There’s a content creator on Instagram, @anna_miriam_brown, who shares a series of animated biblical art on her profile. The drawings are absolutely beautiful—brought to life with subtle motion, almost like moving illustrations. One in particular has stuck with me: Jesus is standing beside Joseph, His carpenter father, as they work on a wooden project together at a table. At one point, Jesus picks up a metal nail, with tears in His eyes, and the caption reads, “I wonder how young Jesus was when He first understood He was born to die.”
That moment hit me deeply.
It made me realize—Jesus lived His entire life with the knowledge that His hour would come. He knew the cross was waiting.
As I write that, I’m struck all over again by how staggering that truth is. It’s so simple, yet it completely wrecks me every time I stop and really think about it.
As someone who wrestles with anxiety over things that often feel small or insignificant, I can't help but wonder: how did He do it? How did Jesus walk through both the extraordinary and the everyday moments of life, knowing that His time would come?
How many hours did He spend carrying the weight of that reality?
Did He worry? Absolutely. We see it in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His anguish was so intense He sweat drops of blood.
Was He afraid? Yes. He was fully human. He felt everything we feel.
But still… how? How did Jesus live a normal life—laugh with friends, show up at weddings, eat dinner like everything was fine—knowing all along what was coming? How did He carry that weight and still have people thinking He was just… alright? That kind of peace, that kind of strength, it’s beyond me.
The answer’s actually really simple—it’s love.
It was the love and obedience to His Heavenly Father, and the love He had for us.
Love carried Him. Love grounded Him. Love was His purpose.
As I reflect on that, I think of the story where Jesus washed the disciples' feet. That act—so humble, so intimate—paints a vivid picture of the kind of love He demonstrated right up to the end.
The following Scripture study method was developed by Sunnybrook Community Church’s Spiritual Formation team. Use these prompts as you read and reflect on the passage below:
Be Still: As you read, write out the Bible verse or verses that stick out to you most.
Abide: What truth can you learn? Are there any principles or commands present? What is the overall theme of the text?
Adore: What does the text reveal about God and His character?
Apply: How does this Scripture apply to your life today? How does the truth of God’s Word change your daily perspective? How can you live differently in light of this truth?
Pray: Pray God’s Word back to Him. Turn these thoughts into prayer. Ask the Lord to show you how to meditate on and apply this Scripture to your life.
John 13:1-8 says this:
1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
While studying John 13, I came across some powerful reflections in David Guzik’s commentary. Below are a few notes from verses that spoke to me the most.
- Verse 1 – “He loved them to the end”
This phrase means Jesus loved His disciples to the fullest extent. Some translations say, “to the uttermost.” He poured out the entire cup of His love—down to the very last drop. - Verse 3 – “The Father had given all things into His hands”
Jesus stepped into this moment not as a victim, but as a victor. He was fully aware of His authority and destiny. - Verses 4–5 –
On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus didn’t focus on Himself. Instead, He served. He washed the feet of men who would soon abandon Him. This is what it means to love to the end. - Verse 8 –
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” If we don’t accept Jesus’ humble act of cleansing, we cannot truly share in life with Him.
As we enter the week before Easter, we’re invited to reflect more deeply on the life, love, and sacrifice of Jesus. May this be a time marked by remembrance, worship, and renewed faith.
If you’re looking for more resources to guide you through Scripture during this sacred season, visit our website or mobile app for devotions focused on Holy Week.
Cover photo by Bruno Van DerKraan on Unsplash
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