John 13:18-30

Invocation

Psalm 97:1–12 (ESV)

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end, and amen.

Confession of Sin

Matthew 18:7–9 ESV

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

It is true that temptations to sin are necessary, but woe to the one who causes that temptation to sin. Here Jesus is addressing both those who cause others to sin, say as in when a superior causes and inferior to sin, and also the radical nature of repentance. We must make a complete and utter break with sin. Jesus teaches elsewhere, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. There is no such thing as half-measures in the kingdom of God. Do not trifle with sin, be killing sin, or it will be killing you. So, as we come to confess our sins silently this morning, consider the ways you have sinned, in thought, word, and deed. And the defiency of your repentance in dealing with those sins.

Old Testament Lesson

Psalm 69 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David. Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Pastoral Prayer

Father, although by reason of our sins and transgressions, we would have no reason for boldness to come before you this day. Yet, through the finished work of Christ on our behalf, you have forgiven our sins, and remembered not our transgressions, calling us to come boldly before you to plead for you to intercede. We want to see you revive us again, to see the hearts of fathers turned towards their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. We have taken for granted the cultural capitol that your church had in Christendom, and lament its loss in our society. We feel the disintegration of families, and churches, and our state everyday, as we collective move away from the truth and embrace the lie. We plead not only for personal repentance, but for our churches, and our nation, may we be turned back to worship you. To that end strengthen our witness before a watching world, and let us speak our testimony boldly: that Christ has overcome sin and death, bringing salvation to all peoples, to all who call on him by faith. One of the reasons our witness has been diminished is that we have not wanted to suffer reproach for the cause of Christ. So we have fallen silent when we should have spoke. Teach us to suffer well and patiently endure as we give testimony, calling the world to repent and turn to you. Although our lives may not be threatened by persecution, our brothers and sisters in other hostile countries do. Strengthen them to face death, and unimaginable hardship, knowing that vengeance belongs to you and you will repay. Give strength to Andrew and Megan Nairn in Japan, as they labor to evangelize through the arts a place that desperately needs a faithful gospel presence. Encourage them in the work, and supply their every need. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few raise men and women, to speak boldly for Christ, both here and abroad. Build up your Church, O Lord, for we know that the gates of hell will not prevail. Raise up from among us men called to ordained ministry, future elders and deacons to carry on the mission of Hope church to make known the good news of Jesus Christ in this valley. But not just our church, but all the faithful churches scattered throughout this valley—build them up as well, and fit them for faithful presence. Unless you build the house, we labor in vain. But our churches are made up of families, bless and strengthen our families, and guard from the assaults of the evil one. May our husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church, and our wives be submissive to their husbands in all things. May our children be nurtured in the faith, and may you grant to them your salvation so that they may carry on the faith strong in the next generation. And for those covenant children who have turned from you, bring them back, grant to them repentance that leads to life. For you have promised that you will be their God just as you are ours. Grant our hearts desire to see our children walking in the faith. And Father for those who are single, and content to be so, bless them in their singleness and make them more fruitful in good works then those with families. For those who desire marriage, give contentment in this season as they wait for you to provide for them a spouse and companion in their earthly sojourn. Father, as we all feel the pressure of our declining economy may our oil jars not run out—provide and meet our every need. Pray for sick, Bill Barnes, Continued healing for Ann Marie Wilkes. Make our finances stretch, and teach us to be wise stewards of what you have given to us. As we hear from your Word this morning may our hearts be wide open receive not only blessing, but also admonition. Prepare the soil of our heart to receive your word. Through Jesus Our Lord, Amen.

Offering

A Necessary Evil

John 13:18-30

Intro

The pain of betrayal cuts deep and lingers. Whether from a spouse or a close friend, betrayals often leave lasting scars. Public betrayals, such as those in de-conversion stories or scandals involving ministry leaders, can shake our faith. We may wonder, "If such a prominent figure could fall and betray Jesus, what hope is there for me?"

Jesus anticipated these doubts would trouble His disciples after His betrayal by one of the twelve became apparent. Thus, on the eve of His trial and crucifixion, Jesus addressed the reason for a betrayer among the disciples. He explained that Judas's betrayal, though influenced by Satan, was necessary and ultimately beneficial. It fulfilled the scriptures and betrayed Jesus so that afterward, His disciples would recognize Him as the Christ. Let's first consider why His betrayal was necessary.

It was necessary

Jesus had already mentioned that not everyone at the table was clean, nor is the idea of betrayer new. He has mentioned that there would be a traitor among them quite a few different times (Jn. 6:64, 70, 71; 12:4; 13:2, 11, 18ff.). But now the time has come for it to become a reality. At first glance, it may seem unnecessary that someone from within his own entourage should betray him. In fact, this may seem to some to cast aspersions on the whole operation. Which again, is precisely why Jesus tells us that His betrayal was necessary: to fulfill scripture.

