John 13:18-38 (The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved)

Chapter 13 of John is a special Chapter

A)In it we see Man at his worst & weakest – But we see Christ at His Best – His Loveliest

B) We are still at the dinner table – where the sitting arrangement is intriguing.

C) Not sitting in High Back Chairs like Davinci Painted –

1) On the floor reclining – small table – lean back on one arm!

D) John is next to Jesus on the left – leaning up to his Chest –

1) Judas is on the right – which was the seat of Honor.

There we see the love of Jesus in all it’s radiance – on this very night – Judas will betray him – Jesus gives him the place of honor at the table

A)It is also amazing to note that as Jesus washed the Disciples feet that night Judas was there

B) Jesus washed the feet that night of the very man He knew was going to betray Him.

1) That my friends is amazing love –

C) If I knew that someone was going to betray me and turn on me – { Stay away

"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."

A)In v.18 Jesus is quoting here from Psa 41 when David was betrayed by his own son Absalom

B) “lifted up his heel” - Pterna, old word for heel, used only here in N.T.

C)The metaphor is that of kicking with the heel or tripping with the heel like a wrestler.

D)Q: Ever been “kicked” by a friend or someone you loved?

That is the worst kind of hurt – Judas had been with Jesus 3 yrs – Watched him heal

A)Power over demons – the sick – Nature

B) Judas himself had experienced the Power of God in his Life

1)Been used of God –

C)Notice Jesus reveals in v.21 He was troubled in his Spirit.

1) Even though He knew the plan – He was troubled – I believe because He loved Judas { Heart was troubled.

Now when Jesus reveals that one of them was going to betray him the response was interesting

A)V.22 Tells us they were perplexed by this – rightfully so – hard to fathom – be one of them

B) Now Matthew and Mark’s gospel reveals that the disciples all began to say is it I –

1) That what a shocker it was – so hard to conceive they asked – Am I the one

C) Note – Not one of them said – It is Judas

1)Guy with the Beady eyes

D) Judas was the Last guy they would suspect

Watch what happens next [

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. [John] 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him [Beckoned] to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

25 Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"

26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Now the act of giving someone a piece of bread after you had dipped it – Meant that you were honoring that person as a friend

A)So this is the third act of great kindness Jesus does on this night to the one who would betray Him.

B) Later in the garden when Judas comes with the soldiers – Matthew tells us – Jesus addressed Judas as Friend and asked – why have you come.

C) I believe the events of this whole night for Judas were leading up to that moment

1) Had He confessed – had He expressed his sorrow

D) Had He said – Master I have done a foolish thing I believe He would have been forgiven

1) And the arrest still could have happened

E) But Judas follows thru – with this plan that Satan put into his heart { No one suspected him

27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. { No one suspected him

30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

Note that last Phrase it was night. What a telling description. That is the way it always is for Judas it was night

A)Matthew puts it this way: Judas went his own way

B) Listen there is the potential in every single one of us to betray the Lord

1) Betray his trust { He makes us stewards

2) To betray his name with our actions

C) How does it happen – It happens when We go our own way and not His way.

D) That was Judas – He went his own way instead of God’s way –

1) This man who was about as close to Jesus as one could be – inner circle of the 12

Now lets shift from Judas to John – go back to his statement about himself in v.23

A)The Disciple whom Jesus loved – He is in that place of intimacy – head on the Chest of Jesus

B) John is right there – where we all can be and should be – listening to the heart beat of Jesus

C) Here is the thing – When John identifies himself as the one that Jesus loved

1) I don’t think it is his way of saying he was the favorite.

Remember John is writing a long time after the Crucifixion and Rez

A)He is reflecting back – considering his relationship with Christ – He is blown away by God’s Love

B) I believe that this is why He refers to himself in that way.

1) He is astounded – amazed that Jesus loved him at all.

C) Have you ever been there: Amazed astounded – taken back – Jesus loves me

1) After a moment of weakness – give into the flesh

D) Repent – sense – His love and forgiveness

1) Lord why me

E) He blesses you even though you don’t deserve it

1) Lord you are too much

Jesus didn’t play favorites

A)John was the teachers pet – He wasn’t the one that He loved the most

B) IN the same way – I have 3 kids – I couldn’t tell you which one I love the most –

1) I would give my life in an instant for each one of them.

C) I love each of them with an intense love – and for Different reasons – but mostly because they are mine

It is interesting in John 17 – His prayer Jesus says Lord these are the ones you have given me

A)He says Father you love them with the same love with which you loved me.

B) Think of that – the Love of God for you is on equal par with the Love He has for His Son – Jesus

1) This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased

C) God’s heart toward each one of us. – He loves us that much – Amazing

D) Why communion is so important – it is meant to remind us – This is how much God loves you.

Paul Prayed – Know the Height/ Width / Depth/ Length of God’s love that is beyond measure

A)Our need is to always be growing in our experience and understanding of that love.

B) Karl Barth – Jesus loves me this I know …. Tells me so

1) This I know is the greatest thing

C) Listen believe that tonight – and know that each morning we have the opportunity like John to approach him – sit at his feet – Head on His chest

D) We are welcome – He bids us to come.

1) Even tonight

So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.

Here at this Moment Jesus says now is the time – this are set in motion for the betrayal – arrest the Crucifixion –

But it is the very path thru which His glory is going to be revealed –

Seen in his love and Sacrifice

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. Interesting – it seems that Peter kind of Checks out here – What do you mean your leaving

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

A new Commandment –

A)New in measure –OLD Lev 19 – Love your neighbor as yourself

B) New Standard – Love one another as I have loved you

C) New result – by this all will know …..

V.36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?"

Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward."

37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake."

38 Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

This must have totally blew the rest of the disciples away – Peter Deny

A)Of all the disciples – Peter was the most bold and outspoken

B) He would be the last one they could imagine denying Jesus

C) Peter’s spirit was willing – His flesh was weak

Same thing is true of us – We can deny Christ

A)Not professing him when we should

B) Not standing up for him when we should

1) Not walking out of the theatre when his name is used in vain – swearing

C) LK 22 Jesus looked at Peter – Rooster Crowed

1) Not a look of I told you so – It is going to be ok

That is why I am going to the Cross

That is the blessed thing – All our Denials – all of our Failures are covered by the Cross

A)I don’t say that to give you a license to sin

B) But simple to say – when you sin – Cross paid for!

C) Rejoice – Rest – Know tonight – You are the disciple whom Jesus loves