THE LAST SUPPER (JOHN 13:1-20) 1. Now before the feast of the Passover. Immediately before, just as Christ was about to sit down with his disciples to the paschal feast. JESUS KNEW THAT HIS HOUR WAS COME. The scenes of this hour, the Passover, the Lord's Supper, the washing of feet, and the sole... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPER BEING ENDED. The Revision says, "During the Supper," which expresses the meaning of the original. It is likely that Christ arose near the beginning of the feast, washed the feet, and then he sat down again to the feast. See verse 12. For reasons that we will explain later, he arose after the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNOWING THAT THE FATHER HAD GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HANDS. It was with. full consciousness of his divinity, his divine power and majesty, of the glory that he had and would enjoy with God, that he stooped to the menial office that he was about to fill. John points out with care the wonderfu... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RISETH FROM SUPPER, AND LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS. Shortly after they had sat down to the table, he arose, laid aside his outer robe, girded. towel upon him, and began the lowly office of washing the feet of twelve men, without. word of explanation. Something more than ordinary must have caused so... [ Continue Reading ]
POURETH WATER INTO. BASIN. Girded as. servant the Lord does. servant's work. The feet were not put into the basin, but water was poured from it on the feet and they were then wiped with the towel.... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, DOST THOU WASH MY FEET? The language of Peter is that of confusion, of astonishment and of remonstrance. The emphasis is on the word _thou._ Dost _thou,_ the Lord and Master, do the work of. servant?... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU KNOWEST NOT NOW; BUT THOU SHALT KNOW HEREAFTER. "You do not understand this matter fully now, but thou shalt know hereafter." There was much that was not clear to the dull understandings of the apostles that became clear later. Knowledge comes by submissive obedience if we will wait patiently.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF. WASH THEE NOT, THOU HAST NO PART WITH ME. Peter, not yet reconciled to the Master discharging the duty that he now feels he ought to have discharged, exclaims: "Thou shalt never wash my feet." It was his characteristic obstinacy. Christ replied as above, in substance, "If thou art not submissiv... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT MY FEET ONLY, BUT MY HANDS AND MY HEAD. Peter, not yet content, continues the argument. If thou dost insist on washing me, why not my hands and head as well as my feet? His language is partly due to embarrassment and partly to his great repugnance to have the Savior perform such. duty upon him.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS WASHED NEEDETH NOT SAVE TO WASH HIS FEET. The Lord first speaks of the material facts. It was only the feet that needed washing. After. tramp over the dusty roads they needed cleansing. It must be born in mind that only sandals were worn and that these were laid off when they entered the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN. Not all who enter into his service ostensibly are cleansed. Judas was not. Some do not enter through the "Door of entire obedience," but are thieves and robbers (see John 12:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE WHAT. HAVE DONE TO YOU? When he had completed his task, he laid aside the towel, resumed his robe, sat down to the table, and asked, "Do you understand what. have done to you?" They knew the act, but did they comprehend its meaning? Hence the emphasis that follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD. You recognize the fact that. am your Lord and Master, or rather the Lord and Master. Master is used in the sense of teacher, but Lord in the sense of ruler. He then draws his conclusion from the promise that they admit: "If I, your Lord and Master, wash your feet, ye oug... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE. Christ gave an _example,_ not. church ordinance. It is our duty to follow the example and render the same kind of service to fellow Christians. To make his example. ceremonial and follow it literally would be to lose its spirit. We wish every student to note the fact... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS LORD. If the Lord then should thus condescend, how much rather the servant. To follow the Lord's example the necessary thing is not that he should gird on. towel and go through. form, but that he should drink in the Lord's spirit. Spiritual pride has been one of... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM. Know what things? Of course they knew that Christ had washed their feet. But did they know what it meant? The meaning is clearly, "If ye understand the meaning of my act, happy are ye if ye exemplify the same spirit in your lives." This language... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK NOT OF YOU ALL. There is one present to whom knowledge will not bring happiness. He had been alluded to in verse 10. I KNOW WHOM. HAVE CHOSEN. Christ refers to the choice to the apostolate, not to election to salvation. He declares that he knew Judas, but chose him that the Scripture might... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW. TELL YOU BEFORE IT COME TO PASS. Hitherto the Lord had borne his sorrow alone, but now that the hour was at hand and the traitor would soon be compelled to show his hand, he would declare it to his disciples, before it come to pass, in order that the fulfillment, instead of being. crushing dis... