CHAPTER 13. Here commences the closing part of the gospel. It exhibits the manifestation of Christ's glory in suffering and death. The first division embraces John 13-17, in which the faith of the believing is confirmed and unbelief [Judas] cast out.... [ Continue Reading ]
Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα, “before the feast of the Passover,” and therefore it was not the Paschal supper which is now described. According to John, though not in agreement with the Synoptists, Jesus suffered as the Paschal Lamb on the day of the Passover, which in all Jewish households was termi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus washes the disciples' feet and explains His action_.... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) εἰδὼς … χεῖρας, this consciousness on the part of Jesus is mentioned to bring out the condescension of the action to be related. (5) So too is the accompanying consciousness, ὅτι ἀπὸ Θεοῦ … ὑπάγει. It was not in forgetfulness of His true dignity but because conscious that He was supreme and God'... [ Continue Reading ]
This person, and in this mood and in these circumstances, on the brink of His own passion, is free to attend to the wants of unworthy men, and ἐγείρεται … διεζωσμένος. “He rises,” having reclined at the table in expectation that one or other of the disciples would do the feet-washing. καὶ τίθησι τὰ... [ Continue Reading ]
εἶτα … νιπτῆρα. Each step in the whole astounding scene is imprinted on the mind of John. “Next He pours water into the basin,” _the_ basin which the landlord had furnished as part of the necessary arrangements, [νιπτῆρα is only found here; but ποδανιπτήρ is not so rare; see Plut., _Phocion_, 20, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔρχεται οὖν, _apparently_ in the order in which they happened to be sitting, and having first washed some of the other disciples, He comes to Simon Peter, who draws up his feet out of reach and exclaims, Κύριε, σύ μου νίπτεις τοὺς πόδας; The σύ μου are brought together for the sake of the contrast.... [ Continue Reading ]
This was a right impulse and honourable to Peter; and therefore Jesus treats it tenderly. ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ … μετὰ ταῦτα, “what I am doing thou dost not at present comprehend, but thou shalt learn as soon as I am finished”. The pronouns are emphatic, that Peter may understand that Jesus may have much to do... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter, however, cannot accept the disciple's attitude, but persists, Οὐ μὴ νίψῃς μου τοὺς πόδας εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, “never shalt Thou wash my feet”. The εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα was prompted by the μετὰ ταῦτα. No future explanation can make this possible. Peter's humility is true enough to allow him to see the inco... [ Continue Reading ]
Κύριε … κεφαλήν. A moment ago he told his Master He was doing too much: now he tells Him He is doing too little. Self-will gives place slowly. Yet this was the unmistakable expression of devotion. If washing is any requirement for fellowship with Thee, wash me wholly. [“Non pedes solum, quos soli mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ λελουμένος … ὅλος. “He that has been in the bath has no need to wash save his feet, but is all clean.” His feet may be soiled by walking from the public bath to the supper chamber, and it is enough that they be washed. “Ad convivium vocati solebant prius in balneo lavari; in domo vero convivatoris... [ Continue Reading ]
That Judas was meant is at once said in John 13:11. Ἤιδει … ἐστε. Jesus thus shows that He distinguishes between the offence of the rest and the sin of Judas. All that they required was to have the soil of their present evil temper and jealousy removed: they were true in heart, they had been in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὅτε … ὑμῖν : “when, then, He had washed their feet and taken His garments [_cf._ τίθησι τὰ ἱμάτια of John 13:4] and reclined again He said to them: Know ye what I have done to you?” Do you perceive the meaning of this action? By washing their feet He had washed their heart. By stooping to this menia... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑμεῖς φωνεῖτέ με, “ye call me,” in addressing me (φωνεῖν, not καλεῖν), ὁ διδάσκαλος καὶ ὁ κύριος “Teacher” and “Lord”; the _nominativus tituli_, see Winer, 226. Perhaps “Rabbi” would convey better the respect involved in διδάσκαλος. καὶ καλῶς λέγετε, εἰμὶ γάρ. Jesus, humble and self-suppressing as H... [ Continue Reading ]
