John 13:18-32

June 8, 2014

Well resume our verse-by-verse study of John at 13:18. Jesus knows His time is at
an end so Hes brought His disciples into this private room where He can prepare
them for it. Dont forget that Johns main point is to show that Jesus is the Messiah
so we can believe on Him and have eternal life. Everything were about to read
works towards that end and well want to interpret it first from that perspective.
What were about to read are some doctrines of grace proof-texts, and they do help
prove that doctrine, but remember that election and predestination arent the main
points. What John wants us to see here is that the Messiah didnt fail in His
mission; rather, everything played out just the way Scripture predicted and just the
way Jesus commanded. He really is God and worth worshiping despite the fact
that He died. Of course, we know now that His death was necessary because one
man died for the whole nation.

When we left of last time Jesus washed His disciples feet. Youre servants, He
says. Youll be happy to wash feet now that Ive given you this example. Its
certainly not below you if it isnt below Me. Now this next line is most interesting:

I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:

Back in verses ten and eleven He said, Youre all clean, but not all of you
because He knew Judas would betray Him. Now He says, Youre all servants, but
not all of you. He knows the people that Hes chosen because He made them.
Remember that He could see Nathanael before He met Him and He knew that
Nathanael was a true Israelite (Jn. 1:50). Remember also that He didnt entrust
Himself to the crowd who professed to believe in Him because He knew what was
in them (Jn. 2:25). Each of these disciples have been hand-picked for this ministry,
and even Judas has been chosen:

but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath
lifted up his heel against me.

This is a quote from Psalm 41 written by David after hed been betrayed by his
most trusted advisor (II Sam. 15:12). But the verse isnt just an historical account;
Christ says that its a prophecy in need of fulfillment and Hes already chosen
someone to do it. Knowing this is helpful in keeping Johns main goal because we
see again that Christ knew about His upcoming death and was prepared for it.
Hes in control and it proves that Hes the Messiah:

19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe
that I am he.

Theres going to be a time when the disciples look back on all thats happened and
theyll remember that Jesus saw it all coming and went willingly. When they
realize that He died in their place, and that He came as a servant and not a king
then theyll understand the gospel and theyll preach it by faith. Jesus was no
failure; He was our blood sacrifice!

Now this next verse seems largely out of place, and well need to recapture the
context to understand it:

20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send
receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Lets outline and paraphrase everything since verse ten and see how this verse fits:

v. 10-11 Youre clean, but youre not all clean.
v. 14-18 Youre servants, but youre not all servants.
v. 18 I know the ones Ive chosen.
v. 18-19 Ive chosen one to lift up his heel against me (vagueno reaction).
v. 20 Ive chosen the rest to represent me.
v. 21 One of you will betray me (more specificelicits shock).

So you see how Hes going back and forth between Judas and the rest of the
disciples, but Hes only really talking to the eleven. His goals are to (1) prepare
them for what Judas will do, and (2) prepare them to love and serve after He
leaves. Youre clean and Ive chosen you to go out in my name, so do it in love and
serve each other like Ive done in my example. And dont be shocked when Im
betrayed by one of you. Its necessary, and Ive chosen him for that purpose. It
doesnt affect your ministry or anything Ive done for you.

21
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and
said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

In verse eighteen He merely quoted the Scripture, and I imagine the disciples
trying to understand why He quoted it. It hasnt quite sunk in yet what He means.
But now in this verse He comes right out and makes it plain. One of the men in
this room will betray the Master!

Were told that Jesus was troubled in spirit, which may seem strange since Hes
the one calling the shots, but I think there are a couple of good reasons for it. First
of all, sin and all its consequences are truly painful. Not only does He know about
the pain of the cross, but sin in general causes grief. But theres another reason He
may have been troubled and thats because of the very presence of Judas with the
disciples. Heres this hypocrite wholl be identified with the gospel. Its a little
darkness mixed with the light. Its a blemish at the love feast. Hes a wolf with the
sheep. And this man who breaks bread with Christ will destroy himself with
betrayal.

So Christ is troubled when He announces it.

22
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

They didnt doubt what He said; they began doubting each other. Luke says they
began to inquire among themselves which of them it was (Lk. 22:23). Matthew
and Mark tell us that they all were sorrowful and asked, Is it me? Am I the one?
(Mt. 17:22; Mk. 12:19). So theyre all floored and no one can imagine who it might
be.


23
Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus
loved.

This is another verse that needs a little explaining. Weve got a famous picture in
our heads of the Last Supper, and theyre all sitting in a straight line on one side of
a table. But thats not the case, because they usually ate sort of in a circle while
lying or reclining on the floor. And so, that puts the image in my head of Jesus sort
of cradling John and its a little weird. But I think theres a better way to
understand this, and Ive included a couple pictures that might help:





You can see how John could be sitting next to Jesus and leaning on His bosom.
This is important information because:

24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should
be of whom he spake.
25
He then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him, Lord,
who is it?

Peter gets his attention and tells him to find out more on who will be the traitor.
John moves even closer so that now hes described as lying on His breast; hes very
close, and I imagine the tension in the atmosphere. No ones even breathing now
as they wait:

26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.
And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of
Simon.

So theres a sign, a secret gesture, which will tell the betrayer that Jesus knows.
Jesus will take a piece of bread and dip it into the sauce and put it in that mans
hand. Now, before we go on I want to point out that no one sees this happen. Mark
tells us that Jesus said, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish
(Mk. 12:20). It could have been any one of them! But Matthew tells us that Jesus
and Judas have their hands in the bowl at the same time (Mt. 17:23) and Jesus
discreetly puts it into his hand.

You might wonder why Jesus acted this way, but I can think of two reasons. First
of all He shows Judas that He really is in control of all this. Second, all these
disciples are afraid they might be the traitor and Jesus relieves their fears. Hes not
ready for them to know the betrayer yet, bus as long as they dont get a sop from
His hand they can relax a little.

27
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That
thou doest, do quickly.

The first part of this verse is dramatic and it usually gets all the attention, but dont
miss the second half. Jesus gave a command to Satan and Judas and it was
obeyed! Go betray me, and do it quickly. And you know what? It was their
pleasure to do so.

Now the rest of the men didnt see Jesus give him the sop, so when they hear this
command they think it means something else:

28
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29
For
some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto
him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he
should give something to the poor.

But Judas knew and hed been given a command:

30
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man
glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32
If God be glorified in him, God shall
also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

Here again we see the main point of Johns gospel. Jesus really is the Messiah. His
death wasnt unexpected or out of control. This is the very reason He came. He
offered His blood for our sins, but afterwards He is glorified and exalted. The
second coming will be one of glory and victory and vengeance and bloodshed. He
will then rule the nations with an iron scepter and give His people every promise.
Rome will be gone. Assyria and Babylon will be overthrown. We will rule with
Him forever. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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