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Staying Close to Christ, Part VII John 13:23-30
God in chapter 13 of the Gospel of John gives us a glimpse of the last supper of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
There are not many details given regarding how this took place, especially the order of the seating of the disciples with the exception of John who was seated next to Jesus Christ most likely on Christ’s right side.
But this supper has been imagined by artists down through the centuries and the most notable artist who painted this scene was Leonardo da Vinci.
His painting, called The Last Supper, one of the world’s most famous paintings, is a late 15th-century mural located in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy.
The work is presumed to have been commenced around 1495 and was commissioned as part of a scheme of renovations to the church and its convent buildings by Leonardo's patron Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
The painting represents the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, as it is told in the Gospel of John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Leonardo has depicted the consternation that occurred among the Twelve Disciples when Jesus announced that one of them would betray him.
The Last Supper measures 180” × 350” (15’x 23.33’)and covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
The theme was a traditional one for refectories, although the room was not a refectory at the time that Leonardo painted it.
The main church building had only recently been completed (in 1498), but was remodeled to build a Sforza family mausoleum with the painting as the centerpiece of the mausoleum.
This is a velvet rendition of da Vinci’s Last Supper that my son Erik painted in the 1970’s following preprinted lines on the velvet.
The lunettes above the main painting, formed by the triple arched ceiling of the refectory, are painted with Sforza coats-of-arms.
Leonardo began work on The Last Supper in 1495 and completed it in 1498—he did not work on the painting continuously.
One story goes that a Prior from the monastery complained to Leonardo about the delay, enraging him.
He wrote to the head of the monastery, explaining he had been struggling to find the perfect villainous face for Judas, and that if he could not find a face corresponding with what he had in mind, he would use the features of the Prior who complained.
The Last Supper specifically portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him.
All twelve apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock.
The apostles are identified from a manuscript of Leonardo da Vinci with their names from left to right:
Judas is wearing green and blue and is in shadow, looking rather withdrawn and taken aback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He is clutching a small bag, perhaps signifying the silver given to him as payment to betray Jesus, or perhaps a reference to his role within the 12 disciples as treasurer. He is also tipping over the salt cellar. This may be related to the near-Eastern expression to "betray the salt" meaning to betray one's Master. He is the only person to have his elbow on the table and his head is also horizontally the lowest of anyone in the painting. Peter looks angry and is holding a knife pointed away from Christ, perhaps foreshadowing his violent reaction in Gethsemane during Jesus' arrest. The youngest apostle, John, appears to swoon.
The painting contains several references to the number 3, which represents the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. The Apostles are seated in groupings of three; there are three windows behind Jesus; and the shape of Jesus' figure resembles a triangle. As with most artists da Vinci uses artistic freedom to depict this scene for most of it is imagined and without Biblical support.
So what does the Bible say?
John 13:23-26, Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
This is the first of five occasions where John refers to the disciple "whom Jesus loved."
He refers to he "whom Jesus loved" here in the upper room, at the cross of Jesus, at the empty tomb, and at the lake of Tiberias.
This is the same disciple referred to in John 21:24, which says: This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Whom Jesus loved, is John, the writer of this Gospel.
This spiritual closeness to the Lord was expressed physically by John who reclined next to Christ at supper, most likely on his left side leaving his right arm and hands free for eating.
To make room for the twelve around a common table each would perhaps lean near or touch the man to his left.
Christ on John's left and John on Christ's right with John leaning on Christ's bosom.
From Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible this explanation is given Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom,.... Not pressing upon that part of Christ's body, which would have been irreverent in John, and troublesome to Christ; but leaning at table upon his bed or couch, on which he lay; and which was next to, and just before Christ; so that he was very near unto, and seemed to lie in the bosom of Christ; as such are said to do, who sit next at table to another. This lying down was not on their backs, nor on their right side, but on their left; for they say that is because they have need of the right hand to eat with. The form in which Christ and his disciples sat or lay at table, we may conceive was this: a table was placed in the middle and as many beds or couches round it, as there were persons; Christ the principal and most worthy person lay first, with his head toward the table, his face somewhat turned from it, leaning on his left elbow upon the couch; in this posture lay Jesus, upon the first couch; in the same posture lay John, in the next to him, and just before him; the hinder part of his head being towards, and near the breast and bosom of Jesus; whence he is said to lean upon it: now to lie next to the principal person, was a very great honour, as well as a mark of great affection; and for John to lie next to Jesus, and as it were to lean on his bosom, showed how much he was respected and honoured by him; and therefore John modestly conceals his name, and only says, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved; Christ, as the Son of God, and surety of his people, loved his true disciples, as he does all his elect, alike; not one more than the other; but as man, he had a particular affection for this disciple, and therefore admitted him near his person, and was very familiar with him. So at this gathering in verse 22 we are told:
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
And verse 24, Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
The word beckoned is from a Greek word meaning to nod or signal.
Since Peter did not speak it appears he was some distance away and other disciples were between him and John. (Da Vinci shows them conversing)
So he motioned or signaled John to find of whom the Lord was speaking.
So John, because of his physical closeness to Jesus Christ, leaned back on Christ's breast and whispered in his ear, Lord, who is it?
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
It is apparent from verse 28 that he spoke this privately to John and not to all the disciples.
So even at these last minutes of Christ's ministry to Judas he shows favor to him by giving him a piece of bread dipped in a tasty sauce, perhaps of dates, raisins, and sour wine.
It was a final act of kindness to the traitor before he gave himself to Satan.
It was a final act by Grace himself to appeal to the heart of Judas.
No doubt the disciples as they watched this scene, would not understand that this honor to Judas was Christ's way of appealing one last time to Judas and also pointing out the traitor to John.
Because of this act of kindness they probably eliminated him from any consideration as the betrayer of Jesus Christ.
But instead of being drawn to Christ it cemented his resolve against Christ.
Perhaps by this act he became convinced that Jesus did not know he was the betrayer.
Perhaps Judas thought, "Why would he honor me if he knew my heart?
If he were the Messiah he would not honor me. He must be a fake.
John 13:27, And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Judas had now prepared himself for Satan for he has totally rejected the Savior’s appeal.
At this point God allows Satan to enter into Judas because Judas has given himself to be the willing instrument of Satan and he is now possessed by the evil one.
By his will he has given himself over to Satan.
So instead of looking into the eyes of Judas, Jesus now looks into the eyes of Satan and says to Satan:
That thou doest, do quickly.
Judas you are no longer savable.
You are no longer one of the twelve, you are dismissed, you are a reprobate.
Your heart demands to show itself, I allow you the opportunity.
Your evil is of such intensity that you must express it in outward acts.
As you are now fully determined to do evil then go and do it quickly.
Go on and do it; there need be no delay; it needs to be done this very night and I am ready for it all for my hour has come.
That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:28, Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
Jesus had said to all in the group, one of you shall betray me.
By his giving the sop to Judas he identified the traitor but only to John.
This was private communication as shown by Peter's motioning to John to find out who Jesus meant.
Jesus now tells Judas to do something quickly.
Another gift to Judas by Jesus Christ.
Staying around disciples who soon would know who the betrayer was would not be a comfortable place to be.
Jesus also had no desire to give the disciples opportunity to interfere with the mission of Judas.
The disciples all heard "That thou doest, do quickly" but no one of them, not even John knew what this meant.
Only Jesus and Judas knew what was to come.
None of the disciples could have imagined how fast events would occur concerning the errand that Judas was now embarked upon.
John 13:29-30, For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
John records that it was night.
A perfect time for Judas to carry out his evil deed for men love darkness so evil deeds can be done outside the light.
Judas spurns the light and walks out of the comfort of fellowship with Jesus Christ and his disciples.
He had walked with this little band for three years keeping the bag as the treasurer.
The disciples assumed he was about his duties, perhaps to buy supplies for the feast or as an offering for the feast giving alms to the poor.
But Judas was not about to follow light.
He was about to go into outer darkness, for when light is rejected only darkness is left.
There are no other options.
So like Cain he went out from the presence of the Lord.
Like Balaam he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and he went to betray his familiar friend. And it was all within the will of God! |