The Gospel of John The Pain of Betrayal John 13:21-38 ONE TRUTH I CONSTANTLY RUN ACROSS in my practice is how frequently people are betrayed by the ones who are supposed to be the most trustworthy. The betrayers are parents, spouses, children, friends etc. And the pain can be devastating. In fac, in an effort to prevent being betrayed again, the victim isolates from people. They may even have what appears to be numerous friends but they actually don t allow anyone to get too close. But in the midst of this struggle there is also a truth. Christ understands the pain. He too was betrayed by those He should have been able to trust. The most heinous example was the betrayal by His own family. And his family heard went out to seize him, for they were saying, He is out of his mind. And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you. And he answered them, Who are my mother and my brothers? And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:21, 31 35 ESV) Jesus was betrayed by all the disciples. The most obvious is Judas. More on him in a moment. But equally He was betrayed by Peter, the only difference between the two being what they did with their sin. Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know the man. And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74 75 ESV). But keep in mind, previously all of the disciples betrayed Jesus in that they fled when He was taken prisoner in the garden. Then all the disciples left him and fled (Matthew 26:56 ESV). VIII The Upper Room Discourse Chapters 13-17 A. The Last Supper Chapter 13 2. Jesus warns of a Betrayer Verses 21-30 3. Jesus Presents a New Commandment Verses 31-38
Introduction: Being away last week it seems I lost track of where we were, so I unintentionally missed a few verses which I only realized after finishing up this lesson. Accordingly, I ll take a step back in time next week and return to the issue of servanthood. Meanwhile for this morning I ll move on a bit. We have a God who understand what it means to be betrayed. He can and does provide comfort. But at the same time He can command us to love and forgive because He does understand our pain. And really the entire HIStory of the human race is a story of how we have betrayed our Creator. As we consider how Jesus reacts to Judas betrayal, we also see what He requires from us in how we deal with one another, even those who betray, and what is to be our encouragement in the midst of pain. But we do need to step back for a moment and note that In the first part of this chapter we saw the beginnings of the Upper Room Discourse. It is introduced by three items. First we are told that Jesus had a clear understanding of from where He had come, from the Father; His purpose, going to the cross; and where He was going, to the Father. Second, Jesus knew that Satan through his instrument Judas was going to cause Him to be betrayed to His enemies which would lead to His death. Obviously Satan did not understand that in so doing he was actually being used to fulfill Christ s purpose. Third, Jesus demonstrated God s view of leadership. Jesus, rejecting the stereotype of master disciple relationship, washes the feet of His disciples. In so doing He models what He expected from them and from us in our service to Him and to one another. And parenthetically He notes that one of them would betray Him. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34 35 ESV). 2. Jesus warns of a Betrayer: The knowledge that Jesus was about to be betrayed was weighing very heavily on Him. The word here, tarasso, includes high levels of anxiety mixed with grief. This is an overwhelming emotion. Nor should we find it surprising that He is feeling this. Even knowing this was all consistent with the Father s plans and how it would all work out in the end did nothing to alleviate His pain and grief. When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled (John 11:33 ESV). Consequently, it was time to share this truth with the disciples, for a shared pain is easier to carry. The sense is that Jesus can no longer keep all this to Himself and is forced by the intensity of His emotions to let the disciples know what s going on. How did the disciples react? First they looked around wondering which one of the others it was. But then according to two of the Synoptics they reacted the same way we do when we see a Highway patrol car coming up behind us on the freeway! What did I do? Is it me? ) 316 (
he said, Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, Is it I, Lord? (Matthew 26:21 22 ESV). Vs. 23-25: It seems as if no one wants to ask the question out loud. Who is it? There is an interesting dynamic going on here. Peter, who is usually the spokesman for the group, is unwilling to ask directly. Instead he asks John to ask Jesus. John doesn t name himself. Instead he identifies the unique relationship he had with Jesus. He is the one Jesus loved. Is it surprising that from the cross Jesus gives John the responsibility of caring for Mary? Now consider the seating at the Passover table. It is this verse the was the basis for DaVinci s Last Supper. John would have been sitting on Jesus right, a place of honor. And Judas would have been on His left. Card notes speaking of Jesus response to John