JESUS WASHES THE DISCIPLES' FEET AND DISCOURSES WITH THEM (JOHN 13).
We now reach the final stage in John's Gospel. Having revealed the One
Who came from God as the true light to enlighten men and give eternal
life, and having demonstrated that He was the Lord of life, John will
now describe Him as... [ Continue Reading ]
separates what has gone before, the self-revelation of Jesus to the
people over a period of two to three years or more, from what follows,
His self-revelation to His diciples and His preparation for the
establishment of the New Vine (John 15:1), the new Israel, which
includes His death and resurrect... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WASHING OF THE FEET: A LESSON IN HUMILITY (JOHN 13:1).
Two major lessons come out from this passage. The first is that of the
example that Jesus was giving of true humility in love and service. He
stressed that His disciples were similarly to behave as He has (John
13:13). The second is what is... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And during the supper, the Devil having already put it into the
heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.'
‘And during the supper.' John will, from this point, deliberately
play down the fact that it is the Passover meal, even to the extent
that he does not describe the instituting of t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,
and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper,
and laying aside his top clothes, took a towel and wrapped it round
him. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples
feet, and to wipe them... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then he comes to Simon Peter. He says to him, “Lord, are you
going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am
doing you do not now perceive, but you will know fully later”. Peter
says to him, “Under no circumstances will you wash my feet!” Jesus
answered him, “If I do not wash you... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So when he had washed their feet and taken his outer clothes and
again sat down, he said to them “Do you know what I have done to
you? You call me Master and Lord and you say well, for so I am. If I
then the Lord and Master have washed you feet, you also ought to wash
one another's feet, for I have... [ Continue Reading ]
“With the strongest emphasis (truly, truly) I tell you, a slave is
not greater than his Lord, nor is one who is sent (Gk. ‘an apostle',
one who is sent) greater than the one who sent him. If you know these
things you are blessed if you do them.”
This statement is so patently true that it cannot be... [ Continue Reading ]
“I do not speak of you all, I know whom I have chosen, but that the
Scripture may be fulfilled, he who eats my bread lifted up his heel
against me.”
What He had done had brought home to Him something that only He knew,
and that was that not all of them were ‘clean'. “I am not speaking
of you all. I... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ONE AMONG THEM WHO WILL BETRAY HIM (JOHN 13:18).
Jesus now brings out the astonishing fact that one of His own
disciples would ‘betray' Him. To us the meaning of this is clear for
we know precisely what happened afterwards. But we must remember that
it would not have been clear to the disc... [ Continue Reading ]
“I strongly affirm to you that he who receives anyone whom I send,
receives me, and he who receives me, receives him who sent me”.
These words are in strong contrast to the actions of Judas. They
stress the carrying on of Jesus' ministry through His followers. They
are an indication that what Judas... [ Continue Reading ]
‘When Jesus had spoken thus he was troubled in spirit and testified
saying, “I emphatically inform you that one of you will betray
me”.'
Jesus now confirms that he knew at this point that Judas had made his
final decision. That he had hardened his heart and was now beyond
helping. But this was not... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The disciples looked at one another not sure of whom he spoke'.
Nothing that Judas had done had brought Judas under suspicion,
although John appears to have been a little unsure of him for other
reason (John 12:6). However, there is a great deal of difference
between petty theft and open betrayal,... [ Continue Reading ]
‘There was at the table, reclining next to Jesus to His right
(literally ‘in Jesus' bosom', the favoured place next to Him), one
of his disciples whom Jesus loved.'
The ‘disciple whom Jesus loved' was the author of the Gospel (John
21:20 with 24; compare John 14:21; John 15:9; John 17:9; John 17:12)... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Simon Peter therefore gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell who
it is he is speaking about”. He, leaning back as he was on Jesus'
breast, says to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus therefore answers,
“He it is for whom I will dip the sop and give it to him.” So when
he had dipped the sop he takes and... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And then, after the dipped bread, Satan entered him. Jesus says to
him, “What you are going to do, do quickly”.'
Again we have here a double meaning. We already know that Judas had
submitted to Satan, but John stresses it here so that he can add
‘Jesus says to him', referring to both Judas and Sat... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now no one at the table knew the reason why he said this to him,
for some thought that, because he held the communal purse, Jesus was
saying to him, “Buy what we need for the feast”, or else that he
should distribute something to the poor'.
This confirms the fact that none of them knew the signific... [ Continue Reading ]
‘He then, having received the dipped bread, immediately went out.
And it was night.'
Does the speed at which Judas acted suggest the torment that he was
under? He did not stop for a moment for he wanted to get away as
quickly as possible. He knew that he must not think about what he was
going to do... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS' FINAL WORDS TO HIS APOSTLES (JOHN 13:31 TO JOHN 17:26).
This next section, from John 13:31 to John 17:26, can be seen as the
equivalent of the dying words of Jesus. Words spoken on approaching
death, and especially on a deathbed, were considered to be
particularly potent. There are numerous e... [ Continue Reading ]
‘When therefore he had left Jesus says, “Now is the Son of Man
glorified, and God is glorified in him. And God will glorify him in
himself, and immediately he will glorify him'.
We have here a whole package of glorification. The Son of Man is about
to be glorified, and God is to be glorified in Him... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PATH TO GLORY WHICH JESUS MUST TREAD ALONE (JOHN 13:31).
The opening two verses reflect Jesus' awareness of the pivotal nature
of the situation. As He thought back to the glory which had been His
with the Father before the world was (John 17:5) He saw Himself as now
returning to that glory. But... [ Continue Reading ]
“Little children, I am with you for a little while longer. You will
look for me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you, where I
am going you cannot come. A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another. In the same way that I have loved you, that you love
one another. By this wil... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Simon Peter says to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus
replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will
follow me later”. Peter says to him, “Lord, why can't I follow you
even now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus replies, “Will
you lay down your life for me. I tell you... [ Continue Reading ]