Jesus, His End is Near
John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
This morning we are continuing our study in the Gospel of John. In our passage last week, we saw Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. His conclusion in verse 17 is that we will be blessed if/when we serve others!
In that passage, Jesus told his disciples that not all of them were actually his disciples. In fact, he told them that one of them—his inner circle—would betray him.
Even though he was blunt, his disciples still did not understand what he was saying! Now, in our passage today, Jesus is not only going to speak bluntly, he is going to identify his betrayer, but the disciples are still not going to get it.
MEMORY VERSE: In our passage today, Jesus begins by telling his disciples the reason that he is telling them these things. Look at it, John 13:19
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.
When Peter, refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet, Jesus told them that not all of them were clean. As we begin this morning, let’s look back at that exchange between Jesus and Peter.
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
Did you catch verse 11, Jesus knew who was going to betray him! Completely aware that Judas could not be trusted. Jesus was completely aware that Judas was a thief (cf. v. 6).
Yet Jesus loved Judas and washed his feet with the rest of them. Even knowing what was going to happen, Jesus loved Judas!
QUESTION: If you knew that someone would betray you, could you love them? Many of us would say, “Yes, I could love them.”
Yet, maybe a bigger question is would you love them? Would you choose to love them despite knowing what that person is about to do? Jesus did.
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
Since the beginning of this chapter, Jesus told his disciples that not all of them were His true disciples (cf. Jn. 13:10).
Now He clearly states that He is not talking about all of His disciples! “I am not referring to all of you. . .”
He continues by saying He knows which of the disciples He has chosen.
John then shares with us a side note by telling us that this was said to fulfill the Scriptures. Then he quotes, “He who shared my bread has turned against me” (cf. Ps. 41:9).
Now we come to our Memory Verse for this week.
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.
Jesus lets them know that He is telling them all of this before it happens.
So when it does happen they will believe that “I am.” The NIV translates it that I am who I am.
The NET translates it that I am he. The NLT translates it that I Am the Messiah.
This is another one of those “I Am” statements that Jesus has made through the book of John (cf. Jn. 6:35; 8:12, 58; 10:9, 11; 11:25; 13:19; 14:6).
Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Jesus uses a “phrase” that signals that He is saying something important, “Very truly I tell you” (NIV), “Truly, truly” (NASB), or “I tell you the solemn truth” (NET).
Jesus is going to lay out a progression:
Whoever accepts the one Jesus sends (i.e. His followers) is accepting Jesus.
Whoever accepts Jesus is accepting the One (God the Father) who sent Him.
This is an amazing truth. You and I are to share with people the truth of Jesus so that they will accept our message. When they accept us and our message, they will end up accepting the truths about Jesus and ultimately about God the Father!
Jesus Drops a Bombshell!
Jesus Drops a Bombshell!
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
John tells us that when Jesus completed laying out the precious section, Jesus became very troubled (Gk. troubled, disturbed, stirred up, unsettled, agitated) in his spirit.
That’s when he dropped the bombshell! In fact, he uses the same phrase used back in v. 20 to indicate he is about to say something important.
One of them is going to betray him!
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.
When this bomb shell was dropped, the disciples still have no clue what to say.
They were at a loss and didn’t understand what he meant.
One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
John tells us that he (the one whom Jesus loved) was sitting next to Jesus (v. 23).
Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
So Peter gets John’s attention and tells him to ask Jesus who he is talking about (v. 24).
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
So, John leans back and asks Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” I wonder what they were going to do if Jesus actually identified the culprit.
Jesus’ Response to John’s Question
Jesus’ Response to John’s Question
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, the son of Simon Iscariot.
Jesus simply said that the one whom He would give this piece of bread after He dipped it in the dish (v. 26a).
This act was something that traditionally the host would have done for an honored guest. It was a sign of friendship—yet Jesus chooses to use this sign of friendship to identify the one who would betray Him. It should be noted that this kind of “honor” would have been done fairly early in the meal.
Then John tells us that Jesus dipped the bread into the bowel of stew and handed it to Judas Iscariot (v. 26b).
There is a key here, the disciples still did not realize that the culprit was actually Judas (cf. 28).
As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
When Judas received the sign of friendship with Jesus, John tells us that Satan entered into him (v. 27a).
Two key thoughts here. First, John has already told us that Judas was plotting and thus was already being influenced (or maybe “tempted”) by Satan. So this could represent Satan’s complete control of Judas to accomplish his complete betrayal.
Secondly, in order for this to take place, Judas must have been seated close to Jesus for Him to easily had the bead to Judas.
Question: How many times am I led astray by Satan when Jesus is trying to relate to me as “friend.” It is so easy for me to become sidetracked by all that the world has to offer that even when Jesus is trying to reach out to me as a loyal covenant friend, I end up betraying Him.
Jesus tells Judas that whatever he is going to do, he needs to do quickly (Gk. quickly, immediately, at once) (v. 27b).
The Disciples are Still in the Dark!
The Disciples are Still in the Dark!
But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
John clearly states that the disciples had no idea what what doing on (v. 28)!
Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.
When Judas got up and left, they assumed that he was going to get something that was needed for the Passover Celebration or that he was going out to give something to the poor (v. 29a).
Since Judas handled the money for the group, this would have been a somewhat logical conclusion, IF Jesus had not just given them the sign! The sign to identify His betrayer!
As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
As soon as (immediately after) Judas received the bread from Jesus, he left (v. 30a).
John gives us another time marker (it was night) (v. 30b).
So What?
So What?
I can’t imagine, what it would have been like to know Judas was going to betray Jesus. It’s probably a good thing that the disciples did not understand what was going on. The reality is they probably would have killed Judas, and interfered with God’s plan.
So, Jesus vailed the message so that they would not understand. God’s plan will prevail!
Did you catch that? God’s plan will prevail. The question is will it prevail with us or without us?
What is amazing to me is that God desires to use you and me! But here’s another amazing thought, Satan desires to use us too.
In our story today, God desired to use the disciples to fulfill His plan and purpose. And eleven of them will follow and fulfill His plan and purpose—and so will Jesus.
Judas, on the other hand, not only fulfilled Satan’s plan, but also fulfilled God’s plan. You see without Judas, Jesus may not have fallen into the hands of the Pharisees at the right time, in the right way, or according to God’s plan.
The question that each of us must answer is how willing are we to follow God and His plan even when it doesn’t make sense, or even when you don’t understand what is going to happen.
There is one thing that the disciples are going to learn: God is ALWAYS in control of His plan! And you and I cannot mess it up! Now that’s amazing!
So what?
What about you?
Are you willing to be an iatrical part of God’s plan?
He desires to use you! And He desires to use me!
Let’s find where God is working:
In our lives
In our friends
In our families
In our acquaintances
In our church
In our community
In our county
In our state
In our country
Today, I want to encourage each one of us to look around, see where God is working, and then join Him there!
