Repeated ideas: (1) After Jesus disclosed the reason why He was so distressed, namely, one of the disciples would betray Him the repeated question was: who was this person v.22, 24, 25. However, when Jesus disclosed the answer it seemed that only John knew that and none of the other disciples knew v.28-29. John was called, “the one Jesus loved,” he was “at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.” Even Peter did not get close to Jesus like John did and he could only get the answer by gesturing to John to have him ask Jesus. (NET) Note that the same expression translated in a place of honor here (Grk “in the bosom of”) is used to indicate Jesus’ relationship with the Father in 1:18.
(2) Judas received the piece of bread and did what he was about to do, that is, betray Jesus v.26-27, 30. (BKC) A host’s giving a morsel of bread to a guest was a sign of friendship. How ironic that Jesus’ act of friendship to Judas signaled Judas’ betrayal of friendship.
Reflection: Do I want to be John or be Judas? One chose to get close to Jesus’ heart and one chose to harden his own heart to Jesus? Are we moved when Jesus showed us the gesture of love (in Judas’ case the piece of bread)? When we heard the message on Sunday morning, are we willing to change?
10/4 Reread John 13:1-30
The interactions between Jesus and Judas
In v.1-5 Jesus having known that He was departing from this world and loving His own He loved them to the very end v.1. Then in v.3 Further information was given about His departure and what He chose to do? Wash the disciples’ feet. In between these, in v.2, the author told us about Judas. Why?
V.6-11 The conversation then turned to Peter, but the discussion of clean/not clean (having a part with Jesus or not having that) certainly targeted Judas. “Not everyone of you is clean” (not having part with Jesus) repeated twice in v.10 and 11. Why did Jesus remind Judas about?
V.12-17 Jesus told them that they were expected to follow Him. Jesus did not lower His demand for His followers so that Judas might felt like to repent, He raised the bar. Why? Washing the feet of one-another or dying for one another was based on the command of loving one another. Judas the betrayer did not love other disciples, nor did he love Jesus.
Therefore, from v.18, Jesus specifically referred to Judas, “What I am saying does not refer to all of you,” but the purpose He talked about him was for the rest of the disciples to believe in Him when the betrayal happened v.19.
13:20 I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
13:21 When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.
In other words, Judas could have the love of Jesus and the Father like the rest of the disciples had but he chose the other way.
As mentioned yesterday, the final act of Jesus was giving him a piece of bread. (IVP) 13:24–27. For the host to dip a piece of bread in the common bowl (or on Passover, no doubt bitter herbs in a container of something sweeter) and hand it to someone was normally a sign of honor to the person who received it.
Reflection: Jesus loved Judas and gave him many chances to repent. He could have turned around and enjoyed the blessing, but he did not. On the other hand, What kind of person is Jesus Who knew someone was going to betray Him and yet gave that person so many chances to repent?
Am I like Judas who enjoys so many potential blessings of Jesus but missed because I am not willing to change my mind? Do I miss any of the corrections God gave to me through the counselling of brothers and sisters? Am I willing to be more like Jesus who bears with other’s attack and still forgives them? Will I still be patiently leading them to repentance?
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