The Gospel of John Lesson 51 (10-27-2013) John 13:18-32

The Gospel of John Lesson 51 (10-27-2013)

Lesson 51 – John 13:18-32

In v. 18-20 Jesus says to them that He is telling them beforehand about His betrayal and crucifixion because when it happened it will appear like He/they had lost it all and that all He had taught and told them would appear invalid. He tells them in these verses in essence not to be shaken, encouraging them to go in the position and power of ambassador given to them and that this position is given and bestowed on them with such authority and power it is as if Jesus Himself were present as they went. In these verses He also reminds them to receive others that will come to them in the same position for they too are coming to them as if it were Christ. In saying this it is good to be reminded of Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 12:26 that in doing so we come ministering as if Christ was ministering His will and not our own.

In v. 21 He comes back to the betrayal. After sharing with His disciples great Kingdom principles that are to come, He comes back the realities at hand… the nitty-gritty and difficulties of the present realities of this fallen world. Soon this reality would be over and finished for Jesus, for soon He will have completed His work going on to better things so to speak. But, for now, choosing to be a part of, and living in this fallen world, this was His reality…betrayal, rejection, death and suffering.

In considering this, a question comes to mind. ‘What are we looking and striving for?’ At times I think that so much of our efforts and pursuits are focused on trying to find that elusive supposedly ‘sweet spot’ for life, that ‘life is good’ place having all or almost all of the pain and difficulty of this present world removed. It is as if we are looking for Heaven on earth in this present age. Although, trying to improve our place in life is not a bad idea, going after and pursuing what could be called ‘the prefect life’ may prove to be not only futile, but also frustrating. It has been said that the definition of happiness is when reality exceeds expectations. For myself, I have come to a realization that the sweet spot of life does not exist during this time… at this moment… on planet earth.

At this point in John 13 v. 21 for Jesus He knew all too well of the reality of colliding with this world in its present state. There was no external environmental peace to be found for Him in ‘this’ present world. He would soon find His peace in the pain of Cross. For now, He was at war with the world around Him. Jesus did not live in a bubble of bliss while here on earth. However, soon He would be fully free of this world’s difficulties having fully conquered them in the Cross.

Like Jesus we need to be careful not to expect to find external peace here. It is true that we are promised peace in our heart from God that passes all understanding (Jn. 14:27), but bliss or external peace should not be expected here… yet… at this time for us.

Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13-6 makes it clear that we will not find our place of rest here at this time. Jesus soon would complete His work, but at the end of this chapter and the beginning of chapter 14 He will tell His followers the even though He would leave for a season they would remain, in a world that would be hostile to them yet for a season. Jesus’ work would soon be complete, but our work in this hostile world environment would continue. We should not expect it to be without difficulty. Even as such, however, He would not leave us alone or abandon us completely.

Again, in v. 21, Jesus tells them that someone at the table would betray Him. In vs. 22-5 the disciples doubting their own faithfulness question who it would be that would betray Him. In v. 24 Peter, not wanting to ask the Lord directly probable for fear of Jesus saying that it was him, asks the one sitting next to Jesus to ask Him who He was referring to. I have wondered at times why Peter did not receive a reply back from this person telling him to ask Him himself. But, instead he decides to carry out Peter’s request.

In v. 26 Jesus plainly tells them how to identify the one who the betrayer would be. However, in the verses to follow we read that they apparently miss it all together. The way John chapter 13 verses 26-9 read it seems that it should have been easy to identify the person that Jesus was referring to, but to them it was not that obvious. Maybe they were preoccupied with other things at the dinner table.

In v. 26 Jesus dips the morsel or sop and gives it to Judas. This is a turning point in Judas’ life. It appears to be a point of no return for him. After dipping the sop and handing it to Judas, v. 27 tells us that the seduction of Judas is now complete opening him fully to the work and will of Satan. What a dark moment!

Jesus knowing what is about to happen tells him to go and do what is intended in his heart telling him to carry out his plan quickly. Apparently what Jesus had said to Judas was loud enough for the others to hear for they took note of it. However, it appears that they really didn’t understand the intent with which it was spoken. Some at the table actually assumed that Jesus was giving Judas some last minute instructions concerning the Passover dinner or had asked him to go buy something that they had need of for the poor. V. 30 tells us that after receiving the sop that Judas went out quickly into the night to do the evil that was now firmly planted in his heart. It is interesting that when he went out that it was dark, Judas himself going out into the darkness.

One would think that now that the wheels were set in motion, Jesus knowing what was about to happen, would just seemingly helplessly wait out His fate. But, the verses that follow do not give us that impression. Vs. 31-2 give us a different perspective giving us unique insight into Jesus’ perspective. Jesus’ death on the Cross is often referred to as His Passion and these verses bear that out telling us that from His perspective that He saw it as His moment of glory and was one not of defeat.

