Introduction
In John 1-12, we see Jesus’ ministry to His one nation, the nation rejected Him, John 1:11, He withdraws from public ministry and in John 13-17 we have teaching given to the apostles.
There is a difference in emphasis, in John 1-12 the dominant words are ‘life’ and ‘light’, introduced in John 1:4. The theme of ‘life’ occurs 50 times, and the theme of ‘light’ occurs 32 times.
But in John 13-17, the ‘life’ theme occurs only 6 times and the ‘light’ theme not at all. By contrast ‘love’ is mentioned 6 times in John 1-12, but 31 times in John 13-17.
In the farewell narrative, John is showing us love in action, chapters 13-19 deal with the final week in the earthly life of Jesus and we see two significant actions in John 13:1-30.
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
‘It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so, he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’ John 13:1-17
Before beginning His systematic instruction of the apostles, Jesus does two significant things, He washes His disciples’ feet as an object lesson in love and humility and also, He gives a piece of bread and instruction to Judas, setting in motion the chain of events that led to His death.
The words, ‘before the feast of the Passover’ etc. John 13:1, doesn’t necessarily mean that the events here recorded took place before the Passover.
Up to this point, Jesus’s hour had not yet come, John 2:4 / John 7:30 / John 8:20 / John 12:23-27, but now He knows His hour has come to go to the cross and return to the Father, John 13:1.
John 13:1 is used as a way of introduction of the event now to occur. The reason why Jesus did this is given as ‘He now showed them the full extent of His love’. He loved the men He had spent the last three years training, now He used this opportunity to show them the full extent of His love and His humility.
Judas Iscariot already knew what he was to do, he had shown his true colours as a materialist by being guilty of stealing, Matthew 26:15 / John 12:6.
Now he had the opportunity to earn money by selling Jesus to the Sanhedrin, John 13:2. He decides that the time is right, perhaps if he lingers longer someone else will earn the thirty pieces of silver. The decision was already made.
At this moment in time, it was important for Jesus to know the Father had given all things into His hands, John 13:3. Knowing His past with God the Father, and His future with God the Father, Jesus was determined to glorify Him in the present, John 13:3.
Feet washing was practised because the roads were unsurfaced and uncleaned, in summer, dust, in winter, mud. Feet washing was an essential social requirement. In times of riches, a servant performs this service.
How was it taken care of by the apostolic group? No doubt they took turns but on this occasion no apostle was willing to do it, Luke 22:24. If John 13 records the observance of the Passover, then on this occasion, they were arguing about who should be greatest, Luke 22:24-30.
Jesus had all assurance that His objectives were to be reached, He now needed to show the way of humility, not arrogance, the feet washing was the lowest task in a household.
It proved one’s servant-hood, so Jesus, fully understanding His Deity as well as His imminent death and return to God and becomes that lowly servant, Philippians 2:5-8. Jesus washes and dries the feet of those around Him, using the towel wrapped around His waist, John 13:4-5.
The lowest servant’s role is taken on by God Himself and note the ‘garments’ in John 13:4 / John 13:12. It was customarily for the slave who washed his master’s feet to remove both outer cloak and inner tunic and be clothed only in a loincloth, Philippians 2:7.
In man’s view of things, you have many people at the bottom of a ladder in a company, family or even a church or denomination. Jesus shows His disapproval of such views by washing the feet of the disciples. He shows the need for the leaders, as Jesus truly was, to be servants to the masses. It’s a great lesson in humility that we all need to learn.
Jesus washed the feet of all, including Judas, John 13:12, who had already conceived the plan to betray his Master, John 13:2. Jesus knew this, John 13:11 / John 6:70-71, but Jesus washed Judas’ feet because He loved him, John 13:1.
Agape love isn’t a mere emotional response to someone we like, it is a deliberate act of the well determination to do good to others, no matter how badly they treat us.
Man’s ladder
Managing director
Area managers
Office managers
Office workers
Tea women,
Cleaners
Messengers etc.
In man’s view of the road to success, many are at the bottom of the ladder and all are trying to ascend it. The man at the top is served by those below him.
Jesus’ ladder
Non-Christians
Congregation
Teachers
Deacons
Elders
Jesus Christ
Jesus’ view of the same ladder, taught us the need to accept our place at the top but struggle to serve, and descend the ladder becoming more like Him at each rung.
