Key Thought

Want to know churches that are really Jesus' disciples? Simple -- administer the love test. Do they truly love each other?

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through John in a year. More Info on Mailing Lists

Father, please help me and my church family to pass the love test! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"I am not talking about all of you. I know the people I have chosen. But what the Scripture said must happen: 'The man that shared my food has turned against me.' I am telling you this now before it happens. Then when it happens you will believe that I AM. I tell you the truth. The person that accepts anyone I send also accepts me. And the person that accepts me also accepts the One who sent me." After Jesus said these things, he felt very troubled. Jesus said openly, "I tell you the truth. One of you will be against me." Jesus' followers all looked at each other. They did not understand who the person was that Jesus was talking about. One of the followers was next to Jesus and was leaning close to him. This was the follower that Jesus loved. Simon Peter made signs to this follower to ask Jesus who the person was that he was talking about. That follower leaned closer to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it that will be against you?" Jesus answered, "I will dip this bread into the dish. The man I give it to is the man that will turn against me." So Jesus took a piece of bread. He dipped it and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. When Judas took the bread, Satan (the devil) entered him. Jesus said to Judas. "The thing that you will do--do it quickly!" None of the men at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. Judas was the one that kept the money box {for the group}. So some of the followers thought that Jesus meant for Judas to go and buy some things they needed for the feast. Or they thought that Jesus wanted Judas to go give something to the poor people. Judas accepted the bread Jesus gave him. Then Judas went out. It was night. When Judas was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man receives his glory. And God receives glory through the Son of Man. If God receives glory through him, then God will give glory to the Son through himself. God will give him glory quickly." Jesus said, "My children, I will be with you only a short time more. You will lookfor me. And what I told the Jewish leaders, I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come. "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other like I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other." Simon Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow now. But you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to die for you!" Jesus answered, "Will you really give your life for me? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."

— John 13:18-38 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.