What we might see as a moment of defeat He saw as His reward now receiving His crown of what He called ‘His glory’. It is interesting that what He would receive as His crown would be a crown of thorns. He had finally won. This moment was what He had been waiting for throughout all history and time. In the verses that follow we find that not only was He Himself finally glorified in what was about to happen, but so was the Father also glorified in it. Even though He all too well knew the pain that was before Him He embraced His position and what Judas was about to do as a win. How do we see the difficulty found in our life as a follower of Christ in this world? I am not one to willingly receive pain when it is coming my way. Maybe Jesus’ example could teach us something.

The Gospel of John Lesson 50 (10-20-2013) John 13:15-17

The Gospel of John Lesson 50 (10-20-2013)

Lesson 50 – John 13:15-17

Meanwhile, other forces were at work at the table. They did not go unaware or unnoticed by Jesus even though the rest of the disciples were oblivious to the happenings. The disciples were caught up in the moment of fellowship with their Lord, but even though Jesus was also thoroughly enjoying the moment with them He was not unaware of what was happening in the background.

 In v. 2 John tells us that the devil was continuing to work out his plan in seducing Judas. Judas’ heart had already decided that he wanted more than Jesus was offering willing to do anything to get it, even if it meant betraying Someone very close to him.  However, in v. 2 of chapter 13 Judas had not been fully seduced over to complete darkness as yet. I personally cannot even imagine how he could have sat at the dinner table with the Lord knowing what was in his heart all along intentionally and purposely planning within moments to betray Him. What a picture of the heart of man and the darkness that it is capable of. We like to point the finger at Judas, but the truth is that any one of us is capable of such and in reality could have been chosen for this task. Without God’s intervention men’s hearts are capable of such being seduced by the darkness of sin that is found there.

In a broad look at chapter 13 the others at the table even though they were committed to the light that Jesus spoke of understood the possibility of giving into the darkness and its temptation and seduction. John and the other Gospel writers record the response of the other Disciples to Jesus’ comment concerning someone at their very table betraying Him. Later in John’s Gospel, 13:22, we see the Apostle John record the disciples’ response. They were found looking at each other wondering who Jesus could be referring to as He told them of this betrayal.

However, in the other Gospels, the other writers make it even more plain and descriptive, Matt. 26:22, Mark 14:19 and Lk. 22:23, telling us that their response was a response of even doubting themselves concerning this statement. They like us probably considered themselves basically to be pretty good people. However, in these passages we find them one by one asking if it was them that would be the one and only that would betray Him. In other words, it seemed that everyone at the table understood the possibility of letting Jesus down and possibly going against Him in this fashion. Down inside even though they innately knew that they could conceivably do such a thing in reality they had hoped that they were not that evil.

Jesus’ statement, however, was not meant to cause all at the table to doubt their commitment to Him at all. His comment was instead more of a warning to the one that would actually end up betraying Him. In all probability it was meant more as a judgment upon their would be action. It should be remembered that there was two things going on at the table at one time. Yes Judas was heading toward betraying our Lord, but at the same time Jesus was finishing up His final moments with His Disciples instructing them in the remaining details that He had to share with them before His departure. He was encouraging them, not discouraging them, to fully commit to what was before them.

In v. 17 of chapter 13 He tells them something that is extremely important. He tells them the ‘Secret of the Kingdom’. In essence He tells them if they study and learn this Kingdom principle that He has shown to them, and apply what they have seen that they will experience something that cannot be obtained by the practices of their former lifestyle…happiness or Joy!

Nothing satisfies the soul like giving and caring for another that has a real need denying yourself in the process. There is something about giving in that way that is extremely satisfying and fulfilling. Jesus shared with them the example of a seed that dies to self producing much fruit in the process in chapter 12 vs. 24-5. We often think of the fruit that sacrificial giving produces in others when we give to them, but forget that it also produces fruit in us bringing us much Joy, pleasure and satisfaction in this present life. Later we see the Apostle John go further in sharing what he had learned that night found in the writings of his first epistle. He shared further and expounded on this principle telling them in I John 1:4 that in knowing and applying these things that their Joy would indeed be full.

Jesus’ comment in verse 17 concerning service and the Joy that it produces begs a question. ‘Are we experiencing Joy in our life?’, and, if not, why not? When one first begins to think about and answer this question we automatically do a life check asking ourselves how busy we are in doing things supposedly for those around us. But, foot washing is different. It is not done out of the duty of ‘how much’, or just doing the deed, but is done out of love, caring for the one in need completely. ‘How much’ has an element of pride associated with it, being proud of how much we give. In Jesus’ example He was not necessarily telling us to give more and more. His example, like that of the Good Samaritan, was to have more care and compassion in our giving, focused more on the one we are giving to than ourselves for giving.

