Betrayal and Love

Hello, I know it's been awhile, but I pray there are still some out there who might still drop by if so welcome back. For you just finding this blog welcome to one of the least followed blogs around :-). I have been post a study of John based on my sermons, tonight I am finishing out chapter 13.

(vs. 2) During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,; (vs. 11) For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." ; (vs. 18) "I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, "HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' All through the first 20 verses of this chapter you see reference to Judas' betrayal of Christ Jesus. As we move into verses 21-30 of chapter 13 you see Christ Jesus once more predicting His betrayal at the hands of Judas. Then with Judas gone Christ Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment, a commandment of love.

Greek philosophers stressed always remaining tranquil and untroubled in spirit, but not everyone in antiquity shared this value. Although John's Gospel stresses Christ Jesus' deity, it also stresses and frequently illustrates His humanity. Verse 21 is one of those verses, John writes here of Christ Jesus being troubled in spirit. But why was our Lord and Saviour troubled?

John 13:21-38
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

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 Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

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? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

1. The Treachery of Judas is Foretold (vs. 21-30)

Christ Jesus had often spoken of His own sufferings and death, without the troubled spirit He now had when he spoke of Judas. He had “lost” Judas and was painfully aware of His destiny. Christ Jesus now was facing Satan in the presence of death. Earlier He had spoken generally of the betrayer. Now He becomes specific, “One of you will betray Me” (v. 21). 

It was a solemn, frightening moment for the disciples. There are only twelve possibilities. A shiver of perplexed fear ran through the little group as they “look at one another” (v. 22). Peter, who was apparently some distance away, encouraged John, who was right next to Christ Jesus with a nod to ask Him, “Lord, who is it?” Christ Jesus then replied, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it” (v. 26). But the disciples still did not know what was going on.

If John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) sat on one side of Christ Jesus, Judas must have been on the other. Just after Christ Jesus dipped the bread He was able to hand it to Judas. Even a person who seems close to the Lord may be lost. 

Was this love’s last appeal? Was Christ Jesus reaching out to Judas as a friend? It must have been a long, intense moment of struggle when Christ Jesus gave Judas the bread. The stakes were so high. You have to wonder if Judas could even look Christ Jesus’ in the eye.A host giving a piece of bread to a guest was a sign of friendship. How ironic that Christ Jesus' act of friendship to Judas signaled Judas' betrayal of that friendship.

The sins of Christians are a cause of grief to Christ Jesus. Now, before we start pointing our accusing fingers at Judas: his treachery could well apply to all who receive God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. Think about the one, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away it's authority and destroy it's influence. Or the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not govern themselves by them.

How about the one, who turns away from Christ Jesus because they get their feelings hurt or some such as that. Like Judas, mankind, sustained by God's grace, after eating bread with Him, still lifts up their heel against Him! What is your relationship with God like this morning? Do you claim to be a Christian, but your actions say other wise?

Pete Rose, one-time star of baseball's Cincinnati Reds, holding the record for most hits by a player: 4,256. He is better remembered, though, for his style of play. On every pitch Rose gave 110%, no matter whether his team was winning or losing by ten runs, or whether it was the World Series or the preseason. Pete Rose's nickname was Charlie Hustle.

Rose's son, Pete Rose Jr., played on a minor league baseball team, the South Bend Silver Hawks. One of the owners of the team, Stuart N. Robinson, told Sports Illustrated, “Last year I saw Big Pete....I fell in step with him, identified myself and my South Bend connection, and gave Big Pete my observations of Pete Jr. He never looked at me, or smiled, or broke stride. All he said was, “Did he hustle?”

We learn a lot about the father by what he looks for in his children. Our heavenly Father asked one question about His children: Are they walking in love? By that question we see the values of God Himself.

2. Christ Commands the Disciples to Love One Another (vs. 31-35)

With Judas’ departure, the little band was purged of that evil element. The hour of Christ Jesus’ glory has now come!

