Monday, November 9 –
Welcome
back at the beginning of the workweek.
We are working our way through the Gospel of John, and today’s reading
is from John 13:21 – 38. Please read the
Scripture first and then come back to take a second look with me.
As chapter 13 began, we found Jesus meeting with His disciples for the last
time. The night began as they met to
celebrate the Passover (the Seder) meal.
He has more to say to them as he prepares to leave them the next day, via
the cross, and his death. In a world
that is desperately seeking to understand the life of Christ in the church,
these next three chapters are absolutely essential to understand. Jesus began with a lesson on humility –
washing the disciples’ feet. He is giving
an example to them that they might emulate humility as they serve Christ –
their Savior and Lord (13:14-15).
John began this narrative of the Upper Room by reminding us that Jesus
did this because of his love for them (13:1).
It is that love, and the reminder that it can be rejected, that is at
the heart of our reading.
“After
saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly,
truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at
one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus
loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to
him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back
against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” (13:21-25).
All of
the Gospels made it clear that Jesus had selected the disciples, but among them
was one who was going to betray Him. It
is a mysterious thing – and requires trust in God – to know that God knows how
to use evil to fulfill His purposes.
None of the other disciples knew that Judas had been plotting against
Jesus. He was the “treasurer” for the
group and such a position would most likely have a lot of trust connected with
it. Judas’ betrayal is known by Jesus,
but still, it troubles him. As he shares that
one of them is to betray him, the rest look around and wonder who it could be. Peter signals to John – who never refers to
himself by name – to ask Jesus, “who is it?” As we saw in the previous devotion, John was
on Jesus’ left, and Judas was on his right. Without an awareness from the others
of what he is doing, Jesus acts and Judas responds –
“Jesus
answered, ‘It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped
it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon
Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.
Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ Now no one at
the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas
had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or
that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel
of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night” (13:26-30).
Jesus
had taught the truth to the twelve disciples for three years. He had called all of the disciples to “come
and follow me”, and they had. He had
brought them to this Passover meal to be with them, for he loved them. Judas was a part of that group and had an
honored position at Jesus’ side. Jesus
had washed his feet, and he had broken bread with him, but it all turned to
naught. Verse 21 is sobering – “Satan
entered into him”. We wonder, “why did it happen?”. And, “Did it have to happen?” Judas was not a believer in Jesus as the Son
of God. I think he thought of Jesus – at
first – as possibly the Messiah, but his heart was hardened because Jesus
wasn’t overthrowing the Romans, and setting up the Kingdom of God. He turned his heart away from Jesus as Savior
and Lord and opened his heart to disbelief, and Satan entered. Judas left the group and the rest thought he
was on an errand. John adds: “and it
was night”. It is a sad moment to ponder
– one that should take us to the “fear of the Lord” with our own faith. Jesus had previously spoken that week: “…Jesus
said to them, ‘The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you
have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness
does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the
light, that you may become sons of light.’” (12:35-36).
It’s
important to note that Jesus is in charge during all of this. He is not unknowingly betrayed, and he does
not prevent Judas from doing evil. This
is the mystery of a Sovereign God – that he knows the evil acts and he knows
how to use them for his glory. Jesus had
previously made this clear: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:17-18). Judas goes out into the darkness of night,
and the darkness of his soul. Now, Jesus speaks to the rest about what is
beginning to happen.
“When
he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is
glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him
in himself, and glorify him at once” (13:31-32).
With
Judas gone Jesus explains that everything is set in motion for God’s glory to
be revealed. Did they understand? Would we?
No, they didn’t know that his soon-coming betrayal and death would be
finished in less than twenty hours. God
is glorified in the cross, the death of Christ is for our sins. Jesus is laying down his life, and in the
resurrection and ascension of Christ he is to be glorified as the exalted
Lord. From their vantage point it is all
beyond their comprehension. Jesus is
aware of their question, but he doesn’t answer those, instead, he begins to lay
out what is soon to happen, and what he wants them to respond with afterward:
“Little
children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I
said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have
loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (13:33-35).
The
words must have seemed confusing to them.
They had been with Jesus for three years, and they had walked every step
alongside him, and now he is telling them he will have to leave them. Perhaps they were still pondering that one of
them was a betrayer, but they had to wonder, “why did he call us 'my little
children'”? Immediately, he adds the
words, “a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as
I have loved you…” He had
demonstrated that love and now exhorted them to live that love out with each
other. It is a “new commandment”, i.e., not an optional exercise based on likeability. It is the mark of what it means to be a
disciple of Jesus – to love and do it humbly.
In light of the cross – that lies immediately ahead – this love goes
beyond niceness and courteousness and embraces sacrifice. Isaac Watts said it so beautifully: “Love
so amazing, so divine
demands my soul, my life, my all.” [1]
It must have been too much to comprehend – as Peter demonstrates:
“Simon
Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am
going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter
said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for
you.” (13:36-37).
Peter
meant well, but he was neither aware of what lay ahead for Jesus, nor his own
humanity. Believing that he would do
anything for Jesus, he did not comprehend the plan of God, nor did he realize his
own fallibility. Some say Peter was
impulsive – perhaps he was. Yet Peter
loved Jesus and was committed to following him. He didn’t realize that what Jesus was about
to do, he had to do alone. In this act,
Peter would not participate, and in fact, would end up being a participant in
denying Jesus.
“Jesus
answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the
rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times” (13:38).
Peter
is not a Judas. They both had walked
with Jesus, and both had heard his teaching, saw his works, the signs that he
gave, the way he lived. Jesus gave his
love to both, and as his “hour” comes, they separate. Judas betrays Jesus for money because Jesus
didn’t do what he wanted to be done.
Peter failed in realizing the sinful nature that is inside all of us,
and yes, he denied Jesus. What Peter was
going to do was a temporary failing – sin to be sure. Yet, we will soon see, his denial is not the
same as the act of betrayal, and he will be restored. His denial is – if we’re honest – something
we have done over and over again. We
have to see our sin in the light of God’s grace – for forgiveness is his love
for us. We come to God, Our Father,
through Jesus, our Savior, and Lord, to confess our sin, receive His forgiveness,
and walk in the newness of life through the Holy Spirit in us.
“we
are all betrayers…
but if we find grace
to cry and wait
after the voice of morning
has crowed in our ears
clearly enough
to break our hearts
he will be there
to ask us each again
do you love me” [2]
Peace
Comments