We must not take that to mean that some random things were recorded in scripture which Jesus now must make sure happens. As if he is following some kind of script. You could easily substitute 'according to plan' and it would carry the same meaning. God had declared beforehand things that would in the future take place, so that when they did, His people would see that he is the God who knows the end from the beginning. There is a twofold reason for Jesus showing that this is necessary, ones apologetic and one is meant to encourage His disciples.

First, to prove that Judas’s betrayal does not undermine the work and ministry of Christ. Some of the Jews may have thought to themselves if one of Jesus' own disciples turned him over to the authorities, something must have been off with Jesus. No, the disciples could have said, 'He told us Judas would betray him even before he did. In fact, that was the plan from the beginning.' So Jesus repeated warning that one of His own would betray him would serve as an apologetic after it takes place, proving that it was always a part of the plan.

Second, this would have quelled the disciples' inner turmoil as they wrestled after the fact with the idea that Judas could have done such a thing. They needed to know that Jesus had everything under control, including the hour of His betrayal. For God had determined long ago through events in the life of David that the Christ would be betrayed in just the manner he was. God has a plan and as unpleasant as it was it was necessary that Jesus should be betrayed by Judas, by one of His own, one who had been with him from the beginning, who had seen the signs and was an eyewitness to Jesus and his ministry. These words would have come back to the disciples as Jesus saying don't worry, this was all part of the plan. They would desperately need that encouragement when left to their own. They would face trials and persecutions which would force them back on this simple confession: Christ is Lord, he has a plan, and everything is unfolding according to it. Central to that is the good of His church.

But Jesus is also teaching the disciples how to read their Bibles. He is showing them how to interpret events that were recorded in scripture Christologically. The scriptures are radically Christ-centered, meaning Jesus is the key that unlocks what was hidden, or in more scriptural terms, Jesus is the revelation of the mystery long concealed. Throughout the rest of the New Testament, the apostles interpret the OT in light of Christ. If you want to know how to read the OT, then just look at the places that the NT authors quote or allude to it, and follow the logic of their interpretations. Let’s practice with our text here in John 13.

Jesus quotes from Psalm 41:9. David laments, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.” Jesus says almost the exact same thing, but applies it to Judas, who at the instigation of Satan, but of his own freewill, would soon betray Jesus. David in the Psalm may be lamenting the bad council of his friend Ahithophel who had helped Absalom, David’s son, steal the heart of Israel, forcing David to flee. After the Lord frustrates the council of Ahithophel, he goes home, sets his house in order and hangs himself (2 Sam. 17:23)—very much like Judas will soon do. The hardship the Psalmist laments is the betrayal from someone close, someone he had shared his bread, someone who enjoyed the privilege of close personal friendship. Jesus is conscious he is fulfilling the pattern David laid down of a righteous sufferer who faced opposition from friend and foe alike.

Again, we see that Jesus’ own example provides encouragement for us when we face opposition, or are betrayed by friends that we to can join with Psalmist and suffer well. Knowing that God has a plan, which may include betrayal of friends, but which is always to be framed in light of His overall promise that all things work together for your good (Rom. 8:28).

It Was Beneficial (In the long run)

Jesus was the prophet, the one the Lord had promised Moses would come who would be like him. Israel would know this prophet by the veracity of his word. What he said would happen. This was a test of a true prophet. "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken" (Dt. 18:22). At times the Lord would foretell through the prophets events before they would happen, for the purpose of showcasing his sovereignty.

We see this in Isaiah 41 when the prophet calls Israel to consult their idols to see if they could tell them the things that would take place in the future.

"Set forth your case," says the LORD; "bring your proofs," says the King of Jacob. "Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods" (Is. 41:21-23).

No one, answers the Lord, and he continues by showing that he alone has declared what will take place hereafter. He says,

"The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, 'My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them'" (Is. 48:3-5).

God told Israel of future events because of their hard heart, so that when what he said came to pass they would remember his word and believe.

Which is exactly what Jesus says in verse 19. I am telling you now that one of you will betray me so that when it happens you will know that I am the prophet that the Lord promised to send Israel, the prophet like Moses..

However, the way this statement is phrased, Jesus makes it emphatic. That when it does take place you may believe that I Am, the I Am—that I Am He. This is one of the seven “I Am” statements in John’s gospel which identify Jesus with the covenant name of Yahweh, given to Moses in Ex. 3:14.

