John Chapter 13:18-38

The Gospel Of John Chapter 13:18-38

John 13:18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’” “I do not speak of all of you”-Which implies that Judas ‘knew’ these things, but chose not to do them (13:17). ‘Judas should have pondered this statement. He should have taken to heart the clear implication. The saying serves to fix the responsibility for his act entirely on himself.’ (Hendriksen p. 238)

“I know the ones I have chosen”-No predestination here. Judas had been chosen to be an apostle (Luke 6:13-16). God had given Judas the best opportunity in the world to change his heart, three years of constant company with the Son of God! See also Acts 1:16-18. But Jesus did know the character of the men at the table that night, and Jesus knew that Judas had made the choice to follow Satan instead of God. See John 1:42,47; 2:24-25. We should note that it would appear that Judas was a true believer when Jesus chose Him, but at some later time changed.

“He who eats My bread”-This quotation is from Psalm 41:9. Here is one more attempt on the part of Jesus to penetrate the hardened heart of Judas and bring him to repentance. The background of the Psalm is when David found himself betrayed by Ahitophel. ‘This man, who stood so high in the king’s confidence, turned traitor to him, threw in his lot with the rebel Absalom, and evolved a scheme that would indeed have crushed David utterly (2 Samuel 16:15-17:4)….What at one time happened to David is now again happening to David’s greater Son…Ahitophel is the Old Testament prototype of Judas, even to the extent that after his traitorous act he hanged himself, (2 Samuel 17:23).’ (Lenski p. 933) The ‘eating of bread’ was a sign of close friendship. ‘For one who had eaten bread at someone’s table to turn against the person to whom, by that very act, he had pledged his friendship, was a bitter thing.’ (Barclay p. 166)

“has lifted up his heel against Me”-‘kicks me’ (Beck), ‘a metaphor derived from the lifting up of a horse’s hoof preparatory to kicking…The point of the quotation is that Judas’s action was unnatural. It represented a betrayal not of an acquaintance but of an intimate friend.’ (Morris p. 622) Points To Note:

1. No specific prophecy in the O.T. had mentioned Judas as the actual betrayer. 2.

Woods notes, ‘the scriptures had also predicted just such betrayal long before….This does not mean that there was divine compulsion for the act; he who sees the end from the beginning simply chronicled it…’ (p. 290). 3. Rather, by his own foolish choices and selfishness, Judas fit himself into the role of a betrayer. In like manner, the Christian who falls away, places themselves into the role of a dog that has returned to his own vomit (2 Peter 2:20-22).

John 13:19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.” “I am telling you…so that…you may believe”-Jesus has revealed the fact the one will betray Him, and even this tragedy can be used to strengthen the future faith of the other disciples. ‘The disciples might well have been seriously shocked and their faith shattered had the betrayal taken them completely unawares. They would have thought Jesus’ enemies too resourceful for Him. The prediction altered all that. I ensured that, on reflection, they would continue to see His mastery of the situation…He was not the deceived and helpless Victim of unsuspected treachery.’ (Morris p. 623) The ability of Jesus to anticipate the future, even the most cleverly hid plans in the future, in simply another proof of His deity. ‘had the Lord given no indication of his foreknowledge of Judas’ treachery, the disciples might have concluded that he who could be deceived by one of his own number must be fallible indeed.’ (Woods p. 291)

John 13:20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Points To Note: 1. Here we see the real dignity of the Apostles. They were the personal messengers of Christ (Matthew 10:40; 2 Corinthians 5:20). 2. Thus to reject their preaching or the truths written in their letters, is to reject the Word of God and the commands of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 2:13). 3. Here we see a single chain of revelation: The Father—Jesus—(Holy Spirit-John 16:13)—Apostles---The New Testament. 4. This verse also reveals that the failure of Judas will not stop God’s plan, and it will not be the first crack in undermining the cause of Christ. The other disciples would be personal representatives of Jesus Christ, they would be His ambassadors, Judas couldn’t stop this. In like manner, ‘Preachers, elders, and others prominent in the work of the church sometimes apostatize but this results from their weakness and not from any deficiency in the Cause of Christ. Men sometimes fail Him, but He never fails us…’ (Woods p. 291) 5. This verse also teaches that the Cause of Christ can’t be stopped, human unfaithfulness can’t kill the Gospel Message! (2 Timothy 2:9) ‘when the disciples see their Lord delivered into the hands of his enemies, let them not despair. Let them not think, “Now it is all over…” On the contrary, everything continues just as it was.’ (Butler p. 223)

