Book of John 13:11-26

 Book of John 13:11-26                                           March 12, 2022 

The Upper Room Discourse {John 13-14}

Jesus is Alone with His own. He was facing sacrificial death, yet His concern was for His disciples! 

Jesus just finishes washing the feet of the disciples, including Judas. 

John 13:11 For he knew who was going to betray him. That's why he said, "Not all of you are clean." 

This is the second indication of the presence of a traitor among the apostles, after Jesus told them, after many people 

John 6:70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"  

John 6:64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For

Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.  {Beginning - applications of order, time, place or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. 

{then many turned back and no longer follow him} 

Apparently, this comment again did not attract much attention among the disciples.  Betray Jesus.  

John 13:12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer robe, he sat down again and told them, "Do you realize what I have done to you? 

·      The disciples know what Jesus did by washing their feet, but did they understand the meaning behind it.

·      Jesus just got the attention of the disciples. 

John 13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right because that is what I am. 

·      Jesus just confirm that He is the Teacher {or Master} and Lord

·      Jesus is telling the disciples you will follow my example of humility, self-sacrifice, and service to others, as Jesus is a servant to others.

·      Instead of seeking who is the greatest among you, disputing concerning the seats of honor, and shrinking from humble service to each other,

·      yes, you should follow my example 

John 13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you must also wash one another's feet.  

Notice, the order of titles is reversed, to give emphasis to the one with this deeper meaning.  

·      Jesus gave a command {means under obligation – ought, must, should} to His disciples and to wash one another’s feet. 

·      A ritual of foot washing was established.

·      Many churches believe this is a spiritual example, not a physical action, they believe they do not have to do, today. 

This is Jesus’ “organization chart”:  rather than from “top down” it goes from “the bottom up” as enabling rather than supervisory 

John 13:15 I have set an example for you, so that you may do as I have done to you. 

1 Timothy 5:10 She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints' feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. 

·      Churches are saying this is an example we should follow in attitude only, but not a church ordinance. 

·      They says we do not have to do the Foot Washing or even at Passover. 

·      Only place mention in New Testament. 

John 13:16 Truly, I say to you with certainty, a servant {disciples} is not greater than his master {Jesus}, and a messenger is not greater than the one {Father} who sent him. 

The servant is not greater than his lord. This saying occurs four times in the Gospels, 

1. To shew that the disciples must expect no better treatment than their Master 

Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. 

2. To impress the Apostles with their responsibilities as teachers, for their disciples will be as they are 

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not better than his teacher. But everyone who is fully-trained will be like his teacher. 

3. Here:  We read already  John 13:16 Truly, I say to you with certainty, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 

4. With the same purpose as in Mat 10:24, but on another occasion 

John 15:20 Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 

This must have been one Jesus’s frequent sayings: it is introduced here with the double ‘verily’ as of special importance 

1 Samuel 8:7 The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to the people in all that they say to you. In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. 

John 13:17 If you understand these things, how blessed you are if you put them into practice! 

All these churches that are against doing the foot washing service or at Passover, are not blessed because they are not doing it. 

·      The person who practices these things will be blessed. 

·      We will find happiness/joy in behaving accordingly. 

·      True happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and in obedience to him.  Judas is a traitor and not included in the blessing. 

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commands; 

John 13:18 I'm not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: 'The one who ate bread with me has turned against me.' 

Typically, they were reclining on mats around a 12-inch-high table. John, to his right; Judas to his left, the place reserved for an honored guest. 

Psalms 41:9 As for my best friend, the one in whom I trusted, the one who ate my bread, even he has insulted me! 

·      This explains the action of Judas.  Judas best friend with Jesus.

·      He was eating with the disciples, but he was ready to strike.

·      Judas was added to the disciples, by no accident or mistake,

·      who is none of Mine, but just that he might fulfil his predicted destiny 

John 13:19 I'm telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM. 

Jesus is about to be betrayed.  I AM statement: that Jesus is the Messiah. 

John 4:25-26 The woman told him, "I know that the Anointed One is coming, who is being called 'Messiah'. When that person comes, he will explain everything."  (26)  "I am he," Jesus replied, "the one who is speaking to you." 

·      Jesus told the disciples, when it came to pass when they deeply needed such confirmation. 

·      The success of such treason might have shaken the disciples faith had it taken them unawares: by foretelling it He turns it into an aid to faith. 

John 13:20 Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, the one who receives whomever I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me." 

·                            Jesus will send the disciples in my name to preach the Gospel;

·                            you are my ambassadors, and you will be received by many; and

·                            which I shall regard and take notice of it. 

·                            If the people receive you, they receive Jesus and in turn will receive the Father. 

Matthew 10:40 "The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me. 

·                            Lord Jesus spoke this to comfort his disciples:

·                            he showed them that, although they should be rejected by many,

·                            they would be received by several; and that

·                            whoever received them will also be receive by the Father. 

One of You Will Betray Me 

John 13:21 After saying this, Jesus was deeply troubled in spirit and declared solemnly, "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, one of you is going to betray me!" 

·                            Think about this for a minute:  Judas, a professed friend, was about to betray him. 

·                            Jesus will therefore speak it out in terms not to be misunderstood.

·                            But how much it cost Him to do this, appears from the “trouble” that came over His “spirit” - visible emotion, no doubt - before He was able to say it. 

John 13:22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 

The disciples had no idea that Judas was the one who would betray Jesus. Matthew and Mark record that each of them began to ask, “Is it I?” 

·                            Interesting, we know the disciples were exceeding sorrowful 

Matthew 26:22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?" 

·                            The disciples began to ask among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing  

Luke 22:23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. 

·                            The disciples really had no idea who it was, no indication of outward general conduct, suspicion, who it could be.

·                            Interesting again, the disciples neither doubt the statement from Jesus and they ask, is it I, really not knowing what they should say, because they were at a loss.   

John 13:23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 

This is a reference to John, who never names himself. 

·      At this time people did not generally sit at a table to eat.

·      They reclined on the left side of a low platform, resting on the left elbow and eating with the right hand, their feet extended outward.

·      Reclining in such a way, a man’s head was near the bosom of the person on his left 

The Jews had adopted the Persian, Greek, and Roman custom of reclining at meals. 

John 13:24 So Simon Peter motioned to this disciples to ask Jesus about whom he was speaking. 

·      This shows Peter was not sitting next to Jesus.

·      Jesus was nearer to John, so he asks John to ask Jesus who was going to betray Him 

John 13:25 Leaning forward on Jesus' chest, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" 

So, John whispers or in low tone, asked in Jesus ear on who is going to betray him 

Notice 

John 13:26 Jesus answered, "He is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish." Then he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 

The Lord makes Judas His guest of honor by this gesture on the opposite side from John. 

·      Notice, Jesus answered John by whispering on who will betray him by his action,

·      for if Jesus had spoken out, the rest could not have been so ignorant about Christ,

·      I say, whispered to John, and told him by what sign he might know the person, and that it was he,. 

·      Then Jesus gave a piece of the bread soaked in the wine or the sauce of the dish to Judas;  

Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so." 

·      Thus the sign of Judas treason is now open to the disciples.