Digging Deeper: Jesus Reads the Room
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to His Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end.
John 13:1 (NLT)
JESUS READS THE ROOM
At this point in His ministry, Jesus had now been with his disciples for three years. These men had three years of following Jesus under their belts, listening to His teachings, witnessing His miracles, and seeing His heart.
The curtain rises in this chapter with John narrating the opening scene of the Passover Supper. “Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to His Father. He had loved His disciples during His earthly ministry, and now He loved them to the very end.” Jesus knew the entire reason He came to earth would soon culminate in the greatest suffering known to mankind.
Just before this, Jesus had just endured a discussion-turned-argument between these fellas, where they roped Him in like children do with their parents to ask Him who among them was the greatest. Three years, they walked with Jesus and witnessed all the things, and they asked Him who among them was the greatest. Don’t you kind of want to roll your eyes and beg them to read a room?
Jesus didn’t explode because He was stressed and overstimulated, demanding they clear the room so He could just have a moment to get His mind right. He didn’t roll his eyes and spit some clever sarcasm in a belittling, condescending tone. He didn’t turn inward in a silent, passive-aggressive way towards self-preservation, laying down boundaries because they still didn’t get it. No. Jesus read the room and responded with exactly what these imperfect men needed: love. How utterly profound!
You see, these disciples that can’t seem to read a room are you and me – called according to His purpose (2 Tim. 1:9), even as unworthy and unqualified as we are. And that purpose? Follow Jesus’ example (1 Peter 2:21-23) to our spouses and kids. To those whose choices profoundly affected us. And that person who bullied us or our children. They’re our co-workers and that person who just cut you off in traffic.
Paul says it best in Romans 2:4, “Do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Friends, when the heaviness of our present circumstances press in, threatening to wreck our hearts and our lives, Jesus shows us we don’t have to respond in our flesh. We can boldly respond with the determination of David in Psalm 63:3: “My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.”
So, how do we do that? Let’s tackle that tomorrow.
Sarah Jefferson is married to Curtis and the mother to Grey, Sanders and Collins. She is a rare Atlanta native, currently living in Acworth. Sarah began her career in public relations in the sports industry. Now, she writes web content for a variety of companies and ministries. When she’s not writing or blogging, you can find her running or hiking the beautiful trails of north Georgia and spending time with her busy family.