John 13:21 ‘When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”’ “He became troubled in spirit”-‘inwardly disturbed’ (Ber); ‘clearly in anguish of soul’ (Phi). Once again, Jesus is putting the heat on Judas. 1. ‘His heart was sick and groaned within Him over the imminent spiritual suicide of Judas. Jesus loved Judas! He tried until the very end to bring Judas to repentance. The tender Shepherd of souls is not willing that any should perish.’ (Butler p. 226) 2. Jesus was not an emotionless individual (John 11:33; 12:27). 3. ‘Though John pictures Jesus as in control of the situation he does not want us to think of Him as unmoved by the events.’ (Morris p. 624)

“one of you will betray Me”-Jesus now gets very specific, in unmistakable terms Jesus declares that the traitor is at this very table.

John 13:22 ‘The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.’ ‘began looking at one another’-people haven’t changed! ‘at a loss to know’-Which means that Judas had completely fooled all of them. Barclay notes, ‘Judas must have been the perfect actor and the perfect hypocrite..By our outward actions we can deceive men; but there is no hiding things from the eye of Christ.’ (p. 168) ‘It is interesting that neither here nor elsewhere does anyone express suspicion of Judas.

He had covered his duplicity very well.’ (Morris p. 625) ‘He had even faked a concern for the poor (12:4-5) with such finesse that he prompted the others to criticize…He had fooled the other eleven completely. When Jesus uttered His solemn warning (13:21) it fell like a bombshell…Judas joined in, skillfully portraying one who was innocently dumbfounded.’ (Butler p. 226) Matthew and Mark record the disciples asking Jesus, ‘Surely not I?’ (Mark 14:19).

John 13:23 ‘There was reclining on Jesus’ breast one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.’ ‘reclining on Jesus’ breast’-As noted previously, the Jews did not sit upright when they ate. ‘The table was usually a low solid block. The couches were arranged around the table in U shape. The couches were placed with their heads toward the table and their feet away…The chief place is near the center of the right side of the table…The diners reclined by resting upon their left elbow, thus leaving the right hand free to deal with the food.

Reclining in such a way a man’s head was literally upon the bosom of the person reclining on his left.’ (Butler p. 226)

Points To Note: 1. Therefore, John, the disciple that Jesus loved, was seated on the right of Jesus. The back of his head would be against Jesus’ chest. 2. It appears that Peter is across the table from John and Jesus, where John could see the gestures that Peter was making (13:24). 3.

From the fact that a conversation was carried on between Jesus and John, which the other disciples seem to have been unaware of (13:25-26, 28-29), and that Jesus was able to give Judas a morsel of food (13:26), it would appear that Judas was on the left of Jesus. Add to this the fact, that Judas asked Jesus, ‘Is it I’, and Jesus said ‘yes’, and yet the disciples seem to have not heard this (13:29; Matthew 26:25).

‘whom Jesus loved’-The writer John is never mentioned by name in this Gospel, but the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ is frequently mentioned (John 1:35,40; 18:15; 19:27; 21:3,4,8; 21:23). Lenski notes, ‘John, Peter, and James were distinguished by Jesus on various occasions (at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, as witnesses of the Transfiguration, and as the nearest witnesses of the agony in Gethsemane).’ (pp. 942-943)

John 13:24 ‘Simon Peter therefore gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”’

“Tell us who it is”-‘Peter, always quick to jump to conclusions, assumed that John, the confidant of Jesus, would to be to elicit from him the identity of the one of whom he had spoken.’ (Woods p. 293) Again, you can’t but help but loving Peter. Many people would have said, ‘I don’t want to know, let’s drop the subject, let’s talk about pleasant things.’

