Sunday Morning Bible Study

October 3, 2010

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision

We are on the Thursday evening before Jesus is crucified, at the event known as “the Last Supper”.

Jesus is alone with His disciples in the upper room.

He has just washed their feet, giving them a beautiful example of humility and how important it is that they learn to serve one another like He was serving them.

Last week we saw two reminders that Jesus would be betrayed.  Jesus was aware that Judas would betray Him:

(Jn 13:11 NKJV) For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

We will now see this betrayal begin to get moving.

 The first reference reminded us that before the supper, Satan had already put the idea into Judas’ heart of betraying Jesus.

(Jn 13:2 NKJV) And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

The second reference reminded us that Jesus was aware of Judas’ plan to betray Him.

(Jn 13:10–11 NKJV) —10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

We know that over a year earlier, Jesus was well aware that Judas would betray Him:

(Jn 6:67–71 NKJV) —67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

13:18-30 Jesus and Judas

:18 “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.’

:18 He who eats bread with Me

:18 chosen – eklegomai – to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one’s self

:18 eats – trogo – to gnaw, crunch, chew raw vegetables or fruits (as nuts, almonds); to eat

Jesus does not quote directly from the LXX, but is paraphrasing.  The LXX has esthio here.

:18 lifted up – epairo – to lift up, raise up, raise on high; metaph. to be lifted up with pride, to exalt one’s self

John is quoting from a Psalm of David, written 1,000 years earlier:

(Ps 41:9 NKJV) Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

There was significance in eating a meal with a person.

When you eat bread with someone, you’re both being fed and nourished by the same loaf of bread.  There’s a sense that you’re growing in oneness with that other person.

For this reason, the Jews were very picky about who they ate with.

They certainly didn’t want to eat with any stinking, sinful Gentiles, because they wouldn’t want to become one with them.

The person David speaks of would have to be one considered a friend.  In the Psalm he is considered is “familiar friend”

:18 lifted up his heel –

It speaks of kicking someone with your heel or tripping them up.  It might be a picture of a horse that’s thrown its rider and now turns to trample him.

It speaks of taking advantage of another person.

Psalm 41

David speaks of his enemies plotting against him.

(Ps 41:7–9 NKJV) —7 All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt. 8 “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.” 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

We think David was talking about the time when his own son Absalom turned on him and tried to make himself king (2Sam. 15).  During Absalom’s rebellion, one of David’s closest friends and counselors turned against David to help Absalom.  His name was Ahithophel.

Ahithophel was considered a very wise man:

(2 Sa 16:23 NKJV) —23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

Ahithophel wasn't just an advisor, he was a friend.

(Ps 55:12–14 NLT) —12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. 13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

It's ironic that Ahithophel died in a similar manner to Judas.  They both committed suicide (2Sam. 17:23; Mat. 27:5)

(2 Sa 17:23 NKJV) —23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

(Mt 27:5 NKJV) —5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Though Ahithophel was a friend of David’s, he turned on David and even gave counsel to Absalom to hunt David down and put him to death.

Ahithophel was a prophetic picture of Judas.

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

:19 I am He – the Greek is ego eimi, that phrase that we’ve come to identify as the Greek translation of God’s name Yahweh.

:19 you may believe

Jesus is concerned about how the disciples will react when they finally realize that Judas was the one that betrayed Jesus.  Would they be discouraged and question their own faith when they realize the betrayer was actually one of their own?

Jesus lets them know ahead of time that there was no surprise to Judas’ betrayal.

He lets them know so that when it happens they aren’t shaken, in fact they are strengthened.

Lesson

People will let you down

When a person becomes a Christian, it’s like walking out of a very dark room into a place of light, purity, and goodness.

Just keep in mind that the light, purity, and goodness are all about Jesus, not the people that are trying to follow Him.

Sometimes the people that look the nicest can hurt you the most.

Play “What Old People Do For Fun” clip.

You will be disappointed in other Christians.

They may not run you off the road, or do something as horrendous as Judas did to Jesus, but they will do things that will cause you hurt.

Sometimes that hurt comes intentionally.  Sometimes people will actually want to hurt you.

Sometimes that hurt comes unintentionally.  They had no intent to hurt you, but because of the circumstances, you were hurt.

I’m letting you know so you don’t lose your faith in God when it happens.  Don’t be surprised. David wrote,

(Ps 27:10 NKJV) When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

Lesson

Jesus understands

Some of you have been betrayed ...

A father or mother who abused you.

