John 13.  In this chapter, Jesus revealed to his disciples that he was going to go away – someplace his disciples would not be able to go.  He was talking about heaven.   He went to heaven at his ascension.

He was not talking about how he died.  All the disciples except John  would join him in a martyr’s death.   He was not talking about hell.  He went to Hades – the unconscious state of the dead, and was raised back to life on the third day.

But Jesus death was different.   He went to Hades – died – as a complete innocent.  His death was different because he alone – of all people – did not have to die.  All of us die because of sin.  He died because of love.  He demonstrated that love when he washed his disciples’ feet.  Because he died for us, he washed us too.

LORD, thank you for going to the cross to die for us. It was a place where no one else could go.