It appears that Peter may have leaned forward and whispered this to John, for everyone still remains unaware of who the actual traitor is, even after Jesus gives the answer and Judas leaves (13:26-29).

John 13:25 ‘He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ breast, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”’

John 13:26 ‘Jesus therefore answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.’ “whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him”-‘Likely the answer of Jesus was not more audible to the group than was the question. The act of dipping the sop and handing it to Judas was not an uncommon act at a…meal…In the festivities attending the Passover, it was customary for the head of the house to dip a piece of bread in the sauce of bitter herbs and pass it to each person at the table (Exodus 12:8).’ (Woods p. 293) Holding a piece of unleavened bread in His hand, Jesus apparently whispers the above information to John, and then dips the bread into mixture of bitter herbs, vinegar, salt or into one which contained a sauce made of mashed fruit, and gave it to Judas. Hendriksen notes, ‘Why did he not simply answer back, “It is Judas?” It was in order to impress upon the latter the enormity of his crime, that it might serve as an additional warning…Judas was ready to betray the One out of whose very hand he had been fed!’ (p. 247) ‘The very fact that Jesus kept reminding Judas that his scheme was known was an attempt to rescue Judas from his headlong rush into spiritual suicide.’ (Butler p. 227) Woods notes, ‘Our Lord’s kindness and compassion are shown at a time when the best of men would have felt it proper to expose the traitor and to castigate him for his crime without mercy. Among other things, Jesus had regard for the personal and physical well-being of his adversary, and kept the news from the disciples.’ (p. 294) Had all the disciples known it was Judas, Judas might have never made it out of that room alive.

John 13:27 ‘After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”’

‘Satan then entered into him’-that is, Judas completely yielded himself to the evil plot to betray Jesus. Up to this time, Judas had already been yielding to various temptations (John 12:6). But being an accomplice to murder is a little different than raiding the money-bag. Even after being exposed, Judas felt no pains of conscience. ‘he made no effort to justify his act nor was there the slightest disposition to turn back.’

(Woods p. 294) Points To Note: 1. The life of sin only gets worse (2 Tim. 3:13). Yielding to one temptation only undermines our resolve to resist the next temptation, ‘every infraction of God’s will leads to deeper and further persistence in sin.’ (Woods p. 294) 2. The right attitude and perspective are so essential: ‘His disappointment in the nature of the kingdom Jesus intended to establish resulted from the ambition and greed for power that possessed him. He thus found himself more and more out of sympathy with the Lord’s plans.’ (Woods pp. 294-295) 3. Hypocritically accepting the morsel of food from Jesus, Judas shows himself completely unwilling come to repentance. 4. Again, the

reader should remember that Satan accomplished this victory over Judas, because Judas was willing (Eph. 4:27; James 4:7; 2 Cor. 2:11).

“What you do, do quickly”-Jesus Himself realizes that Judas will not be moved, even by the most tender appeals and acts of love. As with those in Romans 1, God allows those who are determined to depart from Him, to leave (Romans 1:25, 28). Be impressed, that even at this point, Jesus is still the master of the situation. The Jewish authorities had decided to eliminate Jesus after the feast (Matthew 26:5). But Jesus will have none of that, He will die during the feast! ‘Judas thought that Jesus was in his hand; Jesus tells him that the reverse is true.’ (Butler p. 228) Be impressed that in light of Matthew 26:5, Judas hadn’t planned on betraying Jesus until after the entire festival was over. Jesus tells Judas, ‘You must work faster than you expected’. And Judas does work faster. He knew that he had been discovered and unless he acted quickly the whole plot would fall apart.

The ‘reward’ money was on the line!

John 13:28 ‘Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.’

‘no one….at the table knew’-did John know? Many writers suppose that John saw what Jesus did with the morsel, and others suppose that John gestured to Peter that Judas was the one. But it seems hard for me to reconcile Peter’s non-action, if he knew. Peter seems like the type of guy that would have instantly tried to wring Judas’ neck. What the passage does say is that the conversation between John and Peter, and especially John and Jesus had been private, the rest of the disciples hadn’t heard or noticed these conversations.

John 13:29 ‘For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.’