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT RECEIVETH... RECEIVETH ME. They whose faith was made strong to believe in him would be commissioned as his heralds, sent from him, as he was sent from the Father. To receive them, the King's messengers, would be to receive him; to receive him would be to receive the Father who sent him. PR... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAS EXPOSED (JOHN 13:21-30) In washing the disciples' feet, Jesus had said, "Ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who would betray him; therefore he said, Ye are not all clean." So early, from the very first, did the thought of Judas and his meditated deed press upon the Savior's spirit. When th... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER. In wonder and questioning. They did not venture to doubt the Savior's prophecy, but it seemed to them impossible that one of their number could prove. traitor.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES. The party were reclining at the table in the Greek and Roman fashion.. wide couch was placed along the table and each guest reclined on his left elbow with his feet extended outward. The disciple next in front of the Savior would, therefore, b... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER THEREFORE BECKONED TO HIM. All are eager to know more, for they are filled with anxiety. Peter, always impulsive, as usual is the one who acts. He does not speak but beckons to John who was next to Christ to find out whom he meant. It must be kept in mind that he did not speak, and prob... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN, LYING ON JESUS' BREAST, SAITH... LORD, WHO IS IT? The Revision says, "leaning back." The reader must not forget their positions. As Lucke says: "Since the captivity, the Jews lay at table in the Persian manner, on divans or couches, each on his left side, with his face to the table, his le... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IT IS TO WHOM. SHALL GIVE. SOP. In. low tone also, in the ear of John, the Lord answers that he will show. There was upon the table. dish of bitter herbs,. kind of sauce that was always eaten at the Passover. No knives, forks or spoons are used at an Eastern table, but the fingers only, which ar... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE SOP SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. We learn by comparison with the other accounts of this scene that the apostles each asked when Christ declared one should betray him, "Is it I?" Judas, who knew what he had sold himself to do, at last asked the same question and the Lord answered, "Thou hast sa... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN AT THE TABLE KNOW FOR WHAT INTENT HE SPAKE. None but John knew that Judas was the traitor. Hence none could understand what the Lord charged Judas to do. They supposed that Judas was directed to spend some money for some purpose; for things needed for the feast week of the Passover which beg... [ Continue Reading ]
HE... WENT IMMEDIATELY OUT. He ate the sop, Christ spoke to him at once, and he immediately arose and went out. The question has been much discussed whether Judas was present when the Lord's Supper was instituted.. do not consider it vitally important that this should be settled, but. am of the opin... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED (JOHN 13:31-38) We have entered upon the Holy of Holies of the Gospel history. The farewell discourses of our Lord, extending from chapter 13:31 to 17:26, are unique even in this unique Gospel of John who was nearest the heart of Jesus and best qualified to drink in those wo... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN, YET. LITTLE WHILE. AM WITH YOU. Observe the tenderness of the term applied to his disciples,. term applied nowhere else except in 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:12. He had told the Jews (7:34; 8:21) that he would go away and they could not follow him. So now he says to his disciples, but he... [ Continue Reading ]
NEW COMMANDMENT. GIVE UNTO YOU. The commandment to love was not new, but such love as the Savior commanded was new. It was such love for each other as he had shown for them that he commanded. That love was one so intense as to give up all things. His love led him to leave heaven, to take our infirm... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES. Such love as this excited the wonder of the heathen in the earlier ages of the church when it burned with such. heavenly flame, and they said, "See how these Christians love one another." But the presence of such love does more than cause those w... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, WHITHER GOEST THOU? I believe that in the interval after the departure of Judas and before this question the Lord's Supper was instituted. The Lord said, "Do this in remembrance of me until. come again." Peter, after the supper is eaten, not yet able to comprehend t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY CANNOT. FOLLOW THEE NOW? It was very hard for Peter to give up. He was impetuous, generous and self-willed. His conduct now was characteristic of the man. Christ has spoken of death; Peter declares that he will die too for his Master's sake.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU LAY DOWN THY LIFE? The Lord reveals to him his weakness. It was then night. Before the cock shall crow for the dawn of the next morning he will have thrice denied his Lord. For the fulfilment of this prediction, see Luke 22:54-60. Peter had bravely attempted to defend his Master with. swo... [ Continue Reading ]