s question As a secret sign to John, Jesus says it is the one to whom he will hand the bread after dipping it in the Passover relish. This would indicate that Judas is sitting on Jesus immediate left. In Judaism this was referred to as the place of the intimate friend. There is a possibility that Jesus and Judas were far closer friends than any of the Gospels can bring themselves to say. 1 Speaking prophetically to these events, the psalmist notes Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me (Psalms 41:9 ESV). Vs. 26: I find it a bit difficult to follow the exact details of this interchange. Here in John it appears as if Jesus is quietly shows John that Judas was the betrayer. But the account of Mark provides us with additional information. Verse 27 in John may be the reconciliation of the two descriptions. At this point Jesus may have been speaking loudly. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, Is it I? He said to them, It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born. (Mark 14:18 21 ESV). So how does Judas react? First of all Jesus gives him a place of honor at His left hand. Next He dips the bread, probably part of the Passover celebration, and gives it to Judas. This would have been another honor. But instead of Judas heart being softened, he continues with the charade and hypocrisy. Judas, who would betray him, answered, Is it I, Rabbi? He said to him, You have said so. (Matthew 26:25 ESV). I not know what Judas expected from Jesus but not the statement that demonstrated Jesus knew it was he who was the betrayer. It was at this point that Judas could have turned it 1 Card, Michael, John: The Gospel of Wisdom, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 2014, p. 155-156. ) 317 (
around and repented of his actions. He could have acknowledged his sin and refused to betray Jesus. The fact that it had been prophesied that he would betray Jesus was the recognition of the truth of the betrayal. This didn t mean Judas didn t have the ability to turn away from his actions. The prophecy simply demonstrated he wouldn t. It is important to not that Jesus kept providing opportunities for Judas to draw back. Here He tells Judas that He knows what He is up to. Judas could have drawn back. And even in the Garden Jesus gives him another opportunity to step back from the edge of the cliff before he goes over. Think about what you are doing? And he came up to Jesus at once and said, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), Master! And he embraced Him and kissed Him with [pretended] warmth and devotion. Jesus said to him, Friend, for what are you here? (Matthew 26:49 50 AMP). Vs. 27: But John tells us that Judas had sold his soul to the devil, literally. The process of moving away from Christ culminates with Judas actually being possessed by Satan. This isn t the case of a weak disciple suddenly being taken over by Satan against his will. It is the downward spiral away from truth to believing Satan s lies. But even here God is in control. Get it over with. Dr. McGee gives an interesting analysis of this verse when he says Now Jesus asks him to leave quickly. Having made his decision, he is not beyond the control of God. In fact, having made his decision, he is compelled to cooperate with God. You see, the religious rulers didn t want to arrest Jesus and crucify Him while the crowds were there during the feast. They wanted to wait until the feast was over. But our Lord tells him to go now and do it quickly. So Judas must go out and tell the leaders that he has been found out, and they must move quickly. 2 Vs. 28-29: These are another example of a parenthetical remark. Now Jesus had said He was going to be betrayed by one of them. Peter asked John to ask Jesus and Jesus in turn gave John a hint. But when Jesus told Judas He that that Judas was the betrayer it is pretty obvious they didn t yet realize what was happening. In fact when Jesus told Judas leave the others speculated as to why Judas left. They speculated on a number of reasons, making a food run, help some poor, whatever. Clearly they weren t thinking clearly as one never left the Passover Service before it was over. Vs. 30: And so Judas left. And he left at night, that is in the darkness. It was night so there was physical darkness. But for Judas it was spiritual darkness as well. if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him (John 11:10 ESV). 3. Jesus Presents a New Commandment: I see verses 31-33 as a transition from the ugliness of Judas to Christ s command to those who are actually His disciples. Now, maybe for the first time, He can speak to the group as a whole. Yes eventually all will betray Him in one way or another. But they are also the ones who in the end stand for Him even unto death. 2 McGee, J. Vernon, John 2: The Gospels, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1991. ) 318 (