Hence the _a fortiori_ argument: εἰ οὖν ἐγὼ ἔνιψα … πόδας, “if I then, Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, ye also ought (ὀφείλετε denoting moral obligation) to wash one another's feet”. “It is not the act itself, but its moral essence, which after His example He enjoins upon them to exercise.” Meye... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑπόδειγμα … ποιῆτε. ὑπόδειγμα is condemned by Phrynichus, who recommends the Attic παράδειγμα. See Rutherford's interesting note, _New Phryn._, p. 62. The purpose, ἵνα, of His action was that they might act in the same humble, loving spirit, in _all_ their conduct to one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as confirmatory of this example and in rebuke of their pride, He adds: οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος … αὐτόν. In Matthew 10:24 a similar saying occurs; _cf._ also Luke 6:40, and Luke 22:27. The slave whose function it is to serve is not “greater,” μείζων, than his lord, who may expect to receive service, and... [ Continue Reading ]
These are obvious first principles in Christian discipleship, but the mere knowledge of them is not enough: εἰ ταῦτα οἴδατε, μακάριοί ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε αὐτά. ταῦτα refers to what Jesus had just declared to be the significance of His action. εἰ οἴδατε, “if ye know,” as you do know; ἐὰν ποιῆτε, a suppos... [ Continue Reading ]
This blessedness, He knew, could not attach to all of them: οὐ περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν ὑμῶν λέγω, “I speak not of you all,” I do not expect all of you to fulfil the condition of blessedness, ἐγὼ οἶδα οὓς ἐξελεξάμην, “I for my part (in contrast to the disciples who were in ignorance) know the men whom I hav... [ Continue Reading ]
This grave announcement was made at this point and not previously, ἀπʼ ἄρτι, “from henceforth” (as if the knowledge resulting from the announcement rather than the announcement itself were dictating the expression) “I tell you before it happens, that when it has happened you may know that I am He,”... [ Continue Reading ]
But lest this announcement should weaken their confidence in one another and in their own call to the Apostolate (“probabile est voluisse Christum offendiculo mederi”. Calvin) He hastens to add: ἀμὴν … πέμψαντά με [ἄν τινα better than ἐάν τινα]. He gives the assurance that those whom He sends as His... [ Continue Reading ]
Ταῦτα εἰπὼν … παραδώσει με. Two elements in the company had prevented Jesus from freely uttering His last counsels to the Twelve. (1) They had manifested dissension which would prevent them from acting together when He was gone, and a temper which would prevent them from receiving His words. And (2)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas is eliminated from the company_.... [ Continue Reading ]
The disciples had no idea who was meant. Ἔβλεπον … λέγει, Judas could scarcely be “at a loss to know of whom He spoke”.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἦν … Ἰησοῦς, the disciple whom Jesus loved lay next Him, ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ. Two arrangements of guests at a table were in vogue. They either lay at right angles to the table and parallel to one another, each resting on his left elbow and having his right hand free (see Rich's _Dict._, s. v. _Trielinium, L... [ Continue Reading ]
That disciple, ἐκεῖνος, when thus appealed to, ἀναπεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, “having leant back towards the breast of Jesus” so as to speak more directly to Him and to be heard only by Him. On the difference between ἀνακείμενος and ἀναπεσών see Origen in _Evang. Jo._, ii. 191, Brooke.... [ Continue Reading ]
