THE LAST SUPPER 1-17. The Supper and the Feet-washing. This supper is identified by almost all modern authorities with the Last Supper, which took place on Thursday night at Jerusalem (Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14). Writing to supplement the synoptists, St. John omits practically all that... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE FEAST] St. John corrects the impression, which many have derived from the synoptic narratives, that the Last Supper was the actual Jewish Passover. It was, in fact, a _Christian_ Passover, held the day before the Jewish feast (John 18:28), and probably not conformed in all respects to the... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPER BEING ENDED] or, 'during supper' (RV). But inasmuch as feet-washing took place at the beginning of a meal, much is to be said for the rendering,' supper having been served.' THE DEVIL] Judas had so often yielded to Satan's evil suggestions that now he made no resistance. Heart stands here as... [ Continue Reading ]
RISETH] The disciples had been disputing (Luke 22:24) which of them should be accounted greatest, and, as we gather from Christ's rebuke (Luke 22:27), not one of them would serve at supper, for fear of being thought inferior to the others. Jesus, therefore, after waiting a little for one of them to... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I WASH THEE NOT] Besides the literal, the evangelist sees in these words a symbolical meaning: 'Unless I wash thee from thy sins, thou hast no part with Me': see John 13:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS WASHED (i.e. has bathed his whole body) NEEDETH NOT SAVE TO WASH _his_ feet] This is a parable of things spiritual. The complete bathing or immersion stands for the full and complete forgiveness which Christ offers to His disciples in Holy Baptism, and which cannot be repeated: the washin... [ Continue Reading ]
SET DOWN] rather, 'reclined at table': see John 13:23. 14-17. Our Lord now draws from the incident the more obvious lessons of humility and willing service to others, as in St. Luke (Luke 22:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
This precept was obeyed literally by many ancient Churches on Maundy Thursday, and still is by the Roman and Eastern Churches.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus indicates the Traitor. 18. I do not call you all happy (blessed), for I know that among you is a traitor. But My choice even of the traitor is in accordance with the prophecy of Scripture. THE SCRIPTURE] The quotation is a free one from Psalms 41:9. The speaker is David, but since David is a t... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I AM _he_] i.e. the Messiah; or, 'that I AM' (see John 8:58).... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest the knowledge that there is a traitor among them should weaken their confidence in one another, and in their divine call to the apostolate, Jesus hastens to assure them that they will receive the fullest divine powers from Himself and His Father for the work of the ministry. 21-30. Cp. the par... [ Continue Reading ]
LEANING ON (RV 'reclining in') JESUS' BOSOM] The guests lay on their left sides, on separate but adjacent couches, each supporting his head upon his left hand, with his left elbow resting upon a cushion. The first place of honour (behind Jesus) was probably occupied by St. Peter; the second place of... [ Continue Reading ]
ANSWERED] evidently in a whisper, so that St. Peter could not hear. A SOP] RV 'the sop.' The sop handed to another was a pledge of good will, like our old custom of taking wine with a person. At the Passover the sop consisted of three things wrapped together, the flesh of the paschal lamb, a piece o... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT IMMEDIATELY OUT] St. John represents Judas as departing before the institution of the Holy Communion (see John 13:34). The synoptists (or, at least, St. Luke) seem to represent him as remaining and communicating. St. John's account is altogether more probable. NIGHT] The word has tragic emphas... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IS THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED] viz. by death. His death was already virtually accomplished, when the traitor went forth to arrange for His arrest.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SHALL ALSO GLORIFY HIM] viz. by raising Him from the dead, and exalting Him to His right hand in heaven. IN HIMSELF] i.e. in the Father's peculiar glory, which the Son of God resigned at His Incarnation: cp. John 17:5; Philippians 2:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN] This touching designation is almost, if not altogether, peculiar to St. John (1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:12; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21). In extreme old age, when too feeble to preach, he used to be carried into Church, and simply to say to the people, '... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW COMMANDMENT] Love is the fulfilling of the Law. The old commandment to love one another (Leviticus 19:18), which our Lord regarded as the essential feature of the Law, is now reenacted in a higher sense, and grounded on a new motive, viz. the Love of Christ for all mankind, as shown in His Ato... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT FOLLOW] a prophecy not only of Peter's martyrdom, but, as the event showed, of the manner of his martyrdom (crucifixion): see John 21:18; John 21:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER'S DENIAL FORETOLD] Parallel with Luke 22:31, and similar in character to Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27, q.v.... [ Continue Reading ]