In John 13:6-9 we see that Jesus eventually works His way around to Peter. Now Peter had a strong tendency to put his foot in his mouth without thinking of the potential consequences.
Peter’s protest, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’, John 13:6, is incongruous that his ‘kurios’ should wash His own servant’s feet. He ought to have known that a lesson was being taught by the Master. Even if he didn’t understand the lesson, it was amply clear that Jesus wasn’t involved in a foot cleaning session for the simple sake of it. However, his heart is in the right place.
Jesus says, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but one day you will understand’, John 13:7. Peter immediately shows that he doesn’t appreciate the significance of what Jesus is doing through his violent protest, this shows Peter’s character, a curious blend of humility and arrogance, John 13:8.
Peter’s totally unacceptable that His Master should perform this menial act shows his humility and then in the same breath we see his arrogance, he, the servant, is presumed to dictate to his Master, Matthew 16:22.
Jesus says, ‘Unless I wash you, you will not share with me’, John 13:8, and look at Peter’s response, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’ John 13:9.
Peter was a very unstable man. He had just told his Master that He, Jesus was doing too much. He now tells Him that He isn’t doing enough! One moment he courageously walks on the sea, the next moment he is pleading, ‘Lord, save me!’ Matthew 14:28-30.
He confesses that Jesus is ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God,’ then soon after he dares to rebuke His Master, Matthew 16:16-22. In the Upper Room, he declares that he will die rather than deny Jesus, but soon he will deny him three times, John 18:25-27 / Matthew 26:69-75.
But there is no denying Peter’s love for Jesus, even here in John 13, he seems to be saying, ‘I want to belong to you completely’ not just my feet, but all of me, Lord, John 13:9. He was impetuous and unreliable, but in him ‘grace gradually won the victory’ and made him the man Jesus wanted him to be.
He seems so emphatic that Jesus will not clean his feet until Jesus tells him his options, then he swings around to the opposite extreme and wants his whole body washed.
The lesson isn’t one of bodily cleanliness, but spiritual humility. It’s a vital lesson all must learn, but is even more pronounced for those who are in leading positions in the church, they must lead by example, and in humility, with all love and compassion.
Peter didn’t feel worthy of having his feet cleaned by the Lord, and he was well justified for this idea. However, none of us deserved or do still deserve redemption, but God’s love for us exceeds His hate for sin. We must be most precious in the eyes of God, or He would never have sent His Son on our behalf.
In John 13:10, Jesus uses an everyday example, a man going to feast first bathes completely at home, then on arrival, his feet only would be washed. Likewise, ‘you, ‘plural’ are clean’ i.e. spiritually.
‘But not every one of you’, John 13:10. Judas had already made a bargain with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16 / Mark 14:10-11.
Jesus has reassured Peter that he is now clean and now turns His attention to one of the numbers who aren’t. He doesn’t yet tell the gathering who is to be guilty, but we can be sure both Jesus and the guilty party knew who was being discussed.
Judas may have had a bath, but he could never wash away the spiritual dirt he had allowed and was now allowing to accumulate within him. We can do nothing to affect spiritual cleansing and need to rely totally on Jesus’ grace and blood, there must also be a daily cleansing, 1 John 1:6-9.
In John 13:12-17 we see Jesus as the example of humble service. Jesus then completed the task of washing the rest of the disciple’s feet, John 13:12.
No one else commented on the action, although they may have been somewhat perplexed by the entire incident. The word, ‘know’ means understand, they knew what he had done, but did they appreciate its spiritual significance? John 13:12.
Jesus re-joined them at the table and started to discuss the event just passed and He points out to them the relationship between them, Jesus is their teacher and their Lord, John 13:13-15. They rightly called him, ‘The Teacher’, ‘didaskalos’ and ‘The Lord’, ‘Kurios’.
If He, their Kurios and didaskalos had lovingly served them, they ought lovingly to serve one another. By performing this most menial task He had given them an ‘example’ for them to copy, John 13:15.
The words, ‘truly, truly’, John 13:16, always prefaces a solemn statement, ‘a slave’ ‘doulos’ is not greater than his Master, it is surely not too menial for his slaves.
The words, ‘He who is sent’ John 13:16, is apostolos, its sole occurrence in John’s Gospel. They were His sent ones, apostles, Matthew 10:2, He was their sender. Jesus tells them, ‘If you know this, happy are you if you act upon it,’ John 13:17.
