He loved them to the end. Jesus loved his disciples to the uttermost. These are the same guys that messed up big in the past, the same guys that were to mess up in the future, and the same messed up crew that were having the discussion of who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. He would call them his sheep, his bride, and his body. Jesus loved them unto the end. Jhn 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Do I have the freedom to love like this? Am I haunted by my past? Jhn 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; Jhn 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. Jesus was secure in where He was going and secure where He came from. He was willing to be exposed and vulnerable for others. The enemy will always be there with charges of hypocrisy. He will sow thoughts that you have no business to love or even offer tough love. Tough love is even more difficult to administer. Few come away from administering tough love with our a few bruises of our own. Tough love goes beyond our years, beyond self, and can display the most beautiful act of protective love. We often don’t have the freedom to love, because, we haven’t left our mistakes at the cross. Often our brethren have left it there, Jesus had left it there, but we are the ones that carry on the voyage of past sin. Just leave it there. The cross frees us to love.