ARE YOU LOVED "TO THE END"?

John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

How interesting the phrase "he loved them to the end". Who did he love them? The verse says he "loved his own who were in the world". Who were his own? Those whom he had chosen. 

What end was he referring to?
The end he was referring to was obviously prophetic, since he had not yet "departed out of this world to the Father". "Loved them to the end" has at least four related views. 

First, a short term time frame. The end of his life in this world with his disciples. He would be going to his death very shortly. He had told them so on a number of occasions. His end in this world was imminent. So his love to the end was for his disciples with him at that moment.

Second, it extended to all who at that time had embraced him as their Savior during his lifetime. So again the end was very imminent.

Thirdly his love extended to all who would believe on him in all ages. For them the end would be when their lives were over or when he returns for them.

Fourthly and lastly "the end" refers to eternity. Eternity of course does not end. End, in this case, means that his love goes on and on. This may not at first make sense. But, if he meant end to mean end in the sense of ceasing, of being no more, then his love for those to whom he was speaking would have ceased as soon as he went to the Father.

Look at it this way, If I have eternal life and he loves me to the end, does this mean that at some point in "time" eternal life ends? How absurd!

I rejoice in this, "He loved"(loves) me "to the end. On what do I base this - on the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ
(see John 3:16; Romans 1:16; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

Is it true for you? Do you know that he loves you to the end?