Daily Devotions
John
With deep affection
Text: John 13 : 21 - 38
WITH DEEP AFFECTION
John informed us as to how Jesus saw His Disciples. They were responsible and mature adults when they became His Disciples. Some of them were probably married. Peter was married.
Luke recorded that Jesus personally healed Peter’s mother-in-law from an illness that caused high fever.
“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house.
But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever,
And they made request of Him concerning her.
So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.”
Luke 4:38-39
Nevertheless, John described the tender way in which Jesus addressed His disciples.
“Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer.
You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews,
‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
So now I say to you.”
John 13:33
What did Jesus mean when He used the phrase, “little children” when He spoke to His Disciples?
1. Metaphorical rather than literal application
Jesus applied the phrase “little children” in a metaphorical sense. This is so obvious; there is no need to extend this argument at all.
2. A Traditional phrase used by Teachers when they speak to their pupils
This tradition is age old. If we were to look at the Book of Proverbs, we notice that the writer often used the following phrases:-
a) “My son”
“My son, hear the instruction of your father…” Proverbs 1:8
“My son, if sinners entice you…” Proverbs 1:10
“My son, if you receive my words…” Proverbs 2:1
b) “My children”
“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father…”
Proverbs 4:1
Was the writer describing a context where a father is instructing his son or children? This is not impossible. There could be truly fathers that had that much wisdom to impart to their children.
However this phrase cannot be restricted to only the natural family context. We have a classic case of Elisha addressing Elijah as “My father” (2 Kings 2:12). How could Elisha have addressed Elijah as “father” unless it was true that there was a “father-son” relationship in the first place?
3. A Unique fulfillment of a phrase found in prophecy concerning the Messiah
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the Messiah in these words.
“For unto us a Child is born; Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder,
And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…”
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus always carefully taught that His Father was distinct from the Son. He spoke of His Father with the greatest sense of reverence and love. How could Isaiah then write of Him as “The Everlasting Father”?
One good answer would be that Isaiah saw Jesus fulfilling the unique role as Teacher to all who believed Him. In that He was their Teacher, He had every right to call His Disciples “little children”. He was indeed “Father” to His disciples in that He was their Teacher.
4. A special term of endearment
Jesus not only taught His disciples, He cared for them. John described the way He loved His Disciples with this insightful remark.
“…having loved His own who were in the world,
He loved them to the end.”
John 13:1
It was an especially tender moment. Jesus was saying goodbye to His disciples. He knew that it was difficult for them to understand and accept that soon He would die. Nevertheless, He had to prepare their hearts and minds for this eventuality with the greatest sense of love.
THE SEPARATION THAT COMES AT DEATH
Jesus understood how human beings formed relationship or kinship with each other. It was hard for them to let go of those relationships, and the harsh finality of death was a most difficult thing to comprehend. Death separated the living from the dead. Death would soon separate Jesus from His Disciples. The special relationship that they had with Him would soon come to an end. The Disciples would miss Him and seek Him, but they would not be able to find Him… as they used to in the past. This was a difficult lesson to learn. Yet, they must learn this lesson well for their own sake!