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 ]