A close friend who has turned against you.

A husband or wife who was unfaithful to you.

Jesus knows EXACTLY what you're going through.

You can come to Him and find grace, mercy and comfort.

(Heb 4:15–16 NKJV) —15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

:20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

:20 Most assuredly – the Greek is amen, amen, or, “truly, truly”.  This is a serious statement, something to pay attention to.

If you receive the messenger, you are receiving the sender.

If you receive Jesus’ messengers, you are receiving Jesus.

When people find out that you are a follower of Jesus, and they are open to talking to you, they are in a sense open to Jesus.  It doesn’t mean they’re saved, but that they’re open to hearing about Jesus.

If you receive Jesus, you are receiving the One who sent Him, God.

:21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”

:21 was troubled – tarasso – to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro); to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity; to render anxious or distressed

We saw this word describing Jesus when He how Mary was weeping at her brother Lazarus’ grave:

(Jn 11:33 NKJV) —33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.

:21 testified – martureo – to be a witness, to bear witness

:21 Most assuredly – the Greek is amen, amen, or, “truly, truly”.  This is a serious statement, something to pay attention to.

:21 will betray – paradidomi – to give into the hands (of another); to deliver up treacherously; by betrayal to cause one to be taken

:21 one of you

Jesus isn’t going to be betrayed by some outsider.  He will be betrayed by one of the guys in the inner circle.

:22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

:22 perplexed – aporeo (“not” + “to transfer”) – to be without resources, to be left wanting, not to know which way to turn; not to know how to decide or what to do

Lesson

Love covers sin

It was not obvious that Judas was the bad guy.

Judas was the one in charge of the money – you don’t put someone you don’t trust in charge of the money.

Judas was not the disciple wearing the black robe.

Jesus was not constantly pointing to Judas and whispering to the others.

Jesus has known for a long time who it was that would betray Him, and yet He’s never told any of the disciples about who it was. (Mat. 17:22-23)

Jesus had warned the disciples that He would be betrayed:

(Mt 17:22–23 NKJV) —22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Yet Jesus never let on who it was.

The disciples were absolutely clueless as to who the bad guy was. Look at how Matthew records the story:

(Mt 26:20–22 NKJV) —20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”

We make a dangerous mistake when we hear about another person’s sins, and respond by first deciding to tell as many people as possible.

Illustration

The Gossiper

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor. Within a few days the whole community knew the story. The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended. Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old sage to find out what she could do to repair the damage. “Go to the marketplace,” he said, “and purchase a chicken, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers and drop them one by one along the road.” Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told. The next day the wise man said, “Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me.” The woman followed the same road, but to her dismay, the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. “You see,” said the old sage, “it’s easy to drop them, but it’s impossible to get them back. So it is with gossip. It doesn’t take much to spread a rumor, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong.”

Author Unknown, Submitted by Helen Hazinski from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul / Copyright 1997 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger

Does this mean that we are to just close our eyes to sin, and just ignore it when people are getting hurt?

Jesus gave some instruction about dealing with another person’s sin:

(Mt 18:15 NKJV) “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Jesus said that if the person doesn’t respond, then next time you take another friend along with you, and then perhaps another person the next time.

But too often we want to go and tell other people about a person’s sin before we ever go and confront them.

If you were caught in a sin, how would you like to be confronted?  Would you like the whole church to know about your sin?  Or would you prefer if the one person that found out came to you first?

Paul gave us some instruction about dealing with another person’s sin:

(Ga 6:1 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Peter writes,

(1 Pe 4:8 NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

You are going to see in our passage today that Jesus has been and will continue to extend love towards Judas.

Part of that love has been demonstrated for the last few years by “covering” Judas’ sin.

Husbands and wives

What do your closest friends think of your spouse?  What do your parents think your spouse?

A good test of this principle is to take a good look at what they think.  Do they think you married the biggest jerk of the century?  Or do they think you married the best spouse that ever lived?

In the church

We’re all going to sin.  Sometimes we will even hurt each other.

When someone in church hurts your feelings – go to THEM and try to work it out.  Don’t rally your friends around you by telling them what that “jerk” did to you.  Go first to the person that offended you.

Look at how Jesus has covered for Judas.

:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

:23 leaning on – anakeimai (“among” + “to lie”) – to lie at a table, eat together, dine

:23 bosom – kolpos – the front of the body between the arms

Greek word order:  Now there was lying, one of His disciples, in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved.

