John 13:23

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM, [ anakeimenos (G345)] - that is, next Him at the table, and so "on" or 'in His bosom' [ en (G1722) too (G3588) kolpoo (G2859)] ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHOM JESUS LOVED. Since Jesus certainly loved all the Eleven, this must mean a special, dear love which Jesus had for John. (Compare John 11:3, of Lazarus.) Once and again does our Evangelist thus denote himself. Doubtless it was on account of this love that Jesus placed him...

23._Whom Jesus loved_. The peculiar _love _with which Christ _loved _John plainly testifies that, if we _love _some more than others, this is not always inconsistent with brotherly love; but all lies in this, that our love shall be directed towards God, and that every man, in proportion as he excels in the gifts of God, shall share in it the more largely. From this end Christ never turned aside in the smallest degree; but with us the case is widely different, for such is the vanity of our mind, that there are few who, in loving men, approach more nearly to God. And yet the love of men towards each other will never be properly regulated, unless it be directed to God. _Lay at table in Jesus’ bosom. _What is here related by John might be regarded in the present day as indecorous; but such was, at that time, the manner of being placed at table; for they did not _sit_, as we do, _at table_, b...

18-30 Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their influence; the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating bread with Him, lift up the heel against Him! Judas went out as one weary of Jesus and his apostles. Those whose deeds are evil, love darkness rather than light....

Verse 23. _NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM_] The Jews of those days, at their suppers, reclined, supported by their left arm, on couches placed round the table, as the Greeks and Romans did. On each couch there were two or three persons; and the head of one of them came near to the bosom of him who reclined above him on the same couch. The person here mentioned was John, the writer of this history, who, being more tenderly loved by Christ than the rest, had always that place at table which was nearest to his Lord....

LEANING ON JESUS’ BOSOM - This does not mean that he was at that time actually lying on his bosom, but that he occupied a situation next to him at the table, so that his head naturally fell back on his bosom when he spoke to him. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. WHOM JESUS LOVED - This was doubtless John himself. The evangelists are not accustomed to mention their own names when any mark of favor or any good deed is recorded. They did not seek publicity or notoriety. In this case the appellation is more tender and honorable than any mere name. John was admitted to special friendship, perhaps, because the natural disposition of our Saviour was more nearly like the amiableness and mildness of John than any of the other disciples (Robert Hall). The highest honor that can be conferred on any man is to say that Jesus loved him

EXPOSITION IV. THE FINAL MANIFESTATIONS IN WORD AND ACTION OF THE LOGOS INCARNATE, EXPRESSING ITSELF ABSOLUTELY AND TO THE UTTERMOST AS LOVE. (Jn 13-21.) In two divisions— A._ The inner glorification of the Christ in the presence of those who received and believed on him_. *** The Loges incarnate as life, light, love, and sacrifice, lavishing all his grace upon his own (Jn 13-17.). B._ The outer glorification of the Christ in his Passion and resurrection_. *** The fully manifested love laying down life that he might take it again, and lift

NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM,.... Not pressing upon that part of Christ's body, which would have been irreverent in John, and troublesome to Christ; but leaning at table upon his bed or couch, on which he lay; and which was next to, and just before Christ; so that he was very near unto, and seemed to lie in the bosom of Christ; as such are said to do, who sit next at table to another. The posture of the Jews at table, was either "sitting" or "lying", and a difference they make between these two; "if, say they d, היו יושבין, "they sat" to eat everyone asked a blessing for himself; but if הסיבו, "they lay down", one asked a blessing for them all.'' This lying down was not on their backs, nor on their right side, but on their left; for they say e, that "lying down on the back, is not called הסיבה, "lying down"; and lying on the right side, is not called lying down.'' And the re...

CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The Washing of the Disciples' Feet. (John 13:1 .)_ 2. Instructions given; to Wash One Another's Feet. (John 13:12 .) 3. The Betrayal Foretold. (John 13:18 .) 4. His Own Departure and the New Commandment. (John 13:31 .) 5. The Denial of Peter Foretold. (John 13:36 .) We reach with this chapter the most precious portion of this Gospel. The multitudes are left behind. Israel has completely rejected Him and now He gathered His own beloved disciples around Himself and gave them the sweet and blessed words of in

THE UNMASKING OF THE TRAITOR. The truth must now be told plainly. Jesus is troubled (John 12:27), and makes the solemn declaration, One of you shall betray. With the disciples-' looks of amazement contrast the Synoptic account, where their doubts are expressed. Jesus'special friend, reclining on His right, the left being the place of honour, is asked by a nod from the leader of the disciples, always ready to act on the spur of the moment, to find out secretly who is intended. The Lord's answer is apparently ambiguous. He to whom I give the sop would refer to all alike. No one (John 13:28), the Beloved Disciple included, knew why the Lord sent Judas off on an. immediate errand. In the light of later events the Beloved Disciple saw the significance of the fact that the Lord gave the sop to Judas first, which at the t

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, be very near his bosom. He only needed to bend back. little to throw himself on his bosom. WHOM JESUS LOVED. This phrase occurs seven times in John's Gospel, twice in speaking of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and five times as the designation of the one of the disciples who wrote this Gospel. Though John never declares that he is the one meant, it has always been so understood by the church. One reason for this view is found in the fact that he names all the other apostles freely, but never names himself otherwise. Some have insisted that it was egotism to thus designate himself. Rather,. suppose...