Is Jesus instituting an ordinance of ‘feet washing’? Foot washing in both the Old and New Testaments was a social custom, it met a real need. The present denominational practice of washing feet cannot be compared with it.
There is no New Testament evidence that it was ever practised congregationally as an ordinance. In 1 Timothy 5:10, washing the feet of the Lord’s people are classed with bringing up children, showing hospitality, all defined as ‘doing good in every way’.
If churches make feet washing a church ordinance, then it would be equally logical to suggest that bringing up children be made a ‘church ordinance’.
Jesus gave them an object lesson in humility, which rebuked their pride. They argued as to who was greatest, Luke 22:24, He had taught them often in word, Matthew 20:25-28.
Now He teaches them in His kingdom true greatness is measured by the yardstick of loving service, Galatians 5:13. It was an example of loving service which should characterise every true disciple in His dealings with other disciples, John 13:15.
We aren’t told to wash each other’s feet as some sort of ceremony, but to be involved with actively serving each other as well as the people around us.
This doesn’t mean that the disciples are greater than Jesus, but that our response to our greatness in Christ, having our sins forgiven, and enjoying eternal life, ought to be a response in humility and servanthood, not arrogance as is the norm in the world. We are urged to do these things as Christ did, John 13:17.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.’ John 13:18-30
Judas
What kind of man would bargain for Jesus? The man is the man Judas and although he’s not a pleasant person to study, he gets a lot of attention in the Gospels and so we need to ask ourselves why?
I don’t believe that anybody suddenly becomes influenced. I don’t believe that Judas was ever a second-class disciple.
Remember he was chosen by Jesus to be numbered among the twelve after Jesus spent a full night in prayer, Luke 6:12-16. Judas was treated, he was taught just the same as all of the other disciples, and he was sent out by Christ to minister by the same apostolic authority.
Yes! Judas went out in the name of Jesus and healed the sick, imagine that? Imagine looking back years later and when you realise that your baby is alive because Judas healed him.
Yes! Judas went out in the name of Jesus and cast demons out of people. And yes, Judas went out and preached the good news of the kingdom of heaven to the multitudes. Judas was just as much a disciple as anyone else.
I think a lot of our portrayals of Judas are way off the mark. Every picture I’ve ever seen, an artist’s portrayal of the disciples, always has Judas away off in the corner.
I don’t know why, but he’s always a skinny looking guy. Kind of small and thin, he’s always got dark hair and a goatee beard, but I don’t know what that means. But he’s always a sinister-looking guy and when you take one look at the picture you will always say, ‘That guy is Judas!’
Because if he wasn’t Judas, he probably is a gang leader. How do we know that he wasn’t a big guy, with a big old smile on his face, how do we know that Judas didn’t have the heartiest laugh of any of the disciples?
This man was as zealous as any of the twelve. The other twelve trusted him enough that when they needed someone to take care of the money, they picked Judas.
I think Judas probably like the others was just as passionate in the beginning as any of them. He was a nationalist just like Peter, John and Simon. He thought Jesus was going to launch the political liberation of Israel, and he was on the ground floor to make it happen.
But what I think happened, I think sooner than the others, Judas was the one who realised that Jesus wasn’t willing to be the king, he wanted him to be.
I believe that Judas became disillusioned. Imagine that he is the treasurer of a nearly bankrupt movement, following a man that in Judas’ opinion cannot take advantage of the moment.
I think for Judas the real turning point is in John 6. Jesus feeds the multitude, and the crowd try to force Him to become king, John 6:15. This is the moment all the twelve have been waiting for. ‘Let’s crown Jesus, let’s round up the troops, let’s ride into Jerusalem and let’s liberate Israel.’
Do you know what Jesus did? He refused, He withdrew from the multitude when they came to find Him the next day, and He preached one of the fieriest sermons He ever preached.
He says, ‘the only reason you’re here is for the food.’ He started talking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood and the Bible says that after that many people turned away, John 6:66. And in Judas’ mind, Jesus blew it.
And that’s when Jesus said something very interesting that he hadn’t said yet. He chose the twelve but one of them would later betray Him, John 6:70-71.
