John 13 -- What Jesus Knew -- Good Later

Several times I found myself encountering the phrase “Jesus knew …” in this chapter, so I began to take note.

“Jesus knew that it was time for Him to leave this world and go back to the Father.  He had always loved those who were His own in the world and He loved them all the way to the end … Jesus knew that the Father had given Him power over everything and that He had come from God and was going back to God.”  As He began to wash His disciples’ feet, Peter protested.  Jesus said, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.”  He also said, “I know those I have chosen.” 

I tried to think about what that would have been like:  Knowing You were about to leave and that it would be awhile before you would see your friends again.  That happened to me last summer.  We’d traveled back to Ukraine and had just spent five wonderful days with my oldest son’s best friend from his orphanage days and with his brother.  I’d come to love his friend as a son over the years as I’d first just met him in the orphanage and then spent time with him on subsequent visits.  I knew the goodbyes would be tough.

As we strolled through a small roadside collection of tent merchants that all together contained less merchandise that one convenience store in America, his friend spotted a new toothbrush and toothpaste, and he asked me in Russian if he could have them.  Toothpaste!  Of course I said yes!  Then I also pointed out several other toiletries and bought them for him.  I’ll never forget that smile and his expressions of appreciation and thanks. 

I texted a friend back in America, saying, “Please be praying for me today.  I have to tell this boy goodbye today.  The last time I did, it was really hard, and I feel those same emotions stirring again.”  His text back to me meant everything.  He reminded me of what a praise band leader had said in introducing a song once:  “It’s not goodbye, but good-later!”

Jesus knew better than I that it truly would be good-later.  Not only would He see His disciples again after the resurrection, but also when He saw them in heaven.

Not knowing whether Josh’s friend was truly a Christian or simply exposed to the almost-obligatory orthodox religion in Ukraine, I sat him down when we returned to the hotel and gave him a copy of Experiencing God, printed in Russian, that I’d brought with me as a just-in-case item.  Through our translator, I told him what it was about and what it had meant to me.  And that regardless of what happened on this earth, I wanted us to be able to say, “Good later and not just goodbye.

Jesus later said, “I give you a new command.  Love each other.  You must love each other as I have loved you.”  That’s what I was doing, and what I must keep doing.

Father, that day put new urgency into my heart about planting the seeds that will insure that I will never be saying goodbye to someone – only good later.  Thank You for allowing us the hope of seeing those we love again someday with You and Your Son in heaven.  No more goodbyes.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford