Gospel of St. John
Warnings – 13:21-38
This passage of scripture begins with Christ warning Judas. It ends with Christ warning Peter. In between,, there are gracious and tender instructions for the remaining disciples. Even these take the form of warnings. He warns them of His approaching departure. He warns them against misinterpreting the nature of His death. He warns them they need a new command to “love one another.” And he warns them that others will recognize his disciples only if they exercise that commandment.
“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. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting to whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 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.” Christ was troubled in spirit. He was not a stoic. He was keenly aware of things that were contrary to God and he was fully human. The suffering of Christ on the cross was not the beginning but rather the end of his suffering on earth. He was acutely aware of the unbelief and hostility of the scribes and Pharisees. He cried approaching Jerusalem and expressed his anguish over Israel’s rejection. Now he would watch one of his apostles become an apostate. Judas had experienced Jesus’ teachings and example for three years. He had enjoyed the fellowship of all the apostles. It is no wonder the Lord was troubled by his deceit and treachery. Christ washed Judas’ feet just like the other apostles. Judas had the honor of being one of the Lord’s first ambassadors. How did Judas use this intimacy and knowledge of Christ’s ways? He guided the enemy to Christ’s prayerful retreat in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the 18th verse Christ quoted Psalm 41 and said, “He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” The disciples were too stunned by the washing of their feet to really listen and understand. So Jesus was more explicit with his statement this time. The fact that the disciples had no clue as to who would betray him is an indication of how deceptive Judas had been with all of them. Matthew tells us that they began to ask, “Lord, is it I?” The fact that Judas was able to conceal his deceit is another indication that Jesus treated him with all the respect and love shown to the others.
Note that Simon Peter, the hard-charging fearless fisherman did not ask Jesus directly. Instead, he beckoned John to ask Jesus for all of them. The answer Jesus gave was extremely clear but it was not clearly heard by all. Surely John heard it and Peter was certainly paying particular attention. Nevertheless, they certainly did not believe it was going to happen overnight.
“And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 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. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” Jesus washed Judas feet just as the other apostles. Judas received a sop directly from Jesus’ hand and still he did not repent of his plans to betray him. At this point there was no return for Judas. He was immune to the teachings and love of Christ. The temptations of this world had total control of him. Jesus dismissed Judas before he instituted his own “supper” as a lasting memorial of Himself. Jesus washed his feet and fed him with his own hand but would not allow a traitor into the “Last Supper”. It was reserved for the faithful. At this point we assume that John and Peter probably knew that Judas was the traitor but only Jesus understood how quickly it would all happen. The last sentence in these verses is significant. God suffered His enemies to put out the Light of life. So it was night in the soul of Judas. Men love darkness when their deeds and intent are evil.
“Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Jesus is now acknowledging that his death is sure. And yet He did not speak of disgrace or martyrdom. He was following the will of God and in so doing God would be glorified by the events to follow. Furthermore Jesus, as the Son of Man, was to be glorified by this turn of events. It was not in His divine nature. It was as the incarnate Son of God that he fulfilled his duty. He did not claim to be glorified when the Holy Spirit descended upon him at his baptism. He did not claim to be glorified at the Transfiguration. Now He claims to be glorified by His glorification of God. The glorification may not be patently obvious. But consider:
Now the faithful disciples were addressed as “children of God.” This term was not used to refer to unfaithful disciples. As the apostles were reminded that they could not go where Jesus was going, He gave them a new commandment. “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The last time Jesus gets to speak to his apostles, the subject is love. Even the Old Testament commanded us to “love our neighbor.” But Jesus called this a new commandment. What is new? Loving one’s neighbor is a fleshly relationship. Love of brethren is a spiritual relationship. Christ displayed a love superior to the faults of its objects. His love never varied. It deemed no sacrifice too great. That is a new dimension in our understanding of love. Jesus didn’t say, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He said, “Love each other as I have loved you.”
Love is the badge of Christian discipleship. It is not knowledge, nor orthodoxy, nor fleshly activities, but love which identifies a follower of the Lord Jesus. The mark of a true Christian is genuine, active love, not in words but in deeds.
“Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” Peter probably understood that Jesus could be going to his death. He didn’t understand that Jesus was not just going to his death but was also returning to his Father. That is where Peter and the others could not go at this time. Peter was indignant. He knew and really loved the Lord and vowed to lay down his life for him. Peter’s lack of understanding was not of Jesus. It was lack of understanding of himself. Peter could not believe he would deny being one of Jesus’ disciples. He did not believe he was capable of such treachery. Are not we sometimes surprised by how easily we avoid an opportunity to proclaim Jesus and what he means in our lives?
It is good to be positive. We should admire our love, wisdom and moral courage. We can use that positive attitude to direct our actions accordingly. To concentrate on the lapses in love, wisdom and moral courage is depressing and turns us to constant analysis of our selves. We never express Jesus’ love or wisdom or moral courage until we express it outside our selves.
To be honest with ourselves, we should remember that Peter had all the confidence in the world and yet suffered a lapse he could never forget. That’s why we depend on God’s mercy.
The Last Supper specifically portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him. All twelve apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock. The apostles are identified from a manuscript (The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci p. 232) with their names found in the 19th century. From left to right they are::
Ø Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus and Andrew form a group of three, all are surprised.
Ø Judas Iscariot, Peter and John form another group of three. Judas is in shadow, looking rather withdrawn and taken aback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He is clutching a small bag. Peter looks angry and is holding a knife pointed away from Christ. John appears faint.
Ø Jesus
Ø Apostle Thomas, James the Greater and Philip are the next group of three. Thomas is clearly upset; James the Greater looks stunned, with his arms in the air. Meanwhile, Philip appears to be requesting some explanation.
Ø Matthew, Jude Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot are the final group of three. Both Jude Thaddeus and Matthew are turned toward Simon, perhaps to find out if he has any answer to their initial questions.