Man of Sorrows

Read

John 13:21–30 ESV

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Opening Prayer

Setting the Stage

John tells us once again that…

Jesus was troubled in his spirit

Last Sunday, in verse 18, Jesus quoted from Psalm 41 regarding one of the disciples betraying Him.

John has disclosed to us, his readers, who it is that will betray Jesus.

But, so far, the disciples have yet to discover that information.

In our passage this morning, more information is revealed to the disciples as to who it is that is going to betray Jesus.

And, if we look at Psalm 41, and reflect upon the story that is behind it…

I think we will gain needed insight into a few things:

The sufferings of our Lord.

The foreknowledge of our Lord.

The mindset of our Lord.

Often, young preachers will ask the great ones:

What books/systematics/commentaries they read.

How they go about studying a passage for a sermon.

How they handle difficulties in the ministry.

And, it is very helpful information to those who want to have excellence in what they do.

Well, I believe these truths of our Lord will help us in our Christian walk.

Help us to emulate our Lord in the way He carries out His ministry.

And, at the same time, encourage us in our failures because we rest in the finished work of Christ, who never failed.

So, turn to Psalm 41, if you’d like…

Psalm 41:1–13 ESV

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; 2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. 4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” 5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” 6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. 7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. 8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.” 9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them! 11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

David & Absolom

This psalm was written by David.

It is the final book of the first book of the psalter.

It was written regarding the time that Absalom, King David’s son, rose up against him and took over Jerusalem…

—> And, took over the throne.

Absalom, for quite some time, along with his allies, had been making David look bad to the people.

All the while making the people believe they would be better taken care of if Absalom was the King.

David writes the psalm in three sections:

The first section of of Psalm 41 King David recounts...

How one receives care from the Lord?

—> By being in a right relation with Him.

Psalm 1 tells us the state of blessing is by relating rightly to God.

Psalm 41 tells us this is expressed by relating rightly to people…

—> Specifically the poor.

The two cannot be separated.

If we relate rightly to God, and He cares for the poor…

Then we must & will care for the poor, as well.

The 1st and 2nd greatest commandments.

The summary laws of the Law of God.

If one is in a right relationship with God, then…

God will deliver you.

God will protect you.

God will not turn you over to your enemies.

The second section of Psalm 41 is King David recounting the suffering He endured during Absalom’s rebellion...

—> And, how prayer was a means of grace for Him.

All the betrayals that came about in this rebellion of David’s son.

And, how God was faithful to Him, and delivered Him from the suffering.

The third section of Psalm 41 is King David’s confidence in God’s pleasure towards those who belong to Him.

King David was reflecting/meditating on:

the forgiveness of God.

the salvation of God.

the eternality of God.

King David is rejoicing in God’s victory on behalf of David proven in David being delivered from his enemies.

But, I want us to, also, think about the suffering that David endured during this time of Absalom’s betrayal.

The Sufferings of David

King David was suffering the betrayal by a large amount of His people.

His nation, the seeming majority of the nation.

He was suffering the betrayal of his son, Absalom.

And, this betrayal seemed to be the greatest burden of David’s life.

You’ll remember as David is fleeing Jerusalem…

He was confronted by Ziba who informed David that Mephibosheth had betrayed David.

This ended up being false but at the time of its telling would have sunken the heart of David…

As, David had extended great grace and mercy to Mephibosheth.

Shimei the Benjaminite came out cursing David and throwing stones at Him…

Telling David he deserved what he was getting because he replaced Saul.

IOW, proclaiming David was an illegitimate King of Israel.

And, then a very hard stroke of suffering came to David as he ascended the Mount of Olives…

David was weeping, barefoot, with his head covered…

The news came that Ahithophel was one of the conspirators with Absalom.

Ahithophel was a trusted friend of David’s.

He was in the inner circle of David’s trusted counselors.

We’re even told in 2 Samuel 16 that Ahithophel’s counsel was so trusted that it was as if one had consulted the word of God.

A heart breaking stroke of news to fall upon David.

Psalm 41:9 ESV

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

The close friend…was Ahithophel.

All the kindness of David to him.

All the trust David had in Him.

And, rather than loyalty, Ahithophel responded like a bucking animal aiming to destroy its target.

And, just to note, after Ahithophel betrayed David and his advice wasn’t heeded by Absalom…

—> He hung himself.

King David suffered enemies from without and from within.

Now the first truth regarding our Lord…

The Sufferings of Christ

There’s no doubt that Psalm 41 is a Messianic psalm.

It was on Christ’s mind as He contemplated the treachery of Judas.

It was on His heart as He thought of the path that lay before Him.

Psalm 41, relates to Christ, in that:

Christ is the true and better David.

Christ is the Davidic Son in which God truly delights.

Christ is the Davidic Son that never sins and never loses the smile of God.

Christ is the Davidic Son that never needs forgiveness, but delivers forgiveness and all blessings for all who He brings into covenant with Him.

But, it also relates to Christ in that:

Christ is rejected by His nation, His own people.

Christ is plotted against to be destroyed by His nation.

Christ’s enemies are planning in secret to erase Him from the minds of the people.

