John 13 - Introduction
XIII. [4. The fuller Revelation, and Growth of Faith among the Disciples (John 13:1 to John 17:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
XIII. [4. The fuller Revelation, and Growth of Faith among the Disciples (John 13:1 to John 17:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
(1) LOVE MANIFESTED IN HUMILIATION (John 13:1). (_a_) _The washing of the disciples’ feet_ (verses (b) _The spiritual interpretation of this act_ (John 13:12). (c) _The Betrayal. Hatred passes from the presence of love_ (John 13:21).] (1) NOW BEFORE THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. — Comp. John 12... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SUPPER BEING ENDED. — The reading here is uncertain, but neither reading justifies our translation. It should probably be, “And it now becoming supper time.” As a matter of fact, the supper was not ended (John 13:12; John 13:26); but they had already reclined, and were, as we say, ready for supp... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNOWING THAT THE FATHER HAD GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HANDS... — This explains the act of humility which follows. With the full consciousness of His supreme power and divine origin, and’ of the divine glory to which He was about to return; yes, because He was conscious of all this, He left the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RISETH FROM SUPPER, AND LAID ASIDE’ HIS GARMENTS. — Comp. Notes on Luke 22 _et seq._ We there read of “a strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest.” It is placed by St. Luke after the Supper; but our Lord’s words, “I am among you as he that serveth,” point almost certainly... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THAT HE POURETH WATER INTO A BASON. — Better,... _into the bason._ It was the bason in the room, commonly used, and now ready for suck purposes. The water was at hand. All suggested then that one of the disciples might have performed this act which the Lord now performs. That it was commonly r... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN COMETH HE TO SIMON PETER. — Men who have come to these words with minds full of opinions with regard to the position of St. Peter have, of course, understood them to express that he had precedence of the other Apostles; while others have formed the opinion that Judas Iscariot was first. It is a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT I DO THOU KNOWEST NOT NOW. — Here both pronouns are emphatic, and convey a rebuke to Peter. His words had almost implied that the Lord’s.act was wholly out of place, as of one who knew not what he was doing. The opposite was really the case. “What _I_ do _thou_ knowest not now.” BUT THOU SHALT... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET. — For the word “never,” comp. Note on John 8:51. The incidental touches of character where individual apostles are named in this Gospel are in striking agreement with the more fully-drawn character of the other evangelists, and the value of their evidence for the autho... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, NOT MY FEET ONLY, BUT ALSO MY HANDS AND MY HEAD. — Peter still misunderstands the meaning; but he is true to his loving impulsive character. No part with his Master! He will give up anything, everything. He knows not what this washing means, and cannot conceive that it is fitting for Christ to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS WASHED NEEDETH NOT SAVE TO WASH HIS FEET. — Better, _He who has bathed_... St. Peter’s words have implied that he was wholly unclean, and needed for feet, and head, and hands, for the whole man, a moral cleansing. Christ answers that this was not so. The man who has been bathed is clean,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE KNEW WHO SHOULD BETRAY HIM. — Comp. John 18:2, and Note on Matthew 26:48. This is the first reference to the betrayal during the feast. The words are words of warning, spoken in the love which even then might have redeemed and cleansed the heart, if it had been open to receive it. The feet of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WAS SET DOWN AGAIN. — This means in the reclining position customary at meals. Comp. Luke 11:37; Luke 22:14; and in this Gospel John 6:10; John 21:20. Here it implies that the washing the feet preceded the supper (John 13:1). KNOW YE WHAT I HAVE DONE TO YOU? — This question is asked, not to be... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD — _i.e.,_ Master in the sense of Teacher. The word in the original is not “Rabbi.” (Comp. Note on John 11:28.) The Jewish pupils called their teachers “Rabbi” and “Mar” (Teacher), and it was not permitted to any pupil to call his teacher by his proper name (_Sanhedr.,_ fol... [ Continue Reading ]
YE OUGHT ALSO TO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET. — The argument is _à fortiori._ If He had so humbled Himself as to do the work of a servant for them, much more ought they to humble themselves for each other. To make his words as striking as possible, they are prefaced by the emphatic _I_, and “Master and... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. — The example is in the principle, not in the specific act; it is not “that which I have done to you,” but “according as I have done to you.” The imitation is to be worked out in applying the same principle of love and self-sacrifice in all the varying circum... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS LORD. — These words have already occurred in the earlier Gospels in another connection. (Comp. Note on Matthew 10:24, and Luke 6:40.) They occur again in this Gospel in John 15:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM. — The first clause of this verse assumes their knowledge of the things which He had been teaching them (John 13:13). They were, indeed, old lessons taught before in word, and now taught in act and word. The second clause makes their blessedness d... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK NOT OF YOU ALL. — The thought of their blessedness brings back again the dark thought that there is one present who will not do these things, and who cannot therefore be blessed. I KNOW WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN. — Comp. Note on John 6:70. The pronoun is strongly emphatic. “_I_ (for My part) know... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I TELL YOU BEFORE IT COME. — The marginal rendering is to be preferred. (Comp. John 1:51; John 14:7.) YE MAY BELIEVE THAT I AM HE. — Comp. Note on John 8:24; John 14:29. The result of His henceforth declaring these things unto them before the events, will be that they will find confirmation of... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT RECEIVETH WHOMSOEVER I SEND RECEIVETH ME. — The thoughts presented to their minds in the preceding verses are — (1) their mission as His servants; (2) the betrayal by one of their own number; (3) the announcement of this beforehand that in the event it may be a confirmation of their faith. T... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TROUBLED IN SPIRIT. — Comp. Note on John 11:33. He has spoken of the future of those who are true to their commission as Apostles. He now turns in deep emotion to him of whom those words cannot be spoken. The “Verily, verily,” and the three verbs, “was troubled,” “bare witness,” “spake,” perh... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES LOOKED ONE ON ANOTHER. — Comp. Matthew 26:22 _et seq.,_ and the parallel in Mark 14:19 and Luke 22:23. St. Matthew and St. Mark both state that they expressed their doubt in words, and St. Luke’s narrative implies this questioning, but as addressed to one another, not to our Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS’ BOSOM. — Leonardo’s picture is in one respect misleading, and, like most paintings of the Lord’s Supper, has not represented the method in which the guests reclined rather than sat at table. Each leaned on his left arm, leaving the right arm free. The feet were stretc... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER THEREFORE BECKONED TO HIM. — The tense in the original is present. “Simon Peter therefore beckons,” or, _makes a sign._ We have to remember that these Apostles were both members of the first group, who are from some special characteristics nearer to our Lord than the others. They had bot... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN LYING ON JESUS’ BREAST. — Several good authorities, including the Vatican and the Cambridge MSS., insert the word “thus.” “He then leaning thus...,” describes the action just as it took place (comp. Note on John 4:6); but the balance of authority is against the insertion. The action is, howe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IT IS, TO WHOM I SHALL GIVE A SOP, WHEN I HAVE DIPPED IT. — The better reading is probably, _He it is for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him;_ but the change does not affect the sense. The pronouns are emphatic. “_He_ it is for whom _I_...”The word “morsel” or “sop” occurs in the New... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THE SOP SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. — The Greek expresses more vividly the very moment when the mind finally cast out love, and left itself as a possession for Satan. “And after the sop, _then_ Satan entered into him.” It was at that moment, when the last effort had been tried, and tried in va... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW NO MAN AT THE TABLE KNEW. — This is a comment of the Apostle’s, as he writes in remembrance of the impression made at the time upon all who were present. They heard our Lord say to Judas, “What thou doest, do quickly; “but none of them knew until afterwards that these words referred to the betra... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE JUDAS HAD THE BAG. — Comp. Notes on John 12:6. BUY THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NEED OF AGAINST THE FEAST. — Here, again, it will be better to postpone the consideration of details in the order of the events of this week, and to deal with the question as a whole. (Comp. _Excursus F: The Day of... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN HAVING RECEIVED THE SOP. — Comp. Note on John 13:27. The narrative is resumed from that point, John 13:28 being an explanatory note added by the writer. Returning to the record of what took place, he dwells again on the moment of receiving the sop as that in which the betrayer took the fatal... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IS THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED. — Comp. Notes on John 11:4; John 12:28. The going out of Judas is the sign that the betrayal and death of the Son of Man was at hand. In that was the glory of His accomplished work, and He speaks of this glory as present. It lies so immediately before Him that it is... [ Continue Reading ]
IF GOD BE GLORIFIED IN HIM. — These words are omitted by a majority of the best MSS. GOD SHALL ALSO GLORIFY HIM IN HIMSELF. — The tense now changes to the future, and the glory thought of is that of the Father’s throne. The words “in Himself,” refer to “God,” not to “the Son of Man.” The thought is... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN, YET A LITTLE WHILE I AM WITH YOU. — The thought of His own glory brings with it the thought of their state of orphanage when He shall have departed from them, and He addresses them as “Little children,” with a word of tenderness spoken only here by Him. The word impressed itself upo... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. — There is no reference in the context to the Ten Commandments, and we are not therefore to seek the meaning of the “new commandment” in any more or less full contrast with them. They also taught that a man should love his neighbour as him... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES. — The thought of their state of orphanage when He should depart from them is still present. He gives them a bond of union, by which they should always be linked to Him and to each other in the principle of love. The followers of great Teachers and... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, WHITHER GOEST THOU? — Comp. John 13:33. The earnest, loving nature of the Apostle dwells upon the words which tell of the Master’s departure. He is prepared to follow Him to danger, or even to death, and, that he may do so, asks whither it is that He is going. WHITHE... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, WHY CANNOT I FOLLOW THEE NOW? — True to his impulsive, self-confident character, St. Peter is impatient of the delay imposed upon him. He is ready, in the fulness of his love, now, and does not dream that in the moment of trial he will be found wanting.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU LAY DOWN THY LIFE FOR MY SAKE? — Comp. for this phrase Note on John 10:11. The pronouns are emphatic, and there is a solemn emphasis in the repetition of what St. Peter had said. He was using words of which he knew not the full meaning. He spoke of laying down his life for his Lord. He wou... [ Continue Reading ]