I don’t know if at this moment Judas plans to betray Jesus, that’s still two years away. But at this moment already in the heart of Judas is frustration and disillusionment that Satan is going to start to work on. From that moment on, Judas began to live more and more of the life of an impostor.
I think for some time, Judas started to live that way. He started to do the stuff but not listen to the music. In fact, at some point, it says that every now and then he would put his hand in the money to get a little out.
He was determined to get something out of his association with Jesus. And with every small act of treachery, his heart grew a little bit harder.
When we get towards the last week of Jesus’ life, He’s anointed at Bethany by Mary. Who opens a bottle of perfume, which is worth a year’s wages, her life’s savings and she just extravagantly pours it on Jesus. And the Bible says Judas wasn’t happy about it, because he used to help himself to the money in the money bag, John 12:4-6.
For Judas, the final straw was for Jesus giving a blessing to Mary for her extravagance. In Matthew 26:14-16, we find Judas making his agreement with the leaders to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver.
I think Judas could have got a lot more. I mean this shows how far Jesus has sunk in his eyes. He could have pushed for much more from the chief priests. Thirty pieces of silver were just the price of a common slave.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal By Judas
And so, we shift now to a few days later and we go to the upper room. All the disciples are gathered together to have a Passover meal, Exodus 12:18-20. The disciples suggest that they prepare for the Passover by finding a place to have the meal together, Luke 22:15.
Jesus knows His time to go to the cross was nearing, Luke 9:51, but His disciples never really understood what He meant. They didn’t understand Jesus Himself was the Passover lamb, Luke 22:7-13.
As they were getting on with the meal, Jesus interrupts and announces that one of them would betray Him, Matthew 26:21 / Mark 14:18, which sent shockwaves through the disciples.
Jesus hints at the coming events and He reminds the disciples present of Psalms 41:9, in which it is prophesied that one close to the Lord would betray Him and so He ensures that the men know when the incident occurs, ‘He who ate my bread’ etc., Psalm 41:9 / John 13:18-19.
They’re, introduced to ‘even my close friend, someone I trusted’, Psalm 41:9 / John 13:18. This is a picture of a close, personal friend, enjoying a relationship of trust, betraying his host. Sharing a meal was more than a social occasion, guaranteed mutual trust between host and guest.
The disciples now know that one of them will betray Jesus. And John says something very interesting, ‘the evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus,’ John 13:2.
We have to wonder was the blood money on Judas that night? Were the thirty silver coins in his pocket when he sat down to have supper with Jesus? Something else I think about, is this, what was going on in the minds of both men when Jesus washed the feet of Judas? John 13:5 / John 13:11.
Judas knew what he was going to do, and Jesus knew he was going to do it, John 13:11. What were both men thinking when Jesus washed his feet?
I think Jesus was about to get really personal with this battle. I think the Lord was about to make one last appeal to His deserting disciple. I want to show you what happened at the Supper because it was a real battle, John 13:18-30.
Notice that Jesus basically said three things. A prediction, an answer and a command.
Jesus said, ‘one of you is going to betray me’, Matthew 26:21 / Mark 14:18. Can you imagine the gulp that Judas had to restrain when Jesus said that? Can you imagine the shock that he had to try and keep from registering when Jesus said that?
This text makes us face the sovereignty of God and the free will of men. Jesus predicted His betrayal but predicted doesn’t mean predestined. In other words, Jesus’ awareness of Judas’ betrayal doesn’t excuse Judas from responsibility for his actions.
God does not design treachery, but God can design treachery in His plan. God doesn’t make men do evil, but God can use evil men. Later Judas’ remorse is evident that betrayal was his choice, Matthew 27:3. He did not have to betray Jesus, but God used that betrayal to save the world.
The reason Jesus made the prediction was to let the other disciples know that He was in control. The situation wasn’t out of hand. Later, looking back, the apostles would remember that Jesus’ betrayal and death were exactly what He had predicted, John 12:16 / John 13:19.
In other words, later they were going to reflect, they were going to look back on that night. And they are going realise that Jesus saw that coming, it was all part of a plan, He knew what was about to happen.
And they were going to realise He really is the Son of God, He really is in control, He really is the Lord. That’s why Jesus made that prediction.
He wasn’t the helpless victim of superior forces; He was totally in control of the situation. One sent by God to effect God’s purpose going forward calmly and unafraid, to do what God had planned for him to do.