Christ Jesus had been glorified in the many miracles He had done, yet He now He spoke of His being glorified in His sufferings. Christ Jesus referred to Himself for the last time in this Gospel as the “Son of Man,” identifying Himself as the “suffering servant” of Isaiah 53:1–3. 

Christ Jesus also gave glory to God who has been at the center of His’ life and mission (John 2:11; 11:4; 17:4; 17:10). Through Christ Jesus' obedience, God the Father has glorified the Son. The glory of Christ Jesus which has been with the Father in eternity had been revealed in His earthly ministry. That glory would revel all it's power in Christ Jesus' death, Resurrection and His return to the Father. It is glory past, present, and future!

Christ Jesus was tenderly preparing the disciples for His departure which would take place shortly. They would seek for Him in pain and wonder after He was gone. But they would not be able to go where He was going, yet. This was a journey Christ Jesus had to make alone! 

Earlier He had made it clear to the Jews that their unbelief had barred the door so they could never join Him. But for His disciples and all who except Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour the door is open. Christ Jesus did returned to these men after the resurrection and He will return for you, me and all of His children someday.

That night, before Christ Jesus was to leave His disciples, He give them a new commandment. They were to love each other for His sake. The distinguishing mark of discipleship is not programs or signs, wonders or eloquence or ecclesiastical power, but Christ Jesus' love in us that allows us to love one another. This does not mean we as Christians become a self-centered, ingrown cliques or Country Clubs. That might happen if you love as the world loves, but not if you love as Christ Jesus loves.

The world will always have Christ Jesus in front of them and they will always have to deal with Him if we love one another as He has loved us. “that you love one another; as I have loved you” (v. 34). This was not an optional extra thrown in, but a command to be obeyed. The Old Testament had commanded love: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” Lev 19:18.

Christ Jesus' commandment of love is new because it is based on a new covenant sealed with these disciples in Christ Jesus' own blood. The old command, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” was based on Mosaic Law, not on grace. This love is a gift shared freely by Christ Jesus. He is the only Source of a Love that needs no other motivation. Do you abide in His love? Have you really felt the love that Christ Jesus offers? It is a love like no other and you can experience it this morning, by believing and excepting Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Treachery, a new commandment, hate and love it sounds a lot like a movie or book. Now add to that mix, misunderstanding and hollow boasting and you have vs. 36-38.

3. Peter Missed the Point (vs. 36-38)

You gotta wonders if Peter heard this radical command of Christ Jesus. Or was he was still pondering over where His Lord was going when He left? So Peter jumps in with both feet: 
“Lord where are you going?” 

 Christ Jesus, “Away”

Peter, “I want to go.” 

Christ Jesus, “Not just yet.”

Peter, “But, why not?” 

Christ Jesus, “Not now, but later on you can, and will join me. Just not now” 

Peter, who did not understand, insisted that he would lay down his life for Christ Jesus’ sake (v. 37). Peter still did not realize that Christ Jesus had to lay down His life for him. 

It is difficult to imagine that Peter could have been prepared for what Christ Jesus said next. Talk about a gut punch that takes your breath away. Peter was told that instead of giving his life for Christ Jesus, he was going to deny his Lord and Master, not once, not twice, but three times. So, here's Peter, he goes from boasting that he will lay down his life for Christ Jesus to denying Him three times in just a matter of hours. 

Christ Jesus knows you better than know yourself, you can fool others and maybe even yourself when it comes to your walk with Him. But know this, Christ Jesus will not be fooled.

Conclusion: When a new love enters your heart, it can drive out old stagnate feelings, even attraction for things that would do you harm. God's love does that for you. And when you do as Christ Jesus commands, others will notice that you are His disciple, cleansed and changed by the power of His blood shed for you.

If you have not experienced the love of Christ Jesus, if you have not experienced the cleansing power of His blood, I pray you do so now.