Jesus first statement is actually referring to the cross. Judas has left to take the steps that will lead to the cross. Things are quickly drawing to a close. And it is via the cross that both the Father and Son will be glorified. Notice the relationship going on here within the Triunity. God is glorified through Christ s sacrifice. God is glorified in Himself. And in God s glory Christ finds glory. This is the unique of being part of the Triunity. All that occurs is to the glory of God and consequently all persons of the Triunity are glorified, though here the focus in on the Father and Son because of the message of the cross. As I was preparing for this study I decided I wanted to give more time to this verse so next week we ll do a meditation on the glory of God. Vs. 33: But with the cross comes a time of parting. Jesus lovingly presents in no uncertain terms that He is going to His death and the disciples can t follow Him. There are two aspects to not being able to follow Him. First at the cross at this moment in space and time He is the only one who can go to provide propitiation for all our sins. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins (Romans 3:23 25 ESV). Second, while they couldn t go where Jesus was going now they would eventually be following Him as all but probably John would die a martyrs death. Here s what Jesus would later say to Peter. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) (John 21:18-19 ESV) Notice the pattern here. First Christ speaks of His betrayal and death. But He also makes it clear that everything happening is to the glory of the Father and Himself. So why does He give a new command, a command to love at this junction? Because all the darkness and pain has the potential to fracture the circle of disciples. Statically we find that when a couple loses a child the likelihood of the marriage ending in divorce is 80%. The pain and loss, the grief and blame, of self or the other person, the isolation is immensely destructive. And so with the disciples, Christ commands them to love one another. They are to become each others support system in the midst of their trials. And this need for communal love would carry forward to the ever growing and expanding as it faced persecution for following Jesus. How has the love of others carried you in the midst of the trials in your life? It was this love of one another, both in the midst of suffering and trials, and later in how believers within the church cared for one other that was one of the greatest testimonies to the reality of God in their midst. ) 319 (
Jesus specifically points out that this love is to be demonstrated by being modeled after His love. And how does Christ love us? Sacrificially even unto death. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 ESV). There was silence while the disciples contemplated what Jesus had said to them. But Peter, who can t stand a silence, has to speak for the group. He asks what they are all thinking, where is Jesus going. And apparently Peter does actually understand Jesus point because he asks why he can t follow Jesus no, even unto death. Then comes what may have been the most shocking thing Peter had ever heard. Jesus said he d betray Him. It was Peter after all! Conclusion: As I said earlier, we have a God who understands what it means to be betrayed. And when you struggle with trust because of the pain you have experienced in your past, God gets it. He is there, through the Spirit, to comfort and strengthen you. But at the same time we need to, in the midst of pain and grief, look at what Christ modeled. Bookended by the revelations that both Judas and Peter would betray Him, Jesus commanded that we are to deal with one another within the community of believers with love and forgiveness This is His requirement of us. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14 15 ESV). Tertullian writes that the Roman government was disturbed about the early church. Christians were increasing in number by leaps and bounds. Because they wouldn t take even a pinch of incense and put it before the image of the emperor, the Romans felt they might be disloyal. Spies went into the Christian gathering and came back with a report something like this: These Christians are very strange people. They meet together in an empty room to worship. They do not have an image. They speak of One by the name of Jesus, who is absent, but whom they seem to be expecting at any time. And my, how they love Him and how they love one another. Now if spies came from an atheistic government to see whether Christianity is genuine and they came to your church, what would be the verdict? Would they go back to report how these Christians love each other? 3 Let us pray they would. 3 Ibid. ) 320 (
The Gospel of John The Pain of Betrayal John 13:21-38 VIII The Upper Room Discourse Chapters 13-17 A. The Last Supper Chapter 13 2. Jesus warns of a Betrayer Verses 21-30 3. Jesus Presents a New Commandment Verses 31-38 Introduction: (Mark 3:21, 31 35; Matthew 26:74 75, 56; John 13:34 35) 2. Jesus warns of a Betrayer: (John 11:33, Matthew 26:21 22) Vs. 23-25: (Psalms 41:9)
Vs. 26: (Mark 14:18 21; Matthew 26:25, 26:49 50) Vs. 27: Vs. 28-29: Vs. 30: (John 11:10)
3. Jesus Presents a New Commandment: Vs. 33: (Romans 3:23 25; John 21:18-19; Romans 5:8) Conclusion: (Matthew 6:14 15) Personal Application: How have you experienced God s comfort in the midst of community? How can you provide this comfort to others? Prayer for the Week: Lord I can never thank You enough for Your willingness to provide for my justification, sanctification and glorification. In Christ s name, amen.