In reading about Jesus’ example in John 13 the thing that does not necessarily come through the words to us is Jesus’ technique for foot washing. I can only imagine the job that He did on His disciples that night in washing their feet. All I can say is that it must have been a special time of ministry. On the receiving end…wonderful, on Jesus’ end Joyfull! Jesus was not just giving them the textbook version of foot washing. He enjoyed ministering to them being the perfect example of selfless service. 

The Gospel of John Lesson 49 (10-06-2013) John 13:1-15

The Gospel of John Lesson 49 (10-06-2013)

Lesson 49 – John 13:1-15

Over the next few chapters Jesus will demonstrate and teach His disciples what this new Kingdom will look like. As yet, these are foreign principles to them. After finishing dinner, vs. 3-6, Jesus does something very strange and out of character to them. It wasn’t out of character to Jesus, but it was definitely out of character to them and the world system that they were use to.

Dr. Luke records some interesting details in his gospel that are not found in John’s account concerning this event and this dinner. I have at times been curious as to why Jesus chose this time to demonstrate this principle of servant hood by washing the disciple’s feet. I understand the need for Jesus to teach this principle to His followers, but have always been somewhat curious as to ‘why now’?

It is true that the hour was late and teaching this principle to them was important, but was this just one of those must teach principles to share and teach them prior to His departure, or, was there something that prompted Him to demonstrate this very important Kingdom principle? After all in just a few hours He would tell them that He had many other things to instruct them in that they were not ready to understand and receive as yet, but the time being so short they would be taught to them later by the Holy Spirit of Truth who was to come soon after Jesus’ departure. Why was this lesson not included in the ‘to be taught later’ group? As we will see Jesus will show them in action this principle now, but they will really not be able nor ready to practically apply it without the help of the yet to come Holy Spirit.

In Luke chapter 22 we get what Paul Harvey would call the rest of the story. In Luke 22:24-7 we read the background conversation that went on that night. While Jesus was sharing with them important and timely things like what was soon to come and instructing them in things like the institution the Lord’s Supper, what were His disciples doing and talking about? V. 24 of Luke 22 tells us that there was actually strife at the table and that they were having somewhat of a heated debate at the table at that moment. What were they debating about that was more important than what Jesus had to share with them?? Luke tells us that they were debating about who would be the greatest among them in the Kingdom that was shortly to come.

Imagine that! Here Jesus was trying to share with them such incredible principles concerning His coming Kingdom and they were more concerned with who was going to have the most prominent and visible position in that Kingdom. In knowing this as background it makes good sense for Jesus seeing these actions get up from the table and demonstrate to them servant hood as found in John chapter 13.

This was not apparently an isolated incident concerning debating this topic with these guys. They appeared to debate this topic quite commonly. We see Jesus address this issue with them in the beginning of Matthew chapter 18 where they come to Him asking Jesus who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. One could take the request from His disciples here in Matthew 18 a couple of ways. One might think that they were asking this because they were aspiring to do a good job and succeed at hitting the mark and please the master wanting to know what others have done making them great in the Kingdom and then following them trying to emulate them and their example.

However, it appears that this was not the case. It appears that their request here in Matthew 18 had the same basis and intent as their question to Jesus in Luke 22:24 during their last supper together. They were wanting to know in reality which of them would be honored as number one…the top of the heap…the head cheese…the one closest to God in ability…better than the rest… receiving top honors.

They must have been very surprised at Jesus’ response in Matthew 18 not recognizing their great ability and promise, but instead telling them in essence that all that ability is worthless unless there be found in their essence and actions the humility and simplicity of intent of duty of a child, who does something not for being recognized or seen, but just because its natural right for the present. I am sure that the Disciples like me had trouble fully understanding Jesus’ example and analogy of the child and the Kingdom hearing what He said, but then remarking something like ‘I know that there is something important here that He is trying to teach and say to me, but what is it?’ Understanding and applying this Kingdom principle of being as a child in a practical way is not easy. Its practical meaning is often illusive and vague in meaning to us.

It is so natural for us, as it was for the Disciples, to want to be recognized by the Master or others for our stuff…our abilities, making sure to be seen and recognized for it. It makes us even think more highly of ourselves if we are a grade above those around us. It appears that this topic was a frequent point of conversation and discussion as we find reference to it also in Mk 10:35-45 and Mt. 20:20-8 seeing even the family members got into the debate. Less than a day before the Cross the debate concerning this important topic to the Disciples continues and would continue to come up with Jesus’ disciples and followers throughout the history of the Church.

