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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, The Last Supper, Part XI, John 13:18-22 - Lesson 119
Read Verses John 13:16,17, for review: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 13:18,19, I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
I speak not of you all, Judas.
This lesson in fellowship does not apply to you.
You say Lord, Lord but it is only words.
You do not do the will of my Father.
But you will do what you will do that the scripture may be fulfilled.
You do your own will, but my Father will use your will to fulfill his will.
Judas, you are the one that will fulfill the scripture of:
Psa 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Judas! The very heel that I have just washed along with your feet.
Disciples! I tell you before it come in order to help you believe that I am he.
I tell you because what will shortly come to pass will stagger your faith.
You will remember what I have told you and you will believe who I am.
The apostasy of Judas, one of you, will astound you and may cause you to stumble but I tell you ahead of the event in order to steady your faith.
The scripture will be fulfilled!
John 13:20,21, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
In spite of his announcement that one of those who eats with him shall betray him Jesus Christ encourages the disciples.
What a wonderful promise he gives to those that are sent!
Jesus Christ connects those who are sent, directly to the Father.
In this one verse he connects those whom he sends, to himself and also to the father.
He bolsters the disciples in this hour of betrayal by telling them that they represent the ultimate kingdom.
He reminds them that those whom he sends are ambassadors of the God of Heaven, the one who sent him.
Those who receive his sent ones are not only receiving them but they are receiving Christ and his Father.
What a reminder to us to be careful in our reception of God's servants.
Because when we receive God's servants or reject God's servants we are receiving Christ and God or rejecting Christ and God.
He is also saying in these words of encouragement:
Disciples, do not concern yourselves with a traitor amongst you, because my kingdom is assured.
Those who I send will be successful because they are sent by the same one who sent me.
The efforts of a traitor under the control of his father, the devil will not prevail.
Be not downhearted, disciples. Look not on the actions of men, remember who you represent!
This is that message that Christ leaves for all of his disciples. Remember who you serve!
John 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
Confusion dominated the table.
The testimony of Judas was such that no one suspected him to be the betrayer.
Every day that Judas attended to the bag and to the duties of the treasurer Jesus had treated him as a friend and a faithful follower.
Jesus Christ had not exhibited anything against him that revealed to the disciples what Judas was.
Jesus Christ bore with patience the traitor in his midst. |