“Buy the things..for the feast”-unfortunately, some have taken this statement to mean that the above meal hadn’t been the Passover meal. But the Passover was part of the feast known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread which continued for a week. They thought that Judas had been sent out to buy more supplies, especially seeing that the next day was a day of preparation and the following day would be the Sabbath. Hendriksen notes, ‘Now the inference drawn by the disciples indicates at least that not everything in Jerusalem was closed every night…The pilgrims lodging outside of Jerusalem were returning to their quarters after the Passover Supper. The great temple-doors were opened at midnight to begin early preparations for the offering of the festive sacrifice.

And the poor naturally were in evidence near the temple and whenever people gathered in groups.’ (p. 249) This verse makes it clear that the disciples were completely in the dark

concerning the intents and actions of Judas. Almost to the end, they still considered the actions of Judas to be noble.

John 13:30 ‘And so after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.’

‘Judas acted the deception out to the end. He brazenly took the morsel offered to him by Jesus. And then, probably to be away from the penetrating and meaningful gaze of Jesus as quickly as possible, he went out “straightway”.’ (Butler p. 228)

Words Of Encouragement To The Eleven It would seem that after Judas left, that Jesus then instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:25-26; Mark 14:20-22). While Luke does place the Lord’s Supper before the mention of a traitor (Luke 22:19-23), most feel that his record of these events is more topical then chronological. For he mentions the dispute among the disciples happening after the communion and not before (22:23-24).

John 13:31 ‘When therefore he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”’ “Now”-The departure of Judas was the first step, it set everything in motion, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the act that would bring salvation to a world lost in sin, was at this very moment begun. ‘Now that the betrayal is under way the glorification of the Son has begun.’ (Morris p. 630)

“and God is glorified in Him”-Be impressed that Jesus considers His suffering and death to be ‘glory’. ‘The glory of Christ as He stoops to save mankind is the glory of the Father whose will He is doing. The cross shows us the heart of God as well as that of Christ.’ (Morris p. 631) (John 3:16)

John 13:32 “if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.”

The meaning of the above verse appears to be that the Father will glorify the Son, including the glory that the Son had experienced with the Father from eternity (John 17:5).

This glorification will take place shortly, including His sacrifice for sin, resurrection from the death, ascension into heaven, and reigning at the right hand of God (Acts 2:36; 3:13 ‘has glorifed His servant Jesus…’; Daniel 7:13-14.)

“immediately”-‘without delay’ (Wey). Everything had now been set in motion, and this very night Jesus would be betrayed, by afternoon on the next day, Jesus would be dead. And by early Sunday morning, Jesus would be raised.

John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”

“Little children”-a term of tender affection. It demonstrates that Jesus truly had a fond affection for these men. They were like little children, completely depending upon Him, but He must try to prepare them for His departure. The writer John, when he is old, will often call other Christians, ‘little children’ (1 John 2:1,12,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21).

‘Where I am going, you cannot come’-Jesus had said this is the Jews in John 7:34.

For a while these disciples would be on their own. 1. It is significant that Jesus didn’t say to the disciples ‘shall not find Me’, as He said to the unbelieving Jews. The disciples would find Him, or more accurately, Jesus would find them. 2. Tenney notes, ‘they could not follow Him at once. Death for Him was not a dead end street, but rather a trail which He must blaze alone as a pioneer.’ (p. 211) And also, unlike the unbelieving Jews, these disciples would not die in their sins (John 8:21). ‘The death of Jesus is one in which he cannot possibly have associates, it will be wholly sacrificial…So while Jesus goes, his little children remain behind.’ (Lenski p. 959)

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

“A new commandment”Points To Note: 1.