Jesus is greater than Moses since he is the Word of God made flesh, the logos-en-sarkos. He perfectly reveals the father, since he came from the father and was going back to him (Jn. 13:3). And when Jesus ascends to heaven and leaves his disciples to continue the work he committed to them they will see all the ways he fulfilled the scriptures, and all the ways his words came to pass just as he said, and their faith will be bolstered enabling them to continue to endure with steadfastness the many trials their faith will encounter.

The fact that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own serves to showcase the veracity of scripture pointing to Jesus as the true prophet and a better Moses. But make no mistake the betrayal was still diabolical, and Judas will still be held responsible for his actions. So let us consider that His betrayal was diabolical.

It Was Diabolical

At some point during the last supper, and Jesus' celebration of the Passover with His disciples, Jesus grows agitated over the fact that one of them would betray him. We see that although Jesus knows Judas will betray him, and that it is necessary and in the long run even beneficial for the faith of His disciples, it is still evil; it is still deeply unsettling. “Troubled in His spirit” Jesus Said, “one of you will betray me” (Jn. 13:21).

The disciples are puzzled as they look around the table. Who is it? Who will betray him they thought. Then Peter leans over to John, who Peter must have thought was Jesus’ favorite asking him to find out from Jesus who he is talking about. Which John does. Notice John is shy, he doesn’t write his name, describing himself as the one whom Jesus loves.

As an aside, this is the statement of a mature disciple who has followed Christ his whole life. One who has learned where his identity lies. Although he is a theologian, a pastor, teacher, revered by his congregations, and loved by many for his love and devotion. Yet, he sees himself only as one whom Jesus loves. Here is the secret to the Christian life. Here is one who has dispensed with all pride, has ceased his striving, and has learned to rest in Christ. Secure in the knowledge that he belongs to Jesus, so that all he needs to know is that he is one whom Jesus loves. “Karl Barth was at Rockefeller Chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago during his lecture tour of the U.S. in 1962. After his lecture, during the Q & A time, a student asked Barth if he could summarize his whole life’s work in theology in a sentence. Barth allegedly said something like, “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.””

Mature faith is a faith that can clearly see your identity as one whom Jesus loves. Who are you? Are you one who strives to make Jesus love me by knowing what is right, or by doing what is right? Are you one who is desperate to try to make Jesus love you by any means? Or are you one who knows that he does, and rests in it? Answering that question will change your life. I have used this quote from Luther before from the Heidelberg Disputation (1518), but it’s worth repeating.

The love of God does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to it…Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. Therefore sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.

You must know who you are, if you are ever to make any progress in the Christian life. You must know I am one whom Jesus loves. Now, obviously that’s tangential to the point Jesus is making, but I thought it worth mentioning, for we are reading this gospel so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, for that is John’s great aim in writing it. But it will not do if we do not also see how captured John was by the love of God.

So John, asks Jesus who it was that would betray him and Jesus says, “it is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it” (26). After he dips the bread, which may have been a mixture of bitter herbs for the Passover celebration, or else some wine, he gave the piece of bread to Judas. As soon as he did, Satan entered him, and Jesus told him, it would seem loud enough for all to hear, “what you are going to do, do quickly” (27). To which there is speculation amongst the disciple about what Jesus meant. Not fully understanding all that Jesus meant when he said that Judas would betray him.

Back in v. 2 we had read, “during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (13:2). There is no tension between that and what we read in v. 27 that Satan entered him. What we see is Satan’s influence on Judas to conceive and execute his betrayal of Jesus.

There are two things I want draw out from this before zooming out on the whole episode to make some application. First, Jesus, from first to last, from His coming to His going, is in control—nothing happens to Him that is not according to plan and right on time. Second, there is an enemy called Satan and we should be aware of his work.

We have already had ample opportunity to observe that in John’s gospel, Jesus is in control. But as things draw to a close for His earthly ministry, as His hour approaches, this becomes ever more clear. No doubt Judas has, at the instigation of Satan, been ruminating on betraying Jesus. But not until Jesus tells him to go and do it, does his initiative begin. Nor is Satan allowed to influence him to execute his betrayal until Jesus is ready. And this is important for the even Satan is God’s Satan. He is under the sovereign control of an omnipotent God. He made him, and although he allows him some authority, it is curtailed,

C. S. Lewis mentioned something profound in the preface to The Screwtape Letters:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. (Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, IX).

We must not fall into these errors. Today, with a true materialist on the run the strong gods are rushing back in to fill the void. The West today, I fear, is much like the parable Jesus told of the person cleansed of an unclean spirit, who upon return finds the house swept clean, goes and brings seven more of his friends. The enlightenment sought to disenchant the world, an impossible task, and now they are rushing back in after finding the house clean. The *re-*paganization of society will have us see the rise of demonic activity, for which Christians must be aware.

