He is not Weary of You
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was a British scholar, Bishop, and author. Ryle excelled as a scholar and was converted late in his school days. Young Ryle had plans to pursue a career in politics before financial ruin forced him to consider other options. He then joined the church, and later celebrated the disappointments in his life that led him to this final calling. Ryle went on to write multiple books, the most widely-known of which is his commentary series, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels. Before his retirement and death in 1900, Ryle became the first Bishop of Liverpool.
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:1
he loved them to the very end of his ministry, and was not weary of them.
The meaning of this seems to be, ‘Having always loved his own disciples, and having given many proofs of his singular affection, he now, before leaving them alone like orphans in the world, gave one more striking proof of his love by washing their feet, and thus on the last evening before his death, showed that he loved them to the very end of his ministry, and was not weary of them.’
He knew perfectly that they were going to forsake him and act like cowards; but that did not prevent him loving them, with all their weakness, to the very end.
The love of Christ to Christians who really believe on him, is a great depth.
He knew perfectly that he was about to suffer within twenty-four hours; but the knowledge and foresight of it did not absorb his thoughts so as to make him forget his little flock of followers. Saints, when they are dying, often ask to be left alone and let alone; Christ, in the immediate foresight of his crucifixion, thought of others, and loved his disciples to the end.
The love of Christ to Christians who really believe on him, is a great depth. It ‘passeth knowledge.’ It is something that our poor corrupt nature cannot fully comprehend or measure.
“I know…where thou dwellest.”
The expression, ‘his own,’ applied to believers, is very noteworthy. They are Christ’s peculiar property, given to him by the Father, and his own special care as members of his body. …
The expression, ‘which were in the world,’ is another great depth. Believers are not in heaven yet, and find it out to their cost. They are in a cold, unkind, persecuting world. Let them take comfort in the thought, that Jesus knows and remembers it. ‘I know thy works, and where thou dwellest’ (Rev. 2:13).