Dear Friends,
In our last post, Jesus began his Upper Room Discourse after his last supper. Although John does not record the events of the Last Supper, in Chapter 7 he recorded the words of Jesus that explain the meaning of Holy Communion: See here and here. After the supper was ended, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. He then quoted Psalm 41:9, as He prepared to make a startling announcement: One of them is going to betray Him.
Father, give us understanding as we continue in your precious word, which is more than our necessary food, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
John 13:20-38
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied (Jer 23:21). John said that if you receive a false prophet or even wish him God speed it makes you a partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 11) This places a tremendous amount of responsibility on us to discern who was sent by God and who was not, but Jesus assures us that we who are his will know his voice. (John 10)
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. [John refers to himself this way five times in his Gospel.]
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
There is an entry in Martin Luther’s journal that says he woke up startled one night, to find Satan looming next to his bed. Luther said, ‘Oh, it’s only you’ (loose paraphrase) and went back to sleep. Luther understood that Satan is only a created being who could not harm him without obtaining permission from God. (Job 1; 2; Ez 28:13, 15; 1 John 4:4)
Although Judas had already made the deal with the Pharisees and although Satan had possessed Judas, Jesus was still in control. Jesus allowed Judas to make his own free-will decision, but now He tells Judas it’s time. Time to go and do what he decided to do.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Curious that none of the other disciples suspected Judas, is it not? Are we any different though? There are an abundance of harlot churches preaching new world order doctrine, and no lack of parishioners in these pews. Oftentimes, even born-again Christians do not recognize that the occupants of these pulpits are wolves in sheep’s clothing. We should pray for discernment. (Rev 3:18) Jesus said Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Of course, Jesus was talking about the Pharisees when He said that. Nevertheless, I believe it still applies to the modern-day Pharisees among us, even if they call themselves ‘Christians’.
31 ¶ Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 ¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Peter is often faulted for following afar off after Jesus was arrested, but here Jesus tells him not to follow at all. Jesus knew what would happen when He was arrested (Zec 13:7; Matt 26:31); He therefore said that where He was going, Peter could not follow. However, knowing that Peter would try to follow Him anyway, Jesus tells Peter that he is going to deny Him. (He then told him not to let his heart be troubled. More on this in our next post.)
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
John 13:20-38
Jesus began by saying if we receive those who He sends, we receive both Him and his Father. In verses 34 and 35, Jesus tells us how to discern whether someone has indeed been sent by Him. You can tell by their love. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. It could be argued that all the other fruits flow from the fruit of love. Jesus also said Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Love is something that can be feigned, however. Judas had everyone fooled, right up until he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. In order to have discernment and make wise decisions concerning love, we need to be fruit inspectors. I believe we should always err on the side of grace with the common people, but when it comes to church leaders we need to be more rigid. This was the pattern that Jesus followed. Pastors need to be held to a higher standard. (Jam 3:1) As for the rest of us, this is our new commandment. 34 and 35 are the key verses in this section. The old covenant said love thy neighbor as thyself (Lev 19:18), but Jesus said that we are to love one another as I have loved you. It is not a suggestion. It’s a commandment. John 13:34, 35 need to be memorized, often repeated, then implemented. (Matt 19:26; Phil 4:13)
Prophecy Update: In verse 19, Jesus emphasized the importance of prophecy. Jesus said He told them that one of them would betray Him to increase their faith when it came to pass. A good understanding of prophecy is of paramount importance, not only to understand what is happening in our world in these last days, but to increase our faith. Ukraine, which has been front and center in the news for the last month, is going to be the first country in the world to have a universal ID app linked to a vaccine passport and social credit scores. This is the Great Reset being implemented. This new form of ID will spread around the globe and eventually lead to what Bible prophecy calls the mark of the beast. Meanwhile, school districts are requiring EKGs as part of the physical for high school sports, since the shots are causing heart attacks in high school athletes. Yet despite this elephant in the room, nobody wants to state the obvious: That the shots are killing people and those who forced them on us should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. Instead, they just pretend that everything is normal. They make up new reasons why people are dying and create new names for health conditions that did not exist before the shots, like Post-COVID Stress Syndrome, Excessive Grief Disorder (over the loss of loved ones), and even ‘Winter Vagina’. If a pastor tries to justify the shots that is not love (v 35). At best, it shows he has no discernment. It may even be an indication that he is a Judas. These things may sound troubling, but they do not have to be if you have them in their proper perspective. Father, we know and believe that You are in control. We know and believe that You are going to send your Son soon to take us home. We know and believe He is making all things new. Help us to love one another and get ready. Come quickly Lord Jesus, in your holy and precious name. Amen.