Obviously the command to love wasn’t new, in the sense of ‘unheard of’ (Matthew 22:37-39). 2. Butler notes, ‘This love of Jesus goes even deeper than the command for a man to love another as he loves himself, for Jesus loves us more than we love ourselves.’ (p. 231) 3. Morris notes, ‘The new thing appears to be the mutual affection that Christians have for one another on account of Christ’s great love for them. A brotherhood has been created on the basis of Jesus’ work for men’ (p. 633) 4. ‘His example of constant…self-sacrificing love..must be the pattern for their attitude and relation toward one another.’ (Hendriksen p. 253) 5. Tasker notes, ‘whereas the Old Testament demanded that men should love their neighbors as themselves, the New Law is that they should love the brethren better than themselves, and die for their friends (John 15:13).’ (p. 161) 6. And this love would be essential! ‘when He left them behind, it was necessary that they should maintain unity among themselves. The differences of temperament and jealousies which He had already witnessed would alienate them from one another unless some powerful cohesive force

were found to hold these tendencies in check. A disunited band of disciples would fall an easy prey to their enemies…’(Tenney p. 211)

“even as I have loved you”-And as yet, they didn’t realize how much Jesus did love them! Please note, the love of God is the standard by which we are to live by (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:1ff). God is the role model for the Christian! Just think how many problems among brethren could have been avoided, how many resources conserved or used wisely, how much valuable time and energy could have been spent trying to save the lost, if professed Christians would simply take this verse as seriously as it was uttered.

“that you also love one another”-while we are to love our enemies and all men (Matthew 5:48). This love, first and foremost, needs to be exercised towards other Christians. If we can’t even love each other properly, then we don’t have any right to preach to the world.

John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“By this”-by this degree of love, by such an intense and dedicated love for each other (1 Peter 1:22).

“all men will know that you are My disciples”Points To Note: 1.

Obviously, Jesus believed that it was possible to imperfect individuals to have such a love choice for each other. This isn’t an unworkable command! 2. And neither is this some unattainable ideal. God expects us to love each other, our souls depend on this!

(1 John 2:9-11; 3:15; 4:20) 3. Sadly, ‘how many Christians (professed) show malice, spite, hatred, coldness, enmity to each other?’ (Lenski p. 962) 4. The New Testament Church manifested such love: ‘Minucius Felix declared with regard to the Christians, “They love each other even without being acquainted with each other.”’ (Lenski p.

961) ‘Tertullian tells us that the heathen commented on the Christians: “See, they say, how they love one another”…Chrysostom, however, complains that in his day Christian men show all too little love: “even now, there is nothing else that causes the heathen to stumble, expect that there is no love….Their own doctrines they have long condemned, and in like manner they admire ours, but they are hindered by our mode of life.”’ (Morris p. 633)

Peter Responds

John 13:36 ‘Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later.”’

“Lord, where are You going?”-Yes, Peter is again off the mark, but notice the great love behind His question. ‘He wants to know more about where Jesus is going because he is determined to go with him; his love cannot endure the thought of separation; whatever love for others Jesus asks of him, one and one alone is the object of Peter’s love.’ (Lenski p. 964)

“cannot follow Me now…follow later”-Jesus would be with Peter and the other disciples 40 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3). And one day, Peter would also give His life for the cause of Christ (2 Peter 1:15).

John 13:37 ‘Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now?

I will lay down my life for You.”’ “I will lay down my life for You”-‘If his Master is about to engage in battle he sees no reason why he cannot follow Him into the thick of the conflict! He is ready now! If there is a fight to be fought for the right he is prepared now. Even if he must die he would go with his Master.’ (Butler p. 232)

John 13:38 ‘Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times.”’ “until you deny Me three times”-Peter wasn’t a coward, for he challenged those who tried to arrest Jesus (John 18:10-11). But Peter wasn’t prepared to acknowledge Jesus without a fight. I think Butler is right when he says, ‘We believe Peter would have quickly admitted being a disciple of Jesus if the Master had just given the signal to fight…

We believe that basically Peter denied the Lord in that he refused to deny his own selfambitions (for an earthly kingdom). When Jesus offered not the least bit of resistance, Peter, with the other disciples scattered—not because they were cowards, but because their aspirations and ideals were dying (they supposed) with Him…We believe that in essence Jesus is saying, “Peter, I know you are willing to fight and die physically for your concept of Me as the Messiah. But Peter, are you willing to put self to death and accept My concept of the Messianic Kingdom. I assure you, Peter, you will deny Me before morning comes. Peter was not yet ready to crucify himself (Galatians 2:20).’ (p. 232)