But even in answer to John's question, τίς ἐστιν; Jesus does not name Judas, but merely gives a sign by which John may recognise the traitor: Ἐκεῖνος … ἐπιδώσω, “he it is for whom I shall dip the sop and give it him”. Some argue from the insertion of the article τὸ ψωμίον that this was the sop made... [ Continue Reading ]
But instead of moving Judas to compunction μετὰ τὸ ψωμίον, τότε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ὁ Σατανᾶς. μετὰ “after,” not “with,” “non cum offula,” Bengel and Cyril, who also says, οὐ γὰρ ἔτι σύμβουλον ἔχει τὸν σατανᾶν, ἀλλʼ ὅλης ἤδη τῆς καρδίας δεσπότην. On ἐκεῖνον Bengel also has: “Jam _remote_ notat Juda... [ Continue Reading ]
Τοῦτο … αὐτῷ. All heard the command given to Judas, but none of them knew its object, not even John; for although he was now aware that Judas was the traitor he did not connect the command “Do it quickly” with the actual work of betrayal.... [ Continue Reading ]
τινὲς γὰρ ἐδόκουν. Some supposed that Judas being treasurer of the company had been sent to buy what they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. That it was possible at so late an hour to make purchases appears from Matthew 25:9-11 (Holtzmann).... [ Continue Reading ]
Judas on his part, having accepted the sop, ἐξῆλθεν εὐθύς, the εὐθύς answering to τάχιον, John 13:27; he went out immediately, taking the purse with him no doubt. ἦν δὲ νύξ, “and it was night”. The sudden darkness succeeding sunset in the East suddenly fell on the room, impressing John's sensitive s... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὄτε οὖν ἐξῆλθεν. As soon as Judas had gone out, the spirit of Jesus rose, and with a note of triumph He explains the situation to the disciples. Two points He emphasises: His work is done, and He must leave them. The former He announces in the words Νῦν ἐδοξάσθη … αὐτῷ. “This ‘now' with which the Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
to John 14:31 comprise one continuous conversation, introduced by Jesus' announcement (John 13:31-35) of His speedy departure.... [ Continue Reading ]
Necessarily therefore when He is glorified ὁ Θεὸς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ. καὶ ὁ Θεὸς δοξάσει αὐτὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ. God is more definitely named as the source of the glorification of the Son of Man; and as God was glorified “in” Jesus, so shall Jesus be glorified “in” God. It is not only παρὰ σεαυτῷ, as in John... [ Continue Reading ]
This result was to be forthwith achieved: εὐθὺς δοξάσει αὐτόν, which at once is interpreted to the discipies in the explicit statement Τεκνία, ἔτι μικρὸν μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰμι. Τεκνία is frequent in 1 John; here only in the Gospel. Lightfoot (p. 1098) says: “Discipulus cujusvis vocatur ejus filius”; but he... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐντολὴν καινὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους : “one another,” not “all men,” which is a different commandment. So, rightly, Grotius: “ _Novum_ autem dicit quia non agit de dilectione communi omnium … sed de speciali Christianorum inter se qua tales sunt,” and Holtzmann: “Es ist die φιλαδελφία im... [ Continue Reading ]
And this Christian love is to be the sole sufficing evidence of the individual's Christianity: ἐν τούτῳ (emphatic) γνώσονται … ἀλλήλοις. _Cf._ Acts 4:32; 1 John 3:10; also Tertull., _Apol._, 39, “vide, inquiunt, ut invicem se diligant”; Clem. Alex., _Strom._, ii. 9; Min. Felix, _Octavius_, 9.... [ Continue Reading ]
On this announcement of Jesus that He was shortly to leave them follow four characteristic utterances of the disciples. First as usual, λέγει αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος, Κύριε ποῦ ὑπάγεις; “Lord, where are you going?” referring to John 13:33. The Vulgate renders “Domine, quo vadis?” the words which the legen... [ Continue Reading ]
This does not satisfy Peter. He sees it is some dangerous enterprise Jesus is undertaking, and he feels his courage discredited by the refusal to be allowed to accompany Him. Κύριε διατί … θήσω. “Putasne ulla itineris molestia me terreri?” Grotius. “In the zeal of love he mistakes the measure of his... [ Continue Reading ]