It will re-enforce their conviction that He is the one written about so many years before. He shows that even at this late stage He is concerned about the spiritual well-being of the men who are to carry the message to all the world.
He uses this opportunity to assure the disciples that all who accept the word they are to bring accept Jesus and therefore accept God as well, John 13:20.
Again, in John 13:20 we find the words, ‘very truly,’ which is solemn assurance, ‘and one whom I send’, an apostle, Matthew 10:40 / Luke 10:16.
These men are to be His inspired representatives, John 14:26 / John 15:26-27 / John 16:13. To receive them, heed their teaching is to receive the Lord Jesus and to receive Him is to receive the Father who sent Him.
Notice that Jesus ‘was troubled in spirit,’ John 13:21 / John 11:33 / John 12:27. His prediction ‘one of you will betray me,’ is His third reference to the betrayer in John 13. One terrible thing lay in the heart of the Lord, He knew the time was coming close, so He needed to tell of this thing, John 13:21.
The Bible says, ‘He testified’ as opposed to ‘He told’, John 13:21. This infers more of a declaration, a speech of significant importance, something that He had seen, or been witness to. Thus, this was a prophecy that of course, was soon to be seen to be trustworthy.
The words, ‘one of you is going to betray me’, Matthew 26:21 / Mark 14:18 / John 13:21, must have cut to the heart of this group of men. The disciples were perplexed, ‘at a loss to know which of them he meant’, John 13:22. They looked at each other, each wondering who was to be guilty of this most hideous crime, Matthew 26:22 / Mark 14:19.
The one whom Jesus loved John 13:23 / John 19:26 / John 20:2 / John 21:7 / John 21:20, is a reference to John. Tradition has always understood this to be John.
All the Gospels describe this event, and all show concern to ensure the individual would not be the guilty party. In his humility, John never names himself in the account and the other accounts describe John as the one Jesus loved.
In John 13:24, we see that each guest was reclining at a low table, John was next to Jesus. When Jesus said, ‘one of you will betray me’, Matthew 26:21 / Mark 14:18 / John 13:21. Peter made a sign or gesture to John, asking, ‘who is it he means?’ John 13:24.
John merely leaned back and asked Jesus, ‘Lord who is it?’ John 13:25. The way he recounts the incident with John 13:27-29, suggests that this was a private interchange, question and answer not heard by the others.
Notice that all the other disciples address Jesus as Lord, Matthew 26:22 / John 13:25, but Judas simply addressed Jesus as Rabbi, meaning teacher, Matthew 26:25. Jesus was more than a teacher, He was the Son of God, John 20:30-31.
I think the disciple’s amazing lack of suspicion about Judas tells a us couple of things.
1. It tells us that Judas hid his dishonesty very well.
You can be a bargainer for Christ and other people will never know it.
2. Jesus must have treated Judas as well as any of the other disciples.
If they had seen over the years that Jesus had a problem with Judas, they would have suspected Judas, but they didn’t. Because there was nothing about the way Jesus loved Judas that gave them any hint that Judas would sell his Lord.
Why do you think Peter wants to know? Peter wanted to take preventative action. Peter’s got a sword, Matthew 26:51-55 / Luke 22:49-51 / John 18:10-15. And all he needs to know is who in this room would sell out Jesus.
With the lifting one finger, Jesus could have saved His life and ended Judas’ like that. Peter would have jumped up and cut off his head so fast, Judas wouldn’t know about it until he sneezed. Jesus didn’t do that.
Instead, He gave an answer that only Judas could respond to. He said in John 13:26 ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ We might ask, well why didn’t they figure it out then?
How many of you have seen a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous portrait of ‘The Last Supper’? It’s a magnificent work but it’s so wrong. They didn’t sit at a long table, in chairs, with a white tablecloth. Passover was eaten lying on the floor, John 13:13 / John 13:23.
They would have a U-shaped table, with the host up at the front, in the very middle. There was someone on the right in a special place of honour. And someone on the left in a very special place of honour. And everybody else would be down the sides. They would lie down on their left elbow and eat with their right hand.
That’s why the Bible says that ‘John was up against the breast of Jesus,’ John 13:25. He didn’t have bad table manners, John was right here, to the right of Jesus. Right up against His breast as they ate. Now let me ask you, who would have been right to the left of Jesus in the very special place of honour?
