JOHN LESSON 38
We will begin this lesson in John 13:21.
V-21, "When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and
testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you
shall betray me."
This had to come as quite a shock to Jesus' disciples. They knew
that Jesus told the truth. Jesus was not troubled for Himself, but
for Judas Iscariot.
V-22, "Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom
he spake."
These disciples all knew each other well. They had worked with
Jesus together for over three years. Each was questioning within
himself which one it might be. Each was all hoping it was not him.
V-23, "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his
disciples, whom Jesus loved."
This is John speaking of himself. John loved Jesus so very much
that he wanted to be as near to Jesus as he could.
V-24, "Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask
who it should be of whom he spake."
V-25, "He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who
is it?"
Peter leans over to the disciple next to Jesus (John 21:20) and
asks him who it is that Jesus is talking about.
V-26, "Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when
I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to
Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon."
Jesus handed the sop to Judas. He said by handing him the sop
that it was Judas who would betray Him.
V-27, "And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus
unto him, That thou doest, do quickly."
Some people look at this and think that Judas had no choice, but
that is not so. Judas was a thief, and earlier Jesus said Judas was a
devil. Judas did not have to allow Satan to enter him. He had a free
will that he could have activated.
V-28, "Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this
unto him."
John and Peter might have not been included in the men at the
table. These two were hanging onto Jesus and probably heard what
Jesus said. They possibly didn't know why He said it, until later.
The others around the table for sure did not know.
V-29, "For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that
Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against
the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor."
They were probably very noisy around the table talking to each
other. There were thirteen people at the table. Those around the
table did not hear just exactly what Jesus said, they just knew that
He said something to Judas.
V-30, "He then having received the sop went immediately out: and
it was night."
Remember this whole betrayal, trial, and scourging took place in
the middle of the night.
V-31, "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the
Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him."
Jesus is speaking prophetically, here, that He will be glorified
when Judas betrays Him, and the Father will be glorified, as well.
V-32, "If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in
himself, and shall straightway glorify him."
The Father and the Son are glorified together. We would not see
the glory of the cross, but had there been no cross, we would not be
saved. Jesus lived in glorification in heaven, He left His home in
glory, He won the victory on the cross, and returned to glory. In so
doing, He made a way for us to be with Him in His glory. You see, not
only will He be God the Word which is glory enough, but He will be
King of kings and Lord of lords. To be glorified is to be elevated to
the highest. Not only is this glory for Jesus, but for the Father, as
well. Their plan for the people of the world has been completed.
V-33, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye
shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot
come; so now I say to you."
These little children, here, are Jesus' followers. He reminds
His followers that He is soon to depart this earth and go back to
heaven where He came from. Jesus has such great love for His
followers and His heart is heavy, because He knows they cannot
immediately follow Him to heaven. He, also, knows the terrible loss
they will feel when He is no longer with them.
V-34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
This is spoken to Jesus' eleven. He knew that some of them had
been a little jealous of each other, and that they were not all from
similar backgrounds, so they might have problems working together. To
stop all of this Jesus says, I give you a new commandment. This is
not a suggestion. It is a commandment. He did not stop with just
"love one another", either. He added, "as I have loved you". This
means to have unselfish love. Jesus' love for us was not because of
something we did, but in spite of what we did. He is really saying
love them even when they are unlovely. This is speaking of the
agape love.
V-35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another."
Jesus is saying here, that this great unselfish love for each
other would set them aside from the rest of the world, because the
people who are worldly do not know how to love like this. Jesus
(their leader) loved like this, and left a pattern of this kind of
love for them (and us) to follow. The greatest love anyone could have
would be to give his life for his fellowman, and that is just what
Jesus did.
V-36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou?
Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but
thou shalt follow me afterwards."
Peter does not understand what Jesus is saying here. He wants to
have the security of the Lord Jesus with him, even if he must go to
the death with Him. Peter is ready to fight for the Lord. He carries
a sword, you remember, with which he cuts off the ear of the soldier.
I think Peter's problem came when Jesus didn't fight back, but
submitted willingly to the death on the cross. I believe Peter would
have fought unto the death for Jesus had that been what Jesus wanted.
Peter just did not understand why Jesus wouldn't fight back.
V-37, "Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?
I will lay down my life for thy sake."
You see by this, Peter's willingness to fight. My view of Peter
is of a very strong man physically. He was a fisherman.
V-38, "Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my
sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till
thou has denied me thrice."
Peter was possibly one of the strongest apostles. He had said
earlier that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus
told him flesh and blood had not revealed that to him, but God.
Spiritually and physically, Peter was one of the strongest. This
prediction Jesus made about Peter would haunt him. It would leave an
indelible print in Peter's heart. The others will be strengthened in
their faith, as well, because Jesus told Peter this before it
happened.
John 38 Questions
1. In verse 21, what terrible news did Jesus have for the disciples?
2. How was Jesus' Spirit described as He had to bring this news?
3. What effect did this news have on the disciples?
4. In verse 23, who was leaning on Jesus' bosom?
5. Who leaned over on Jesus breast and asked who it was that would
betray Him?
6. In verse 26, what sign would Jesus give to show who the traitor
was?
7. When did Satan enter him?
8. What did Jesus tell Judas to do?
9. Why, probably, did the other disciples at the table not know what
Jesus said to Judas?
10. Why did some of them think that Jesus had sent Judas to buy
provisions?
11. What time of day did all this happen?
12. Who is glorified in all of this?
13. What endearing name did Jesus call His followers?
14. What message did Jesus bring when He called them by this endearing
name?
15. What was the new commandment Jesus gave them?
16. What kind of love is Jesus speaking of?
17. How will all men know that they are Jesus' disciples?
18. Who said, Lord, whither goest thou?
19. What was Jesus' answer to him?
20. What does the author believe was Peter's problem?
21. In verse 38, what question did Jesus ask Peter?
22. How many times would Peter deny Jesus?
Notes
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