Gospel of John - 11

Gospel of John – 11

John 13:1 – 14:31

Introduction

We now come to the primary shift in the Gospel of John. We have concluded the Book of Signs – 7 signs and 7 accompanying discourses. We now shift over to the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life. John is known, and unique, for his emphasis on this last several hours. He gives us far more detail about these moments than the other Gospel writers. Multiple events and teaching that are unique to John.

- Farewell Discourse (Upper Room Discourse) – chapters 13-17

- Passion Narrative – chapters 18-20

- Having been rejected by the Jews (chapter 12), Jesus now turns his attention to the New Covenant Community of faith. His first focus, before teaching them, is cleansing them.

o Literally – foot washing in 13:1-17

o Figuratively – removal of Judas in 13:18-30

John 13:1-17

- Incredible example of servanthood and humility.

- Symbolic of forgiveness of sins

- Foot washing was only done by lowest of slaves, Gentiles only. Done upon arrival at a place, never during the meal. But none of the disciples had done it. Getting ready to learn the lesson of a lifetime.

- V. 1 – loved his own…the 12. (Daniel…the Kingdom of God starts quite small)

o Loved them to the end…to the fullest extent

- V. 3 – given all things into his hands…authority

o Come from God and returning to God…origin and destination

o Knowing those things give confidence and security.

- V. 4 – outer garments…robe, symbolizing his rabbinical authority

- V. 6-7 – yet more physical misunderstanding…Jesus should never be doing this.

o Symbolic of spiritual cleanings, forgiveness of sins.

o V. 8 – no share with me…if not cleansed by Jesus, then not with Jesus.

- V. 10 – though cleansed by Jesus, still need daily cleansing

o Not reference to continued need of forgiveness (Roman Catholic)

o Hint at sanctification done by the Spirit

- V. 12 – put robe back on…about to teach, so has rabbinical authority

- V. 14 – wash one another’s feet

o Some take literally…multiple denominations/groups still wash feet

o Figurative…humbly serve

- V. 16 – not greater than master

o Messenger – Apostolos – these men will become Apostles

- V. 17 – blessed if you do them…not if you know them. Blessing comes by doing.

John 13:18-30

- V. 18 – chosen…not in salvation sense, but as apostles.

o Quotes Psalm 41:9

o Referring to incident in 2 Samuel 16…priest Ahithophel gives supposed godly counsel to David’s son Absalom in his rebellion. (2 Samuel 16:23)

o Raises his heel…means he is moving to act

§ ILL – in baseball, taught to watch the pitcher’s heel when on 1st base…if he lifts his heel, he’s coming after you.

- V. 19 – does take place…divine foreknowledge

o I am He…absolute I Am statement…claim of deity

- V. 20 – one I send – apostles

o Applies to believers today…if they receive us, they receive him

o ‘receive’ – lambano – implies accepting of salvation

§ 1:12; 3:32-33; 5:43; 12:48

§ Luke 18:17; Romans 3:21-25a

- V. 21 – Psalm 55:1-14

- V. 22 – uncertain…clueless that it was Judas

o This is how good people are at religious deception

o Day of Judgment will bear this out – Matthew 7

- V. 23 – first reference to John as disciple whom Jesus loved

o Reclining…laid down at dinners

- V. 27 – Judas is called a devil in 6:70-71

o Satan influences him in 13:2

o Satan occupies him in 13:27

- V. 30 – it was night…realm of sin and death

o Luke 22:53

John 13:31-38

- V. 31-32 – echoes Isaiah 49:3, God will be glorified among his people…Servant Song

- V. 34-35 – finds its origin in Love God and Love Neighbor

o As I have loved you…love of Jesus sets new standard

§ Even enemies – Matthew 5:43-48

John 14:1-14

- v.1 – believe in God – imperative mood – command

- v. 2-3 – Father’s house – Heaven

o many rooms – lit. dwelling places

- v. 6 – Way, Truth, Life…Predicate I Am statement

o Way…fulfills OT imagery of exclusiveness of access to God

§ Curtain separating from God’s presence (Exodus 26:33)

§ Only Levitical High Priest could enter (Lev. 16)

§ No human inventions could get to God (Lev. 10:2)

§ Choice of Aaron alone to represent Israel before God (Numbers 17:5)

§ Acts 4:12

o Truth

§ Reveals true God

§ 1:14,17; 5:33; 18:37

o Life

§ 11:25-26

§ Has life in himself – 1:4; 5:26

§ Gives life to all who believe – 3:16

- V. 8-11 – Philip asks for a vision of God

o Moses asked and received a partial vision – Exodus 33

o Isaiah did in Isaiah 6

§ Jesus is fulfillment of all these.

§ He is the true vision of God

§ Purpose of coming is to reveal the Father – 1:14,18

- V. 10 – mutual indwelling – Perichoresis

- V. 11 – at least believe in the works, what you see with your own eyes

- V. 12 – works – signs plus all other activities. General shorthand for his entire ministry.

o Greater works…referring to entire ministry of the entire church through history

o Greater, not in quality, but in scope.

- V. 13-14 – in my name…not just how you let people know you’re done praying

o Means to pray consistent with his character and will…why he guarantees to answer

o Effective prayer asks for and desires what Jesus delights in

John 14:15-30

- V. 15 – echoes Deuteronomic covenant – Love=obedience

o Deut. 5:10; 6:5-6; 7:9; 10:12-13; 11:13,22

- V. 16-17 – Spirit of truth – gives truth and guides to truth

o Helper – Advocate (paraclete)

o With you and will be in you…Pentecost Acts 2

o Promise of presence is Trinitarian

§ Spirit – v. 15-17

§ Son – v. 18-21

§ Father – v. 22-24

- V. 18 – reference to post-resurrection appearances

o Precise distinction between Jesus and the Spirit

- V. 22-23 – manifest by dwelling with us

o Home – same word as v. 2 – dwelling place

o God lives with us in preparation for us to live with God

- V. 24 – words from the Father…not empty promises, putting God on hook…God validates

- V. 26 – ‘he’ will teach you…Spirit is neuter noun, pronoun is masculine…this is why we do not refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘it.’

o Bring to remembrance…general to all

§ Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16,18

o Specific to Apostles…writers of Scripture

§ 2 Peter 1:21

- V. 27 – peace…not absence of conflict, but presence of wholeness…even in midst of conflict

- V. 28 – greater than I…imminent v. economic Trinity

o Father sends and commands…authority

- V. 30 – ruler of this world…those outside of Christ are not autonomous…serve Satan

o Satan in coming…in Judas and those with him

o But has no claim on Jesus…Jesus not in submission to Satan

- V. 31 – in submission to his Father and Father’s plan

o God is sovereign, orchestrating all this, even Satan’s activities

Application

- How can you humbly serve those in your life (spouse, kids, friends, church)?

- Did not know it was Judas…are you religiously deceptive?

- Disciple whom Jesus loved…do you feel like that? (Hershael York…God’s spoiled child)

- Do you truly love one another…in the church? Witness to the world.

- Do your prayers reflect the character and will of Jesus?

- Are you obeying Jesus? If not…don’t love him.

- Do you have hope of eternal dwelling with God? Experiencing that now?

- Are you letting Holy Spirit lead you to truth? In the bible.