Somebody so close to Jesus could take a piece of bread and hand it to him. Jesus gave Judas the place of honour at the Passover. And all that the disciples thought that was happening, in fact, we know later from Matthew that Jesus and Judas were able to have a very private conversation.
We read that although Judas was aware of the decision he had made to betray the Lord, he didn’t want to reveal himself, Matthew 26:25.
We see a piece of bread or meat dipped in the sauce, which was bitter herbs, Matthew 26:23 / Mark 14:20 / John 13:26. Giving a piece of bread to a guest was a sign of friendship or special favour, this would mean that Jesus wasn’t only identifying the traitor to John but also assuring Judas of His love for him.
It was love’s last appeal, He knew what Judas planned, but in the end, he held out the opportunity to turn from the wickedness of his heinous crime. I believe He was making a special appeal to Judas’ heart. He was holding that piece of bread there and He was looking right into his eyes.
And both men knew what He was saying, ‘Judas I know it’s you, I know what you’re struggling with, I know what you’re thinking about doing to me Judas, can you go through with it? Can you turn on me like that? Can you sell me out?’
Jesus was knocking at the door of his heart and Judas threw open the door and told Jesus to stay outside and he invited Satan in, John 13:27 / Luke 22:3. As someone once said, ‘it was Judas’ Gethsemane.’
Just like in Gethsemane when Jesus made His decision, and the angels came to give Him strength. Judas made his decision, and the dark angel showed up that quick, to make sure he didn’t change his mind. And at that moment Jesus knew that He had lost him.
The whole betrayal of Jesus was foreordained, Jesus would suffer the death of the cross, Isaiah 53 / Psalm 22 / Acts 2:23. Jesus says it would be better for His betrayal to have never been born, Matthew 26:24 / Mark 14:21 / John 17:12.
When we read John 13:28-29, we need to ask, why didn’t John expose Judas? He and other disciples knew nothing of Judas’ plans, and he may not have thought that the betrayal was imminent.
All the apostles said, ‘Is it I?’, Matthew 26:22, so probably they were thinking not of deliberate, calculated treachery, but involuntary betrayal, e.g. Peter’s denial.
Also, the apostles refused to accept that Jesus was going to a cross. On the other side of Cavalry, it must have seemed incredible that Jesus should urge Judas to do his work of betrayal quickly, John 13:27.
This is the only time in Scripture where God and Satan gave a man the same command. Judas was arranging for Jesus’ crucifixion, John 13:27 / Luke 12:50.
Jesus was thinking, ‘I have a baptism to undergo, what tension I must suffer, till it is all over! As if He said to Judas, Get on with it. I must get it over with!’ Matthew 26:24 / Mark 14:21.
The disciples think Jesus is referring to some act of kindness, John 13:29, but the most extreme opposite is true. He is referring to the most terrible crime ever committed against man or God, Matthew 26:24 / Mark 14:21.
Judas casts aside all hesitation and gives himself up wholly to Satan’s work. Up to this point, he had doubts and impulses to do better, but now he plunges headlong into the bottomless pit.
Judas rejects Jesus’ last plea of mercy and Judas goes out into the night, John 13:30. Although it was night, I’m sure that John was referring to more than the obvious, Jesus is the light, John 8:12 / John 12:46. It’s always dark when you leave Jesus!
The word ‘night’, John 13:30, marks the time, but probably symbolic also, the forces of darkness were gathering around Jesus, Luke 22:53. Also, Judas deliberately rejected the Light of the World, John 8:12, and went out into total spiritual darkness.
He ceases to follow and loses the light of life, the picture painted is gloomy and intensely sad, Matthew 26:24 / Mark 14:21. He had a chance to repent for his betrayal, but his worldly sorrow led him to hang himself, Matthew 27:5 / 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Conclusion
The problem with reading about Judas is that over the centuries, he has been so despised that we can’t relate to him, but the disciples could.
The question they asked when Jesus said, ‘one of you is going to betray me’ is ‘Is it I?’ ‘Could it be me?’
I think that’s the question we’re supposed to ask ourselves because I think if we look deep into our hearts, we will admit that there have been times in our lives when we have made some hard bargains for Jesus.
Judas sold out Jesus for thirty pitiful pieces of silver, but I’ve sold Jesus out for less than that, haven’t you?
