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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 176

A deep sense of sorrow

Text: John 13 : 1 - 20

A DEEP SENSE OF SORROW

As Jesus taught His Disciples, He felt a deep sense of sorrow in His heart. He had taught ALL His disciples precious lessons of faith and life. However, there was one among His Disciples who would not learn this lesson. Truth to tell, he had never learned anything much. Sadly, Jesus said,

“I do not speak concerning all of you.
I know whom I have chosen;
but that the Scripture may be fulfilled.
‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel
against Me.'”
John 13:18

How clearly Jesus must have remembered the day when He called and chose which men He would like to have as His Disciples. Let us recall a passage that Luke wrote in his Gospel concerning this event.

“Now it came to pass in those days
that He went out to the mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself;
and from them He chose twelve whom he also named apostles:
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother;
James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Matthew and Thomas;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
Judas the son of James,
And Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”
Luke 6:12-16

Jesus wanted His Disciples to know that He did not make a mistake when He chose them as He did. Yes, He also chose Judas who would betray Him! It was with a deep sense of sorrow that Judas would do such a wicked thing! Nevertheless it had to happen as the Scriptures had predicted.

“THAT THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT BE FULFILLED”

Even as Jesus spoke to His Disciples, seeking to explain to them about the traitor in their midst, His mind recalled a passage from the Book of Psalms. Let us take time to read this text.

“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.”
Psalm 41:9

This Messianic Psalm written by David described a cryptic reference to a friend who betrayed him. The traitor was a “familiar friend”. He was a person who was a close enough acquaintance to be trusted.

Jesus must have seen the parallel with reference to Judas. He had given him friendship. He had given him trust. He had included him among a special group of friends who were privileged to have eaten with Him! Yet, even as the Scriptures had predicted, he would end up betraying his Master. He had insolently lifted up his heel against his Friend and Teacher!

Jesus wanted His Disciples to know that though He was sad about being betrayed by a close associate, He trusted His Father completely. The Scriptures were His Father’s Word to Him. It taught Him, fed Him, strengthened Him and guided Him all His days spent on earth! The Scriptures had to be fulfilled, for they were also prophetically given. Thus they would be fulfilled!

To Judas, this lesson of humility would never be learned! He would not be moved as Peter was. If he felt anything at all, that would soon pass. He had disdained the significance of the friendship that Jesus had extended to him!

“THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE”

Why did Jesus befriend Judas in the first place? Why did He include him among the Disciples at all? Let us try and attempt to answer these questions. Let us consider what Jesus said on this occasion.

“Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does
come to pass, you may believe that I am He.”
John 13:19

What a deep and profound statement we have in this text! Through this painful experience, Jesus wanted to confirm and strengthen the faith of His Disciples. He wanted them “to believe” that He was who He was!

What did Jesus mean? How would a deeper faith come about through this experience of Jesus? Let us take time to fathom what Jesus said.

1. “Now I tell you before it comes…”

The Disciples had a very high regard for Jesus. They respected His depth of knowledge as Teacher. They knew about His powers of perception first hand. They knew that He saw through all of them! They had also heard that some called Him “Prophet”. They agreed in their hearts that He was indeed a special Prophet sent from God. His prediction of the traitor would confirm their faith in Him.

2. “When it does come to pass…”

The Disciples would go through this traumatic experience with Jesus, only in a slightly lesser degree. One of them would betray Jesus. The thought of it all was highly traumatic! What Jesus said would come to pass. When it did, either the trauma could crush them, or they could emerge having an even greater level of faith and trust in Jesus! What an amazing perspective we are given in this text.