Christ is not only betrayed from without, but from within.

And, all of this is weighing on His mind.

He is suffering in every way and direction.

Think about the weight that is upon Him.

Mentally, emotionally, at the core of His soul.

The second truth of our Lord

The Foreknowledge of Christ

Although David was caught unaware of the betrayal…

Jesus was not.

Jesus knew all along.

Even back in John 6 we are told by Jesus that one of His twelve chosen disciples is a devil…

Although Christ foreknew Judas’ betrayal…

—> He is nonetheless troubled in His spirit.

He is feeling the weight of His enemies closing in.

He is feeling the heaviness of what this betrayal will mean for Himself…

Truly, despised and rejected by men…

A man of sorrows…acquainted with grief.

Be sure, the Cross was a path of shame He endured for the joy that was at the end.

But, at the same time, Jesus knows the heaviness of what this betrayal will mean for Judas.

Jesus doesn’t take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked.

And this brings us to the third truth of our Lord…

The Mindset of Christ

His mindset is constant communion with God.

He finds His comfort in the Word of God, the promises of God.

Obviously, Psalm 41 is His current meditation.

And, as we’ve looked at Psalm 41 we see…

the comfort that One gains by relating to God rightly.

the deliverance God gives to the One who prays for it.

the delight God has to deliver those who trust in Him.

Regarding Christ:

Christ’s relationship with God is perfect.

Christ’s prayer life was impeccable.

Christ’s trust in His Father never wavered for a second.

He entrusted Himself constantly to the care & guidance of His Father.

Jesus takes comfort from the Word of God…

—> And, the character of His Father.

Now, with that background, we observe…

The Dinner Scene

U shape table set up

Couches or mats

Jesus as the host

John on His right

a seat of honor

Judas on the left

a seat of honor

and one that would enable Christ to give him the morsel without anyone even realizing it.

Peter was not in a seat of honor as he has to use sign language to message John to ask the question.

If Peter was in a seat of honor, and next to Christ he could have asked the question himself.

John, in his position, was able to just lean his head and he would be right next to Jesus’ with the ability to whisper the question…

And, Jesus would be able to whisper the answer back to John without anyone else hearing.

Jesus announces His foreknowledge of the betrayal.

He testified

This would have captured their attention.

As I’ve stated before…

This would prove to the disciples after the actual betrayal that Christ was not caught unaware.

That nothing can foil the plans and promises of God.

But, again this would have been a statement that would have frozen the heart of Judas.

Seized his thoughts.

Captivated his emotions.

“He knows,” thinks Judas.

Judas should have been thinking about all the kindnesses of Jesus towards him, such as…

“He knows my plans. Yet, He washed my feet. He gave me a seat of honor. He fed me bread. He’s been so kind to me.”

But rather, Judas thought, “I better get out of here before my evil plot is exposed to the whole group.”

Satan entered Judas, meaning Judas had committed to act upon the plan that Satan had already put into his heart to do.

Satan is having his way with Judas.

Jesus says to Judas…

“What you are going to do, do quickly.”

This is not Jesus seeking to hurry up or encourage a wicked act.

It’s more like Jesus is saying…

I desire to correct your path, Judas.

As God declares in…

Ezekiel 18:23 ESV

23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

But, Jesus continues…

If you will not heed my correction…

If you must carry out this wickedness…

And, I know that Satan has your heart.

Then, go and do your part.

I’m ready to do mine.

The disciples must have thought highly of Judas…

After all, he was the one carrying the money.

They thought Judas was sent to buy food.

Or give alms to the poor.

Which must have been something Jesus did often for it to be mentioned here.

Which again strikes our mind to…

Psalm 41:1 “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;”

But, being religious, even in the right place does not save.

Only faith in the person and work of Christ saves.

Only faith in the blood of Christ cleanses.

Only faith in the righteousness of Christ on your behalf makes one right with God.

And, Judas had none of these.

But, to the children of God…

Let’s think about this...

If you are suffering.

If you have been betrayed or hurt by another.

If you have been scorned.

If you have been mistreated.

If you have felt the sting of disloyalty.

Look to Christ as your sympathetic High Priest:

Look to Him for comfort.

He knows your pain.

Look to Him for guidance.

He traversed these very things without sin.

Look to Him for righteousness.

He grants His obedience to us, as if we’d traversed these things perfectly our self.

Seek to Meditate on God’s Word:

As Christ’s comforting word to you.

Filled with promises to His own.

Meditate upon your Lord’s ways.

See the perfection of His ways.

Imitate His obedience.

Knowing it is best for you.

Rest in His obedience as your righteousness.

Your record is one of failure.

But, in Christ it is a record that is forgiven.

In Christ, His record is yours.

John, in this passage, calls himself one loved by Jesus.

This is not a brag by John as to elevate himself above the others.

This was an awareness that being loved by Jesus is such a marvelous, gracious, merciful gift from Christ…

That we should never get over it.

This was John’s favorite label for Christians in his epistles.

If you are in Christ, you are loved by Christ.

—> And, nothing can separate us from that love.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Closing Prayer