The Gospel Of John Chapter 13 Pt. 3 Omniscient Jesus And Judas The Traitor

In John thirteen, we see our Lord Jesus Christ graciously ministering to His disciples, giving them truth and instruction that they needed.

Jesus was just a few hours away from going to the cross, but He was not self absorbed and consumed with troubles that He would experience. 

Instead, Jesus was focused on the men who would carry out the Great Commission on earth, while He directed them from heaven. As John tells us, He loved His own until the end.

In this text, we see several things that Jesus knew and several things the disciples did not know. 

Jesus knew that His hour, the time He would die on a cross for our sins, and fulfill many prophecies, was at hand. 

Jesus knew that He would depart from this world and return to His Father in heaven (John 13:1).

Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and yet Jesus used His hands to wash the disciples feet (John 13:3-5).

Jesus knew that He came from God and He would go to God after His resurrection. 

Jesus knew that the disciples did not know why He was washing their feet and He told them they would know why later (John 13:7).

Jesus knew which disciple would betray Him, and yet He washed Judas Iscariot's feet, with one last effort to turn him away from evil (John 13:11).

Jesus foretells His betrayal.

John 13:18-19  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19  Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 

Jesus knew whom He chose to be His disciples, and that even the traitor was chosen so that the scriptures might be fulfilled.  Jesus said one of His disciples would betray Him, in fulfillment of Psalm 41:9.

Jesus was not deceived in choosing Judas.  Christ had perfect foreknowledge of all things that would happen. He chose Judas, not because he was especially wicked, but because He already knew that Judas would betray Him.  

Why did Jesus tell His disciples about this?  He told them before it happened, so that when He was betrayed, they might remember His words, and believe. 

Jesus foretells that opposition and regeneration await the apostles. 

John 13:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 

Our Lord spoke these words to comfort His disciples. Jesus showed them that, although they would be rejected by many, they would be received by many. Whoever received them should reap the utmost benefit by it (See also Matthew 10:40).

Jesus was troubled in spirit for His betrayal was imminent.

John 13:21-22  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. 

This text connects with John 13:2 & 13:18. The Last Supper has begun and Jesus is troubled in His Spirit. 

Jesus was troubled in spirit when He approached the grave of Lazarus (John 11:33).

Jesus was troubled in spirit when contemplating the arrival of His crucifixion (John 12:27).

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Why did the Spirit of God give us the intimate details about our Lord Jesus Christ? 

Because our risen Lord and Savior is now our eternal great high priest in heaven, always interceding for His children. 

Jesus experienced heartaches and sorrows. Jesus experienced many troubles from the demonic world, from evil men and from hard hearted religious leaders. 

Jesus was tempted by the Devil for forty days in the wilderness. His temptations and troubles were far worse than any that we might face. 

Jesus is a compassionate high priest who is acquainted with our sorrows and fully experienced grief. Yet, Jesus bore all our sins so that He might brings us to the Father through faith in His name (Isaiah 53).

When we come to confess our sins and failures to God, we know that Jesus is sympathetic. 

He has walked in our shoes and knows all about human suffering and injustice. He is like a Father who pities His children and He remembers our frame, that we are creatures of dust (Psalm 103:12-17).

We are not to tiptoe into the presence of God when we pray. 

We are to come boldly to His throne, in the name of Jesus, to confess our sins. 

We come boldly to receive cleansing and forgiveness as God promised. 

We come boldly, casting all our cares upon Christ, for He cares for us.

So, when we read that Jesus was troubled in spirit, may we be encouraged, because our Lord knows what we feel and He knows about the heavy burdens that we carry.

Thus, Jesus was troubled in spirit and said again that one of them was going to betray Him. Jesus knew who it was but the disciples did not know.

Peter asked John to ask Jesus who the traitor was. 

John 13:23  Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24  Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 

Peter really wanted to know who the betrayer was. He motioned to John to ask Jesus who it was.

Jesus gave a sign that it was the one whom He gave the sop.

John 13:25-27  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. 

John asked saying "Lord, who is it?" Jesus replied that it was the one to whom He would give a sop. 

Christ foretold that Judas would betray him when there was no ground to suspect him of being a traitor.  

In foretelling this, Jesus proved Himself to be the eternal Word, which is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (John 1:1-5; Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus then, dipped the sop (small piece of bread) and gave it to Judas. The Spirit of God pulled back the curtains that hide the spiritual world from our view. 

Satan entered into Judas at that point, and Jesus the Creator and Sustainer of life, told the Devil, "Go quickly to do what your going to do!"  

Judas left to betray Jesus and night came. 

John 13:28-30  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.

Notice how this paragraph ends. The disciples did not know what was going on, even though Jesus foretold His betrayal and gave them the sign of who that man was.

They assumed that Jesus sent Judas to buy some necessary things for the Passover, since he was "treasurer."

Notice the Bible does not say "Judas went out." Rather it says he having received the sop went immediately, rapidly, eagerly out to do his evil work. 

Why omit Judas name? Because Satan entered into him. This is followed by the ominous closing words, "and it was night."

Thoughts to Ponder...

Truly, Jesus' hour was now fully come. Satan controlled Judas who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 

Truly, the cross was drawing ever nearer. All of the sufferings the prophets foretold concerning Jesus Christ were set in motion. 

Yet, the remainder of John 13 through John 17, is full of beautiful instruction and commandments from Jesus to his disciples. It is full of wonderful promises from God to us. 

Reading these texts, one would never know that night had come. The light of God's Word as communicated by His Son, Jesus Christ, shines ever so brightly in these chapters.

We do not know very much about what God is doing in our life, or the lives of our loved ones.

Jesus knows.

We do not know why all the wickedness and depravity has flooded the world like a giant tsunami.

Jesus knows. 

We are often weak, fearful and of little strength.

Jesus knows.

We often face tragedies, heartaches, sorrows and afflictions and fell like the world is against us.

Jesus knows. 

Let us put our full faith and trust in the Lord who knows the beginning and end of all things. 

Jesus will give us rest. He will help carry our burdens. He will not leave us comfortless. 

Come to Christ all who are weary hearted. 

Come to Christ all who are weak and feeble.

Come to Christ for regeneration, cleansing and forgiveness.

Bob