:23 leaning on Jesus’ bosom

We need to stop and get a better idea of what this supper looked like.

A lot of us are familiar with DaVinci’s painting “The Last Supper”.  It’s a nice painting, but Leonardo had a few things wrong.

In Jesus’ day, meals like this were served typically on low, solid tables, most likely shaped in a “U”.

The guests didn’t sit at the tables, they reclined, lying down on cushions around the outside of the “U”, so those serving could serve from the inside of the “U”.

As they reclined at the table, they would lie on their left side, and eat with their right hand.

The host of the feast would recline at the center of the “U”, with his closest friends, or most prominent guests on either side of him, at the head of the table.

Though I would have guessed that the guest of honor would have been on the right hand side of the host (as in “seated at the right hand ...”), it was just the opposite, the guest of honor was actually on the host’s left side. (blue circle)(so says Barclay, Pulpit Commentary)

This disciple that is leaning on Jesus’ bosom is the one located on the right of Jesus, the second guest of honor, and his head would about where Jesus’ chest was. (red)

If this disciple wanted to talk to Jesus, all he had to do was lean backward, leaning into Jesus’ chest.

:23 whom Jesus loved – agapao – to love, to prize and delight in a thing.

We’re going to see this particular unnamed disciple mentioned four more times.  As you follow the trail, you come to discover that John is actually talking about himself.

He wasn’t in the place of honor, but the one on Jesus’ right side.

When Jesus is on the cross:

(Jn 19:26 NKJV) —26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

When Mary discovers the empty tomb:

(Jn 20:2 NKJV) —2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

When the disciples were out fishing after the resurrection, Jesus showed up:

(Jn 21:7 NKJV) —7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

On a morning after the resurrection, Peter is talking with Jesus:

(Jn 21:20–24 NKJV) —20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

Who is this disciple?  It’s John, the author of the gospel.

I don’t think that John is using this title for himself in a prideful way.  He’s not saying that he’s the “only” disciple that Jesus loved.

John is simply saying that the only way he can describe himself is just as one of the people that Jesus loved.

Lesson

Jesus loves me too

Have you ever loved someone, even told them you loved them, and they responded by telling you that you are lying and that you couldn’t love them.

It feels kind of strange to be told by someone that you don’t love them when in fact you do, and nobody knows better than you do.

You really shouldn’t be questioning whether God loves you.

He has proven beyond all doubt that He in fact does love us.

(1 Jn 4:9–10 NLT) —9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Sometimes we seem to be living for the wrong things.

We want respect and admiration from others.

We want to be known as the most spiritual person that ever lived.

Maybe we just live to make the most money we can.

What would it be like to be satisfied to simply know that you are that disciple whom Jesus loved? 

John as an old man had arrived at that point.

He was no longer trying to be the #1 disciple.  Just the guy Jesus loved.

:24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

:24 Peter therefore motioned to him

:24 motioned – neuo – to give a nod; to signify by a nod (of what one wishes to be done)

:24 to ask – punthanomai – to enquire, ask; to ascertain, by enquiry

Peter asks John to find out who Jesus is talking about.

We’ve established where Jesus and John were at this supper (yellow, red).

Where is Peter at the feast?  Peter the first “pope”??? (according to the Catholics)

Could he be in the “place of honor”?  Don’t some people call Peter the “first pope?

If he was in the place of honor, he wouldn’t be asking John, who is on the other side of Jesus, he’d be asking Jesus himself.

Peter is at least on the other side of John from Jesus, some suggest he might be all the way down at the end of the table.

He asks John what’s going on because John is the one laying next to Jesus.

:25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

:25 learning back – epipipto – to fall upon; to lie upon one; to fall back upon

:25 breast – stethos – the breast

John leans back onto Jesus and asks Peter’s question.

:26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

I believe Jesus is only answering to John, and it appears to me that John is the only one that hears this reply.

As the conversation progresses, nobody seems aware of what Jesus or Judas is doing, or that he is the traitor.

:26 dipped – bapto – to dip, dip in, immerse

:26 piece of bread – psomion – a fragment, bit, morsel

In the ancient Mideast, there were no such things as forks and spoons for eating.

Instead, they used bread to help them eat.

They would have a loaf of bread and be breaking off pieces of bread, and scooping up the food with it, or, as in this case, soaking it in either a fruit or meat juice, and then eating it.

Kind of like dunking your donut in your coffee, or like eating chips and salsa.

Note: This is not to be confused with “communion”.

