THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IV. THE DISCIPLES’ PREPARATION BY THE SON OF GOD (13:1–16:33) A. THE DISCOURSE IN THE UPPER ROOM (Jn 13:1 – 14:31) 1. The Prelude to the Betrayal (13:1-2) 2. The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (13:3-17) 3. The Exposure of the Betrayal (13:18-30)

a. Jesus Divulges (vv ) b. The Disciples Ask (vv )  Read Jn 13:23. ~ John the son of Zebedee is most likely ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’.  If we wonder why the beloved disciple chooses this form of anonymity, the ff. answers have been put forward. 1) Expresses a profound sense of indebtedness to grace

~ refusing to give even the impression of sharing a platform with Jesus ~ He is only a voice. 2) Serves as a model for his readers: Becoming a Christian means a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, such that He receives the glory. 3) Simply making use of the name which others had given him

4) Possible that John understood Jesus better than did any of the rest 5) Not boasting of his own love for the Master; but glorying in the Master’s love for him.  Read Jn 13:24. ~ Typically, it was Peter who recovered first from the stunned silence.  Read Jn 13:25. ~ Again, this is the question of quiet, child-like confidence.

 Westerners may recoil at the physical proximity of two men. ~ This is a sign of friendship, not homosexuality.  Read Jn 13:26.  The host at a feast might well dip into a common bowl and pull out a particularly tasty bit and pass it to a guest as a mark of honor or friendship.

 It might also be helpful to us to notice that the fact that Jesus could pass it so easily suggests Judas was close by, possibly on His left, the place of honor. ~ Most likely, it was in order to impress upon Judas the enormity of his crime, that it might serve as an additional warning. ~ Judas was ready to betray the One out of whose very hand he had been fed!

c. Judas Executes (vv )  Read Jn 13:27a.  It is certain that Judas conceived such a crime only through the instigation of Satan. ~ cf. Jn 13:2  By handing the bread Christ was not giving an opportunity for Satan. ~ Rather, Judas delivered himself entirely to Satan when he had taken the bread.

~ It is more consistent with the picture of Jesus in this Gospel to think of this “morsel” as a final gesture of supreme love (cf. v. 1). ~ Lesslie Newbigin: “And that final act of love becomes, with a terrible immediacy, the decisive movement of judgment. At this moment we are witnessing the climax of that action of sifting, of separation, of judgment which has been the central theme in

in John’s account of the public ministry of Jesus... (3:16- 19). So the final gesture of affection precipitates the final surrender of Judas to the power of darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has neither understood it nor mastered it.”

 Judas’ heart ought to have been softened by Christ’s great kindness, but it was harder than iron. ~ Judas received “the morsel” but not the love. ~ Instead of breaking him and urging him to contrition, it hardened his resolve. ~ And so his hardened heart deserved that God should, by His righteous judgment, harden his heart still more through Satan.

 So Judas now acted upon what the devil put in his heart (Jn 13:2). ~ Judas is now a completely hardened individual. ~ The warnings of Jesus had not been heeded. ~ Now they will no longer be issued. ~ Jesus is through with Judas.