REMEMBER ME
The last Supper
In chapter 12 we studied the resurrection of Lazarus and found Jesus delayed his departure to Bethany. We saw faith in action. We saw Jesus perform miracles which only God could do. We saw humility and worship when Mary anointed Jesus with costly aromatic oil (Nard). In chapter 13 begin with what has become to be known as “The Lords Super”. We will study why this super was so important for His disciples, and especially for we who believe in Jesus The Christ. We will see Jesus washing His disciples feet, showing them humility. We also learn of the betrayal of Jesus by one of His chosen
As quoted from an essay entitled Passover in the Time of Jesus
Study By: Daniel B. Wallace
“Our records are scanty in some places, but the majority of aspects of the evening are certifiable as authentic at that time. We will not eat gifilta fish, nor have a boiled egg or a bare lamb shank bone on our plates, since this practice does not date back to the time of Jesus. 1 The meal itself will be simple: hors d’oeuvres, lamb, unleavened bread, and wine; the symbolic significance of the meal, however, will be rich and complex. The Passover was a festive occasion—a celebration of the nation’s release from Egyptian bondage. …disciples did, for only later did they realize the irony of this joyous occasion that pointed to the death of the Messiah.”
…try to reflect on what may have been going through the disciples’ minds as well as our Lord’s, as [they partook] of that last Passover before His death.
JESUS OBSERVES PASS OVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES
[1] Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Who were His own? Those who loved Him and believed He was the Christ.
[2] and during supper, the devil having already entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him. The devil is Satan the deceiver, for he knew the heart of Judas. Judas had love in his heart for money “for the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil” (I Tim 6:10). Judas was, the only apostle from Judea; the rest were from Galilee Satan uses our weaknesses to deceive us To divert our lives from worshiping God to one of self justification of our thoughts and actions.
[3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, (X JN 3:35); That which is of this world remains in this world; That which is of heaven returns to heaven (X JN 8:23)
[4] *got up from supper, *and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
A LESSON IN HUMILITY
[5] Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. This task was reserved for the lowest of house servants, A very unpleasant task; certainly not a job for their teacher. This task performed by Jesus made the disciples very uncomfortable. They believed that this was certainly not a job for their teacher. Or was it? The lesson taught by Jesus washing their feet was one of humility.
[6] and so *He came to Simon Peter. *He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”
If anything Peter must have felt that he should be should be washing Jesus’ feet, and yet this was not offered to Jesus when he entered the room. Peter acted quite understandably reluctant to allow Jesus to wash his feet. Why was the washing of feet otherwise significant? Having the feet bathed signified the status of an honored guest and was reserved for an honor which was a common Jewish custom at formal banquets. Foot washing took place either on arrival or before the feast. Christians adopted the Hebrew foot washing ceremony and in some religious faiths this is still considered as one of the three ordinances (sacrament) i.e. baptism, the Lord's Supper,and foot washing. For some Christian communities foot washing acts as a renewal of baptism and commitment to living God's way of life. Foot washing is still practiced in one form or another throughout the world on the Thursday before Good Friday.
[7] Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” They had never witnessed an honored guest do such a lowly task. Jesus demonstrates that position in life does not make a person any better than others. Humility and pride: pride is a selfish state of being and brings about a fall; humility is an unselfish state of being and brings eternal honor (X Prov 29:23)
A Levitical statute (X Lev 16:31)
[8] Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Jesus desired an intimate relationship with His disciples. He desired to sanctify them (set them apart) from other followers. Theologians believe Christ's action demonstrated service rather than status
[9] Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
Peter did not want to be separated from Jesus, and not understanding the significance of Jesus’ action; was
Willing to submit all to Jesus to show his love. The feet washing was not a physical cleaning as Peter thought, But rather a lesson in humility. Jesus was also cleansing the soul not the body
Jesus explains this in verse 10
[10] Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” Once again Jesus was speaking figuratively, he was saying they were clean because their belief in His personal teachings (X JN 15:3; EPH 5:26). Even though they were cleaned in spirit by His words. Their feet were exposed to the filth daily, and their lives were like wise exposed to sin daily. They, and we who are believers, need to be cleansed by Jesus daily, so they/we would be continually and completely be cleansed of the filth of sin. Jesus is teaching us to come to Him daily asking for cleansing. Although all His disciples heard the word not all were washed clean. Scripture does not tell us if Jesus washed Judas Iscariot's feet, I doubt that He did for He knew Judas' heart and that Satan would entered into Judas.
[11] For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
[12] So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? He was teaching them not to just be humble before God but also with each other. Jesus knew that the disciples had been arguing as to who was the greatest among them (X LK 9:46; MAR 9:34). Jealousy crowds out love and fosters hate. The humble shall be the greatest in heaven (X MAT 18:4)
[13] “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
[14] “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
[15] “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
The disciples washing of each others feet was an act of forgiveness by them to each other (MAT 5:23-24). Have you sought out forgiveness from a brother/sister for a wrong you've done them?
