loved them; he called them into fellowship with him... He was always tender toward them and watched out for their comfort and reputation.  He allowed them to be very free with him and was patient with their weaknesses.  He loved them to the end, continuing his love for them both as long as he lived on earth and after his resurrection."  And just as He never stopped loving them and taking care of them, so He never stops loving us and taking care of us.  Jesus is faithful in His love for His people.  He loves with an everlasting love and nothing can separate a believer from this. This is the love Christ has for you.

v18-30: Judas withdrew from Christ's company and the community of His people.  "Withdrawing from the fellowship of the faithful is commonly the first overt act of a backslider and the beginnings of apostasy."

v31-35: We are to love one another.  Christ commands us to and this command He gives is both excellent, having "an unusual pleasantness about it", and eternal.  Christ gives us the supreme example of love for others by laying down his life for them.  Christ's tells us that this "mutual love is the badge of Christ’s disciples. He knows them by this, it is by this that they can know themselves to be his disciples, and by this others can identify them as such."

v36-38: "There is a desert between the Red Sea and Canaan."  Believers must not expect to go to glory as soon as they are converted by Christ.  Peter very much wanted to go with Christ, but Christ told him that it wasn't yet time.  Peter was not ready for heaven as he had not finished the work Christ had for him to do here on earth.  It is only after we have fought the good fight that we are ready to go to the place He has prepared for us.