Potpourri in John 13
Jesus' emotion, Judas, Comical Peter, Soggy Bread, & The "New" Commandment
(If you want to focus on Judas in this passage today, which would be an appropriate desire, read That’s Your Problem or Light and Darkness.)
But there are some other interesting or notable things jumping out today:
John continues to demonstrate Jesus in deep emotion. We’ve seen it several times in the last three chapters. Today he is deeply disturbed. How does John know this? What is he trying to convey?
Why is the Judas story necessary? John, in particular, makes it out like Judas’ role is one of eternal significance. Why?
Peter is often kind of funny. But what about this scene…he leans back and tells another disciple to ask Jesus a question. Now that’s funny.
Why the piece of bread, Jesus? Why didn’t you just say it out loud? For real though, is there something going on here in handing Judas the bread as a means of signifying who’s doing the betrayal? What does it mean, in John, that “Satan” entered Judas at that very moment?
We really can’t miss the new commandment in this passage. It’s pivotal. It’s also not exactly new. But it is now the marker of God’s people - love. Whatever else has come before this as a signifier or marker or demarcation of God’s people - circumcision, the Law, etc. - is now superseded by love. When we interpret the character of God’s people in the Bible prior to Jesus, we need to remember this.
But note: it’s not simply any kind of love, but is the love observed between Christ’s disciples. Man…just think about those implications and that charge today. The world will know that we are his disciples by the way we love each other. This is good news, but also, thinking of the state of the Church today…ouch.
John 13:21-38
After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, “I assure you, one of you will betray me.”
His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at Jesus’ side. Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped into the bowl.” Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. Some thought that, since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, “Go, buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately. And it was night.
When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’
“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow me now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll give up my life for you.”
Jesus replied, “Will you give up your life for me? I assure you that you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.
Prayer
God,
Help us.
Help us immeasurably.
Help your people love each other.
Because the world is watching.
And the spotlight is bright.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.