No one saw it coming. His disciples had not picked up on the hints. Jesus was preparing to go away. The cross was before him but no one but him anticipated it. If you keep your mind in the first century you would have never anticipated it either. What is Jesus supposed to say? what are the right words when you are preparing to leave quite unexpectedly?
Immediatley following the washing of the disciples feet, Jesus begins to explain his departure. He encourages the disciples to love each other, to know that he is going off to prepare a place for them and will return, and that he is going to send another Counselor in his absence. Yet, the disciples are numb. They cannot understand what this all means. Where could Jesus possibly be going where they could not follow?
Slip on the sandals of the disciples this week and wrestle with this question, "why did Jesus have to leave?". Read these 5 chapters in John over the course of the week and consider how you would've felt. It simply doesn't make sense that Jesus is going to leave. And it will soon take the disciples by surprise.
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