‘When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ John 13:31-35
In between John 13:30 and John 13:31, the Gospels place the institution of the Lord’s Supper, ignored here by John. Judas ‘had gone out’, he hadn’t been forced out, or driven out, but had gone out voluntarily. Jesus knew all along what Judas would do, but foreknowledge is not causation.
Jesus speaks of the coming glorification of the Son and the Father. The two will give each other glory, cause each other to be glorified, the one cannot receive glory without the other also receiving it, the two are one, John 13:30-31.
Note the repetition of ‘glorified, glorified, glorified, glorified.’ Both He and His Father would be ‘glorified’ i.e. honoured, exalted. ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified,’ refers to the departure of Judas, the prelude to Jesus’ death.
There are three facts that we need to remember here.
1. His death would be His glorification, exaltation. In the eyes of His enemies, He suffered defeat. In the purpose of God, He was victorious.
2. The Father would be glorified in the death of Jesus, God sent His Son for this purpose.
3. God will glorify Jesus ‘in himself’, John 17:5, death will be followed by resurrection, ascension, and coronation.
God will do this ‘at once’, John 13:32, He is on the threshold of Gethsemane, Gabbatha and Golgotha. In a matter of hours, He would be arrested in Gethsemane.
The term ‘little children’ in John 13:33 is ‘teknea,’ and it’s only used once in the four Gospels and in 1 John. It’s a term of tenderness and affection, as a parent would use for little children greatly loved.
The immediate nature of this occurrence is highlighted, indeed, it was now early evening. Gethsemane was little more than an hour away, soon would that great act of passion commence.
John 13:34-35 tells us that soon He will die on the cross, be betrayed by a close friend, but His first thought is for the eleven, and not for Himself. The great new commandment is given, ‘love one another’ by this all Christians must live.
The word, ‘love’ is ‘agapao’, this isn’t an impulse from the feelings. It doesn’t always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered.
It’s a ‘new commandment’ but not new because love is commanded under the Old Covenant, Leviticus 19:18 / Matthew 22:37-40. It’s new as to quality and degree, ‘even as I have loved you’, John 13:34 / 1 John 3:16. The word ‘love’ is also present tense, which means we are to keep on loving one another. John 15:12 / John 15:17.
The words, ‘by this, all men will know’, John 13:35, means that love is the badge of discipleship. Jesus’ love was of the highest possible order, He loved all so much that He was about to surrender the gift of life that each individual would have the chance of eternal life, John 3:16.
His love drove Him out of heaven down to earth, God became man because of love. This love is the love we need to have between ourselves and those still outside in the dark.
The word for ‘love’ used here is ‘agape’ and refers to the finest love you can ever have for another. This is the love so powerful that it encompasses all the commands given in the Old Testament, leaving nothing outside. The result of this love as all mankind sees it is knowledge that these are of Christ.
Does the world recognise in you that love? Do people know that you are a Christian by your love for them and others? John 13:35. Love is the test of commitment, enduring unchallengeable love.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
‘Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!’ John 13:36-38
The Lord was about to foretell the denial of Peter and the flight of the twelve, but He began by appealing to the prophecy, Matthew 26:31 / Mark 14:27, quoted from Zechariah 13:7.
God had revealed Himself in the Old Testament under the extensive use of the metaphor of ‘the shepherd of Israel’, Psalm 23 / Ezekiel 16, but here it was stated that the Shepherd would strike the Shepherd, thus God laid upon himself, in the person of the Son, the iniquity of us all. Inherent in this was the failure of all human support.
Christ here went far beyond the detailed prophecies of His passion and calmly set up an appointment to meet the twelve in Galilee after the Great Sacrifice had been offered, Matthew 26:32 / Mark 14:28. Christ promised to meet them after His resurrection, and He did it, Matthew 28:7-10 / Mark 16:7 / John 21:1-6 / Luke 24:6.
Jesus told the disciples that they would all fall away. The disciples still didn’t fully realise what was soon to occur and so, Peter asks where Jesus is going, John 13:36.
Jesus answered him and tells him he can’t follow Him now, but he will later, John 13:36. Jesus was going voluntarily to death, but it wasn’t yet time for Peter to die, he would eventually ‘follow’ his Master to death by crucifixion, John 21:18-19.
Peter retorted that though the others might, he would never abandon Him, Matthew 26:33 / Mark 14:29.