Communion was where Jesus gave the example of the bread and cup representing His body and blood given for us.

:26 He gave it to Judas

Where is Judas in feast?

He’s got to be close enough to Jesus for Jesus to hand him a piece of bread dipped in the sauce.

He’s certainly not the host of the feast, that was Jesus.

He’s not in the second place of honor, to the right of the host, because that’s where John was lying.

There is only one place left for Judas, and that is on Jesus’ left side, with Jesus reclining on Judas’ bosom.

Judas was in the first place of honor at the feast.

A place that was designated by the host of the feast.

Jesus had given Judas the place of honor at the Last Supper!

What you see is Jesus extending grace and love to Judas.

:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

:27 quickly – tachion – more swiftly, more quickly

:27 Satan entered him

Satan had already “put” into Judas’ heart to betray Jesus (Jn. 13:2)

(Jn 13:2 NKJV) —2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

It seems to me that there is a progression happening here.

Jesus has continued to show love and grace to Judas.

Judas has rejected Jesus’ love.

Now Satan has control.

Be careful if you are a person who has been saying “no” to Jesus.

:28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.

:28 at the table – anakeimai – to lie at a table, eat together, dine

Apparently no one else has heard what Jesus has said to John.

This shows me that though Jesus indicated to John who the betrayer was, either nobody else heard what Jesus said, or at least they didn't understand what Jesus meant.

:29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

:29 thought – dokeo – to be of opinion, think, suppose

:29 money box – glossokomon – a case in which to keep mouth-pieces of wind instruments; a small box for other uses; a purse to keep money in

:29 buy – agorazo – to be in the market place, to attend it; to do business there, buy or sell

:29 poor – ptochos – reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; poor, needy

Judas was the group’s treasurer.  He kept track of the money.  He paid the bills.

:30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

:30 piece of bread – psomion – a fragment, bit, morsel

:30 immediately – eutheos – straightway, immediately, forthwith

:30 night – nux – night

You could make a case that the betrayal of Jesus was one of the darkest deeds ever committed.  It’s ironic that it takes place in the dark.

:26 He gave it to Judas

Lesson

Love to the end

There are a lot of cultural things going on in this scene that keep saying the same thing – Jesus loved Judas, right to the end.

Hiding Judas’ betrayal

Judas was in the place of honor at the feast.

Jesus gave His “bread” (KJV “sop”) to Judas.

We’ve talked about how Jews were careful not to eat with unclean Gentiles.

The concept of eating together was also an opportunity to show affection to others.

If you dipped YOUR piece of bread in the common bowl and then gave it to another person, it was a sign of affection, of friendship.

Jesus isn’t just giving John a secret sign about Judas, He is extending friendship to Judas right to the end.

We saw at the beginning of the chapter:

(Jn 13:1b NKJV) …having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

In his famous “Love Chapter” (1Cor. 13), Paul uses two words to describe love:

suffers long (patient) - talking about having patience with people, having a long fuse, putting up with difficult people.

endures all things - talks about remaining under the pressure, remaining in the relationship even when it gets real tough.

Jesus’ love for Judas is a great example.

Do you think Jesus couldn’t love you?  You’re wrong.

Illustration:

Richard Armstrong, in Make Your Life Worthwhile, reports the story about a man in Wales who sought to win the affection of a certain lady for 42 years before she finally said, “Yes.”  The couple, both 74, recently became “Mr. and Mrs.”

For more than 40 years, the persistent, but rather shy man slipped a weekly love letter under his neighbor’s door.  But she continually refused to speak and mend the spat that had parted them many years before.

After writing 2,184 love letters without ever getting a spoken or written answer, the single-hearted old man eventually summoned up enough courage to present himself in person.  He knocked on the door of the reluctant lady and asked for her hand.  To his delight and surprise, she accepted.

Illustration:

An old legend says that one day Abraham was standing by his tent door when he saw an old man coming along the way, weary with his journey and with bleeding feet.  With true hospitality he invited the old man to share his meal and to lodge with him for the night. Abraham noticed that he asked no blessing on the meal and inquired why he did not pray to the God of Heaven.  The old man said, “I am a fire worshipper and acknowledge no other god.” At this, Abraham grew angry and sent him from his tent.  Then God called Abraham and asked, “Where is the old man?  I have cared for him for over a hundred years even though he has dishonored me.  Could you not endure him one night and so prove to him God’s love?”

Are you having trouble loving someone? 

Look at how Jesus loved Judas. 

Look at how God loves you.