Demons are real, Satan is real, and there is all around us evidence that there is a war being waged between good and evil. It’s a spiritual war with physical implications. We know who wins, we even know how the battle is won. But what we may be tempted to forget is that we have a spiritual enemy who would love to sift your soul. In this text we see Satan’s influence on Judas is a total possession. Having never trusted in Christ, Judas proves that he belongs to the domain of darkness, and to the god of this world, who has blinded his eyes to keep him from seeing the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Such people Satan has mastery over. Not so with those who belong to Christ. And yet, as we will see shortly when Peter denies Jesus three times, the temptation to betray Jesus is something all Christians are susceptible to, and which can only come at the instigation of Satan. Who as Peter in his maturity reflected, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pe. 5:8). Who James teaches will flee when you resist him (Jas. 4:7). I’m going to spend much more time in the coming weeks looking at how we can be watchful and sober-minded to be on guard against the temptation to deny Jesus when we consider next week Jesus’ command to love, and His warning to Peter that he would deny him.

For now, I want to draw some of the threads of this text together in application.

Application

There is a warning here to Christians. Judas is our guy more than say a Caiaphas, or a Pilate. He had ample opportunity to trust in Christ. But it would seem he had other designs for him. Why? What were his motives? Maybe he is trying to force Jesus’ hand. It might have been that Judas saw all the amazing signs Jesus did, and having his own designs for what the kingdom of God should look like, thought that if provoked, Jesus might take the kingdom by force. He may have thought Jesus just needed the right opportunity and he was the one who would give it to him.

The Church is a mixed place. Baptists would have you think its possible to have a fully regenerate church, so they restrict baptism to only those who can make a profession of faith, but it would seem Jesus was not able to maintain this standard in His little church. Not only was Judas “one” of the twelve, he was the treasurer, and given that Jesus gave him this bit of bread, he may have been reclining at the table on his left hand, a place of honor. In other words, from the outside, he looked like he was in the inner ring with Jesus. But in reality, he was a devil. Paul’s warning in 1 Cor. 10 is a fitting reminder.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Also, while it was necessary that Jesus should be betrayed by one of His own, woe to that man who does betray him for he will bear his guilt. Again we see that we may not pit God’s sovereign action against man’s responsibility for his sin. As Jesus warns:

Matthew 18:7–9 (ESV) — 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

So be killing sin before it kills you. Be watchful, be sober-minded, Satan is looking for an opportunity to turn you against Jesus, and he is so subtle in his work that when you do it, you’ll think it is the wisest most sensible thing you have ever done.

Ultimately, we have learned that Jesus is in control, and nothing happens apart from His command. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, and the thrilling truth is, he loves you; he loves his own until the end. Which means if you are one whom Jesus loves, Satan’s attacks can only ever be for your good, and in the end must yield the fruit of a deeper abiding faith that can persevere until the end. Jesus, the true prophet, told of these things before they took place so that when they did, you would believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing you might have eternal life. Amen.

Lord’s Supper Meditation

You can see now why Paul recounts first that it was on the night when Jesus was betrayed that he took bread and broke it giving thanks. For it was the troubling events of that necessary occasion which set the stage for His eating meal with His disciples which he tells us in Luke’s gospel, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Lk 22:15–16). For that meal signified much more than any meal before, since it pictured for them the vicarious suffering he would shortly undergo to free them from sin and death and establish the kingdom of God. For the hour has now come for what at the beginning of his ministry was close at hand, namely the kingdom of God. It was His death on the cross that inaugurated the kingdom, ushering in the latter day’s age to come. Yet, looming in the background of this momentous institution is the betrayal of Judas, a necessary evil which simultaneously showcases the depths of depravity and the soaring heights of love. Jesus did not fence Judas out of the meal, but instead used the meal to condemn him by allowing him to go through with His diabolical plan. It is as if Jesus is showing Judas one last time that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and setting forth in these visible elements of bread and wine his death. Love and judgement on display. This table is for sinners who know their tendency to betray Jesus, to try to impose your will upon him. All sin is betrayal, but the difference with those who belong to Christ, is seen in the actions of Peter vs. Judas. Judas, as we will find out, in despair hung himself after he betrayed Jesus. While Peter let fear get the best of him and denied the Lord, was one of the first to go and examine the empty tomb on that glorious resurrection Sunday. The difference is Peter came back and acknowledged his guilt and shame, taking it to Christ. Not one of us here has not denied, or betrayed Christ by thought, word, or deed this past week. But you have confessed your sins, both privately and as His body the church. So if you see yourself as a sinner in need of grace, as one whom Jesus loves, then come and welcome to Jesus Christ.

Charge

Since it was necessary and, in the long run, beneficial, Judas, under the influence of Satan, fulfilled the scriptures by betraying Jesus, so that afterward His disciples would see that he was the Christ.