[16] “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
[17] “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. (X MAT 10:24; JN 15:24). A teacher trains the student, who once trained will be like not greater than the teacher (X LK 6:40). Soon we shall see Jesus sending His disciples out none being greater than He but yet all being one with Jesus.
Jesus chose all 12 disciples an yet one was a devil (X JN 6:70). Why would Jesus pick a disciple knowing He knew was a devil? The answer is found in verse 18b
[18] “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; b but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 18b is a quote from PS 41:9 and speaks of a friends betrayal
[19]“From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He." (PS 41:9) Jesus was concerned that the events which were to come would cause His disciples to stumble in their belief. (X JN 16:1). Jesus also wanted His disciples to know that He knowingly would give Himself up for persecution and crucifixion.
[20] a “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; b and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” As we learned in verse 16 the pupil is like the teacher and teaches those things learned from the teacher. Jesus is telling His disciples, Those who receive their teaching will be receiving Jesus who sent them.
JESUS REVEALS HIS BETRAYAL
[21] When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me
Jesus was troubled in that one He loved would betray Him All the disciples recorded the same statement “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Jesus knew Satan would use Judas. Jesus loves all who followed Him, even the one who would betray Him. Jesus did not want that any should perish, but knew also this betrayal must be; to fulfill prophesy
[22] The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.
Why didn't Jesus just say it is Judas Iscariot? Judas must be allowed to complete the betrayal. If his name was revealed I believe they, possibly, would have killed Judas. Peter was known to have a quick temper and a very loyal spirit. We will see this temper demonstrated when Jesus is taken in the garden in the valley of Kidron. Yet they must have suspected it was Judas, after all they thought him to be a thief why not then a betrayer as well ?
[23] There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Which disciple is spoken of here? Although not identified by name here; it is thought that this was John himself . Why was John singled out as “the one Jesus loved”? While Jesus loved all His disciples there was a special spot in Jesus’ heart for John Jesus looked into Johns heart and saw love. We can see this through out the gospel of John.
[24] So Simon Peter *gestured *to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” Why didn't Peter just ask Jesus himself? Peter knew Jesus loved John and would more likely have told John Jesus had not as yet told John and would not identify Judas by name not even to John
[25] He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
Now Jesus knowing who it was chose not to name Judas. He identified him only by an offering of bread.
Jesus had stated that He was the bread of life. The morsel offered to Judas was later identified as such. (X Luke 22:19) The bread which was broken was unleavened which we have learned is symbolic of sin, and in fact the Jewish people still search the house for leaven before celebrating the Passover
Jesus was sinless a perfect offering
[26] Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, *He took *and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
Judas took the morsel offered by Jesus
[27] After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Judas lust for money made him weak. Satan used this weakness to entice Judas to betray Jesus
Judas was to receive thirty pieces of silver for his service. Satan prays upon the weaknesses of man
Guard well the portals of good and evil; the eyes, The ears
[28] Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.
Why didn’t Jesus just make a bold announcement? The other apostles would have killed Judas and the prophesy would not have been fulfilled
[29] For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. (Ref bible.org/ariticle Passover
It’s not clear why they supposed Judas was to buy things needed for the feast as they had already began to feast. They had completed six pulmonary Nisan (actions) of the Passover meal
Nisan 10—Selection of a lamb
Jesus was the Lamb of God to slaughter on a colt
Nisan 13—Searching for leaven:
There was no sin found in Jesus
Nisan 14—Foot washing
Jesus had come as a servant not a king
[30] So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
It was customary for the host to offer one of the guests a morsel of bread as a gesture of special friendship.
Because Jesus gave Judas this honor the disciples assumed this was the customary gesture.
“…It was night.” is significant in that the hour for which Christ, the light of the world, had been waiting , when the powers of darkness attempt to ensnare Him, begins in darkness
[31] Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus *said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;
In His death Christ and the Father will be glorified (v31). In the resurrection and exaltation the Father will glorify Christ and validate all His claims (v32)
[32] if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.
[33] “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
Why does He now call His disciples “Little children”? because of their belief they became adopted into the family of God
[34] “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another
[35] “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
[36] Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”
Was Jesus talking about His crucifixion or ascension? Peter is said to have been crucified under Emperor Nero, the cross being upside down at his own request since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ.
[37] Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”
Jesus’ reply in verse 38 was shocking to Peter (the rock). Peter truly loved Jesus but as we will see later he would deny I believe that at that moment Peter would have laid down his life. We will see later that Peter tried to prevent Jesus from being taken prisoner.
[38] Jesus *answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
John is the only disciple who named Peter as the one who cut of the ear of Macchus Matthew, Mark, and Luke only wrote “one of the ones who was stood by Jesus’’… We see Peter fulfilling this prophesy in JN 18:27
