It is Thursday night…Passover. Verse 13:1 sets the stage for this big event.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
Let’s try to get in Jesus’ shoes in these next few chapters. He has spent three years with these men teaching and guiding them. They are His friends. The phrases, “Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world” and “He loved them to the end” speak deeply to me. I can almost feel the conflicting emotions. The 100% man is leaving His dear friends. The 100% God is making a way for mankind to spend eternity with Him.
Before they have the Passover meal, Jesus takes on the role of a servant and washes His Disciples feet…even Judas. Imagine the stunned silence. Peter objects, but Jesus settles him down. In verses 10 Jesus hints at what is to come. John’s comment in 11 nails it down.
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not everyone was clean.
Jesus begins His final teaching to His disciples that will take us through chapter 17. Imagine knowing you are leaving your friends, and they simply don’t understand. You have words for them that will guide them when you are gone. What emotions would you be going through? How confused the disciples must have been.
Verses 12 to 17 are a clear definition of how Christians should care for one another.
12 When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Interestingly, John actually omits the blessing of the bread and wine that is covered in the other Gospels. In verse 18 He announces the betrayal that is about to take place by quoting Psalm 41:9, “He who shared my bread has turned against me.”
Then in verse 21 He gets more specific, “After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
What do you think is going through the minds of John and the others? What do you think Judas was thinking after Jesus said that? Because John was sitting next to Jesus. Peter signals to John to ask Jesus who He was talking about.
In verses 26 and 27 the answer comes. 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
Imagine what is going on in Jesus’ mind. Judas has been with Him for three years. Now He is telling Judas to do what he is about to do. Heart wrenching!
Verse 28 says, “But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.” Jesus clearly told John it was the one He gives bread to. Yet, no one understood. I have always felt that God hid the answer from their understanding, or they might have tried to stop Judas.
In verses 36 to 38 we see the prediction of Peter’s denial. It amazes me what God uses to bring us closer to Him.
36 Simon Peter asked Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for Me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times!
I am sure Peter was shocked at this statement and denied it to himself. Peter loves Jesus deeply. He cannot imagine denying Him…and yet he will. Jesus loves Peter but knows the truth of what will happen. I am sure emotions are high.
Christian Life Coach 