Don’t Lose Focus

Text: John 13:18-38

Introduction

My 5 year old, Henry, is not in full swing of asking the age old question, WHY DAD? I find myself giving the classic dad answer, “Because I told you to son.” I completely understand why my 5 year old is asking that. His mind is growing and he want to know learn knew things and map out sound logic.

You and I as believer’s in Christ ask the very same question to God. Even though never rebukes us for asking the “Why” question, He does insist that we not “be troubled” about the why, and simply focus our hearts His instructions.

Have you ever found it hard to just stay the course on what you know instead of getting discouraged and disheartened about what you don’t know or can’t seem to figure out? I have had moments like that through these past few weeks.

Jesus has finished demonstrating the happiest life they can live. Jesus willingly humbled himself in love to wash the Disciple’s feet. Jesus knew, what is getting ready to take place, leading up to and following His resurrection, they would need to each other’s loving care.

Jesus continues with this theme of helping them focus on what is most needed leading up to, during, and following His crucifixion. The Disciples are just like you and me, even though the most important thing is right in front of them, they get caught up with the peripherals.

You and I need to focus on the very same things Jesus instructed them to…

1) Focus On The Light Of Christ

A. Jesus knew who Judas would become

Verses 18-20

Judas was someone who never placed a trusting faith in Jesus.

John 6:70–71 “70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”

Judas was the one who had not been “bathed all over” — John 13:10–11 “10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”

He was quoting from Psalm 41:9 “9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

David probably refering to his couselor Ahithophel who turned traitor.

Both Ahithophel and Judas committed suicide by hanging themselves. Judas’ suicide was not necessary to fulfill prophecy about his betrayal.

Jesus knew this when selecting Judas to be one of the 12.

Jesus would later pray to the Father about those He kept — John 17:12 “12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

This does not mean Judas was predestined for hell, it simply means, Jesus knew that Judas was a piece of clay who would just respond with hardness when near the light.

Isn’t it amazing how someone can spend so long with Jesus yet die in the unbelief!

In spite of all that our Lord said about money, and all of His warning about covetousness, Judas continued to be a thief and steal from the treasury. In spite of all our Lord’s warning about unbelief, Judas persisted in his rejection. Jesus even washed Judas’ feet! Yet his hard heart did not yield. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 347–348.

B. The Disciples were consumed with doubt

Peter leaned over to John and said, “See if you can figure out who this doubter is.”

The only thing these men needed to focus on was examining their own hearts instead of judging everyone in the group.

As you will read in Luke’s writing, following the moment Judas leaves, the group begins to argue who is the greatest.

APP — How many times do fellow Christians spend more time taking about those who have sold out Jesus for lesser things, instead of just following the light of Christ?

APP — Every one of us fall into the trap of being inward focused just like the Disciples.

APP — If you and I were truly focused on the light of Christ, we would be thriving in our evangelism and showing compassion to those in our community.

C. Jesus was troubled about Judas’ betrayal

The time had come for Judas to step fully in to the darkness!

Just because Jesus knew what Judas was going to do and released him to do it, it does not mean it didn’t twist Jesus’ heart in two.

I believe Jesus spoke those words with tears in his eyes.

I believe Jesus witness Satan enter the inner man of Judas.

Jesus was in charge, but allowed Judas to fade into the darkness of his free choice.

Even though Judas was near the light, he entered the darkness.

John 8:12 “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

2) Focus On Loving One Another Like Jesus

Verses 31-35

A. Jesus prepared them for what was coming

What was going to happen to Christ would be the revelation of the glory of God.

John 12:23 “23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”

How does one glorify the Father? — John 17:4 “4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

a) The important thing was not to follow Him in His soon coming suffering and death.

Q — Did you parents ever tell you, “Don’t do what I just did, you are not ready for it”?

Jesus did not need a bunch of martyrs, he need ambassadors alive, encouraged, and experiencing love by their fellow brothers.

Jesus never said they would not be able to find Him. They would see Him after the resurrection and one day in glory.

Peter was insisting on following Jesus to the death.

Jesus said, “You stay put and do what I commanded you or you are hear a sound of deep regret (i.e. the sound of a rooster).

Many times we think of Peter following afar off as being a mistake in the sense that he should have been following closer (I have made that same mistake before).

Peter should have been with the other disciples practicing what Jesus said to do.

Peter would soon follow in Jesus steps, but it was not to be at this moment

John 21:18–19 “18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

2 Peter 1:12–15 “12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

b) They needed to focus on following His commandment to love one another like He did to them

The word love is used only twelve times in John 1–12, but in John 13–21 it is used forty-four times. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 349.

Not “new in time” but “new in experience.”

These men would certainly need this kind of love in the hours to follow.

Every one of these men would fail and the only thing that would bring them together would be the love of Christ.

This world leaves you battered and bruise, but the church should leave you healed, loved, and encouraged.

The church leader Tertullian (a.d. 155–220) quoted the pagans as saying of the Christians, “See how they love one another?” And how do we evidence that love? By doing what Jesus did: laying down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). And the way to start is by getting down and washing one another’s feet in sacrificial service. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 349.

Conclusion

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

Follow His command to love like Him,

Trust His plan