John 13:1-3 Jesus' hour had come

John 13:1-3 John's record of the last supper has considerably more detail than the parallel accounts in the synoptic gospels. (Matthew 26:20-35, Mark 14:17-31, Luke 22:14-38) He does not describe the specifics in which Jesus consummated the Passover Seder to demonstrate that He was the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed in it, and instituted the sacrament that we observe as the Lord's supper. (I Corinthians 11:23-25) John was there, he was the one who was lying next to Jesus and asked Him who was it that betrayed Him. (John 13:23-25) What John records is the final words of Jesus to His disciples before His death.

          As a precondition to this, Jesus knew what was going to happen, specifically that Judas was going to betray Him because of what was in his heart. But He also knew that the Father had given everything into His hands. Despite appearances, He was always the one who made the decisions with authority. And He loved His own (the disciples) to the very end, the uttermost. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) His love was ultimately demonstrated - consummated - on the cross, but as far as words can go He bared His soul to His disciples. As the conversation reveals, they were still not comprehending much.

         The additional fact included here is that Jesus knew that He was going to return to the Father. Perhaps this was part of the reason that He had eagerly desired to eat this Passover with His disciples. (Luke 22:15) We have not known intimate communion with the Father as He had. Most likely that is the reason we fear death. Jesus was in a unique situation in this respect.