Peter asked why he cannot follow Jesus immediately shows three things about Peter’s personality.
1. His devotion, he wants to be with his Master.
2. His impatience, ‘why cannot I follow you right now?’
3. His self-reliance. ‘I will lay down my life for you’.
All of these are shattered for that time when he was guilty of denying the one, he loved. Even though Peter wasn’t perfect, he made mistakes as we do.
Christ replied that he would deny Him three times that very night, Matthew 26:34 / Mark 14:30. It’s important to see that Peter was sincere in this assertion, he meant it, but he didn’t know himself as well as Jesus knew him.
He revived and became a great apostle for the Lord. Peter promises all for Jesus, but Jesus knows better, Peter would deny his Lord three times that evening, Matthew 26:34 / Mark 14:30 / John 13:38.
Matthew referred to the event of the cock-crow, a phenomenon taking place every morning, Matthew 26:34, Mark and John had reference to the beginning of a cockcrow, Mark 14:30 / John 13:38, which always starts with one or two roosters leading all the rest.
Matthew referred to the event of the cock-crow, a phenomenon taking place every morning, and Mark had reference to the beginning of a cockcrow, which always starts with one or two roosters leading all the rest.
Again, Peter denied it saying that he would even be willing to die with Him, Matthew 26:35 / Mark 14:31. Perhaps Peter’s overconfidence was one reason he fulfilled this very prophecy a few hours later.
Jesus knew the truth of what was to happen. Peter wouldn’t lay his life down for the Lord, but the Lord for him, Peter wouldn’t follow, he would deny.
The prophecy Jesus gives in this regard tells of three great truths of Jesus.
1. Jesus the great prophet.
2. Jesus the great sufferer.
3. Jesus the great Saviour. ‘The cock will not crow’ etc., Matthew 26:34 / Mark 14:30 / Luke 22:34.
Mark 13:35 indicates that it marked the third of the four ‘watches’ ‘evening’ 6-9, ‘midnight’ 9-12. ‘Rooster-crowing’ 12-3, ‘morning’ 3-6, hence, what Jesus means seems to be that before 3 am Peter will deny him three times.
The prediction shattered Peter, throughout the Upper Room discourse afterwards he is silent. Jesus just moments before His departure takes time to teach Peter, who was in many ways the leader in the future this great lesson. This lesson is recorded so we can learn from its experience.
Peter wasn’t alone in rejecting the idea of their failure, for both Mark and Matthew relate how ‘all the disciples’ made the same affirmation of loyalty, Matthew 26:35 / Mark 14:31.
What none of them realised was that the source of true spiritual strength hadn’t yet been provided through the death of Christ and that it was, therefore, impossible for them to have stood without that strength.
It was at this time that the events and statements of Jesus in John 13-17 took place. Jesus had a private meeting with the apostles as recorded in John 13-17.
There were actually two meetings going on at the same time, this one where Jesus said He was about to be crucified during Passover and the other meeting when the chief priests were saying He can’t be killed during Passover, Mark 14:1-2, but as usual Jesus’ plans are always first, He will die when He chooses to die.
In the John 13-17 meeting, Jesus made specific promises to the apostles that applied only to them. In John 17, He made a specific prayer for the apostles and for those who would not believe in Him through their preaching.
ALLEGED CONTRADICTION
Matthew, Matthew 26:34, and John, John 13:38, both say that, ‘before the rooster crows’, Peter will have denied the Lord three times. Mark says that ‘before the rooster crows ‘twice’, Peter will deny Christ three times, Mark 14:30.
Although some see this as a contradiction, when we actually take a moment to slowly read the text itself, we will soon realise there’s no contradiction.
Notice how Matthew and John don’t expressly state how many times the rooster will crow. They both simply say that Peter will deny Jesus three times, ‘before the rooster crows’, but they don’t tell us how many times it will crow.
I believe it’s reasonable to accept that Mark is being a little more specific in terms of how many times the rooster will actually crow. In fact, if you look at the word, ‘twice’ in Mark 14:10 and Mark 14:72, you will notice that it has a footnote, which tells us that ‘some early manuscripts do not have ‘twice’.
In other words, it’s possible that different accounts are due to an early copyist error in Mark, that resulted in the insertion of the word, ‘twice’ in early manuscripts.