Did His Disciples finally get the point Jesus was making here at this late hour found in chapter 13 of John? You would have to say not yet, for we see Simon Peter’s response which is usually representative of the group in Jn. 13:6-10. In these verses we see him in essence arguing with Jesus about the details of His example.

Usually what Peter was saying out loud was what the others were thinking. However, Jesus’ response to Peter is somewhat stern and pointed. He was not so patient with him. In essence He tells Peter to be quiet and get it! It was time for Peter to be quiet and for a change be humble and heed Jesus’ instruction for there was an important lesson in what Jesus was doing. Again time was indeed short. This was not a time to argue methodology. Peter needed to understand and get the intent or His example.

The Disciples would eventually get it however. In a short time we will see the tables turn and find the Disciples in Jesus’ position finally understanding Jesus’ example of humility and servant hood attempting to teach the same principle to a new crop of followers that were to come after them. Jesus would leave them with the example. The events that were to follow and the advent of the Holy Spirit’s coming would perfect His examples, purpose and meaning in them.

But, there is possible even more meaning, symbolism and deep truth in the interaction and dialog that went on between Peter and Jesus in vs. 6-10 in chapter 13. In these verses Jesus made some strong comments to Peter concerning what He was doing and Peter’s relationship with Him. The deeper truth that may be evident here was that Peter even at this point did not fully understand and receive Jesus’ offer of pardon and forgiveness evident to his reaction to Jesus serving Peter in this manner.

Even though his reaction would have probably been a common one, it was still a prideful one, not accepting the Lord’s work on his behalf. At first he did not want to receive Jesus’ work on his behalf and then after arguing with Jesus about what He was doing he wanted to accept what Jesus was offering on his terms, essentially in reality still not receiving what Jesus was offering at all.

Jesus says something significant in v. 10. He says, “The one that has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet” and He continues by telling Peter and most of the others that they were already clean, that is all except one. He repeats in v. 11 that not all have been washed.

Some Bible commentators believe that the bath that He is referring to here is the full cleansing of salvation and that the washing of the feet could possibly refer to the ongoing and continual cleansing of the believer that is needed following conversion. This analogy seems to correlate to John’s message found in another one of his letters in I John chapter 1 where in vs. 5-7 John talks about Jesus’ blood cleansing us from all sin establishing salvation followed by vs. 8-10 advocating continued confession of sin restoring fellowship. If this symbolism is what Christ was referring to then His example also infers that we are to help each other to be clean and to stay pure.

We do not know who Jesus started with when He began this example of servant hood washing their feet. Many scholars have offered their opinion, some saying that He probably started with Judas, others say that He probably started with several other disciples before reaching Peter and others still believe that it was Peter himself that Jesus began with. However, if the former analogy stated in the previous paragraph is accurate saying those being clean need only to have their feet washed then the question that I would pose is…Did Jesus actually end up washing Judas’ feet at all for it was clear that Jesus was referring to him as not being clean? We can only speculate.

In reading John’s Gospel it appears that Peter may not have been first in getting his feet washed, v. 5, but the Gospels do not exactly record this detail making it fully clear. However, many scholars believe that Jesus’ choice of washing one of the dirtiest parts of the body may have paralleled the Cross and by Peter’s reaction it was unthinkable that the Lord would even consider dealing with such a despised area of the body. Peter’s denial of Jesus’ offer implied self sufficiency of a cleansing that he desperately needed. It is true that this act was symbolic, but it did contain meaning that had a practical application. Without receiving its paralleled meaning Peter would miss eternal truths.

In vs. 12-7, after giving them this example of cleansing Jesus gets back up and resumes His rightful place of Master at the table. This indeed has striking symbolism to the work on the Cross and after Jesus’ resurrection being an example of Him resuming His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. However, in sitting down at the table He leaves nothing to chance and explains the meaning of His actions to them. He tells them that this was an example of servant hood and that if He was willing to do this for them that they should also be willing to follow His example and serve each other in the same fashion.

But, one point still remains concerning Jesus’ foot washing example. If His example here truly was analogous to His work and cleansing on the Cross then in this servant example a death to self would be implied. We remember in the middle of chapter 12 that Jesus shared this example with them, Jn. 12:23-6. In this example of servant hood of washing their feet He in essence was calling them to die to self so that another may receive cleansing and live. As stated in a previous lesson all of them with the exception of John would in the end die a martyr’s death for their faith so that others receiving the Gospel would indeed live.