I was a little intimidated in that on Sunday we are going to hear from a PhD guy on the same passage and so I feel like I can't really compete with that. I also used a few personal examples, more because they were easy for me to reach into, but I am not sure if they worked as well as other possibilities that may be out there if I had the time to spend thinking about it more.
A few weeks after Easter this year my neighbour called me up a little intoxicated to talk about Jesus and Christianity. He had been at a trivia night with his mum and wanted to know if I knew the answer to some Bible trivia question that was asked[1]. We then talked about Christianity and Easter and Jesus. He said to me that if Jesus just kept his mouth shut at the right time then the powers-to-be wouldn’t have killed him. Jesus said some great things, was a nice guy, a good mate, but he upset the tall poppies with what he said and so they killed him. It was unfair and things may have gone better for Christians if Jesus wasn’t killed so early by those who were charged.
Is that right? What would you say to your neighbour if they said that to you?
In our passage today we are coming in halfway through Jesus speaking. Jesus had just washed the disciple’s feet, telling them to do likewise to one another. Jesus was telling His followers to put others before themselves. He was continuing His frequent teaching, that the first will be last and the last will be first, that those who exults themselves will be humbles and the humbled will be exalted. That you must be like a child to enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus just said that those who do these things will be blessed. And then he adds in a caveat. Not all who do these things will be blessed. There is one who is against Jesus.
And this isn’t really a surprise, this has been prophesied in the Psalms. Jesus use the line from Psalm 41 verse 9 to say that there is one who shares their bread with Him who is against Him.
Jesus tells his followers about His betrayer before it happens so that they will have faith to believe till the end. It would have been a heartbreaking thing to see your leader, your friend, the guy who you thought was the coming rescuing king be betrayed and killed. So Jesus tells them this to help them. He was preparing them for the next 24 hours.
In case we didn’t get the Psalm 41 reference, Jesus declared straight up in verse 21 that one of them will betray him. This is troubling. Jesus was troubled Himself when he said it. It like delivering bad news to someone. "I’m sorry your son didn’t make it." "There is no cure for this." "We can no longer afford to keep you on our books." News like this is hard just to say it to someone’s face. Jesus is saying, someone here, in this room, at this special meal, is going to turn against Him.
This would have been concerning to the group. The mood must have changed. I don’t think anyone doubted what Jesus said wasn’t going to happen[2]. After all, throughout their time hanging with Jesus, everything he said has been right. And then good old Peter, he wants to know more. He wants the goss, he wants to know who it is. Peter is clearly confident that it isn’t him, as we will see next week. But good old Peter doesn’t ask, he gets John to ask Jesus. It seems John was sitting physically closer to Jesus. Maybe Peter thought if John asks quietly, Jesus is more likely to tell that one person than the whole group, and perhaps later John can spill the beans to Peter.
So John asks Jesus the question. Now, this isn’t a major point, but if you want to know how this scene works, you need to know that they weren’t sitting on chairs (and on the one side of the table as Leonardo has famously painted). There is no way they got a 24 seat table and then decided to sit on just one side.
A few weeks after Easter this year my neighbour called me up a little intoxicated to talk about Jesus and Christianity. He had been at a trivia night with his mum and wanted to know if I knew the answer to some Bible trivia question that was asked[1]. We then talked about Christianity and Easter and Jesus. He said to me that if Jesus just kept his mouth shut at the right time then the powers-to-be wouldn’t have killed him. Jesus said some great things, was a nice guy, a good mate, but he upset the tall poppies with what he said and so they killed him. It was unfair and things may have gone better for Christians if Jesus wasn’t killed so early by those who were charged.
Is that right? What would you say to your neighbour if they said that to you?
In our passage today we are coming in halfway through Jesus speaking. Jesus had just washed the disciple’s feet, telling them to do likewise to one another. Jesus was telling His followers to put others before themselves. He was continuing His frequent teaching, that the first will be last and the last will be first, that those who exults themselves will be humbles and the humbled will be exalted. That you must be like a child to enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus just said that those who do these things will be blessed. And then he adds in a caveat. Not all who do these things will be blessed. There is one who is against Jesus.
Jesus tells his followers about His betrayer before it happens so that they will have faith to believe till the end. It would have been a heartbreaking thing to see your leader, your friend, the guy who you thought was the coming rescuing king be betrayed and killed. So Jesus tells them this to help them. He was preparing them for the next 24 hours.
In case we didn’t get the Psalm 41 reference, Jesus declared straight up in verse 21 that one of them will betray him. This is troubling. Jesus was troubled Himself when he said it. It like delivering bad news to someone. "I’m sorry your son didn’t make it." "There is no cure for this." "We can no longer afford to keep you on our books." News like this is hard just to say it to someone’s face. Jesus is saying, someone here, in this room, at this special meal, is going to turn against Him.
This would have been concerning to the group. The mood must have changed. I don’t think anyone doubted what Jesus said wasn’t going to happen[2]. After all, throughout their time hanging with Jesus, everything he said has been right. And then good old Peter, he wants to know more. He wants the goss, he wants to know who it is. Peter is clearly confident that it isn’t him, as we will see next week. But good old Peter doesn’t ask, he gets John to ask Jesus. It seems John was sitting physically closer to Jesus. Maybe Peter thought if John asks quietly, Jesus is more likely to tell that one person than the whole group, and perhaps later John can spill the beans to Peter.
So John asks Jesus the question. Now, this isn’t a major point, but if you want to know how this scene works, you need to know that they weren’t sitting on chairs (and on the one side of the table as Leonardo has famously painted). There is no way they got a 24 seat table and then decided to sit on just one side.
For special occasions, the Jews copied the Greeks in their lounging around on cushions[3]. Generally, they would have been propped up on one elbow and then use their other arm to eat.
John leans over closer to Jesus and asks who it is. Who is the traitor in their midst? Jesus does not say with his words, but when His actions. It will be the person he passes the bread to next, and then he gives it to Judas[4]. It seems that at this moment John is privy to something that no one else in the room knows. He is the disciple who Jesus loves, but also who Jesus revealed this to first.
And the rest of the disciples didn’t know the significants of what just happened. Jesus tells Judas to act quickly, and he leaves, obeying Jesus command. Everyone else thought it was for either shopping for the festival of the unleavened bread which started at midnight, or perhaps Judas was told to follow the custom of giving to the poor on Passover, as the gates of the temple were left open till midnight for beggars to gather[5].
But that was not why Judas left. Judas left to betray Jesus, and as he left, we are told that it was night. I do wonder if John puts that last line about the night for more of a mood-setting. It was Passover, so it was full moon, if it wasn’t cloudy, it wouldn’t have been too dark. But throughout John’s Gospel, there is a motif of night and darkness. From the start of this gospel, we are told:
It was night that allowed Nicodemus to visit Jesus without been seen. In John 11 Jesus says it is those who walk at night who stumble because they have no light (John 11:10).
Judas goes out into the night, and he betrayed Jesus. Judas had no light in him. We are told that Satan was in him.
The disciples were in the dark about what Judas was up too, but not Jesus. Jesus knew. Jesus in fact instructed Judas to go and do it quickly, to which Judas obeyed. It a perverse way, Judas is only being obedient to Jesus.
Jesus knew that he was going to be betrayed. Both the scriptures and Jesus’ word confirmed this. Jesus even knew who was going to betray him. There was not a moment in the next 24 hours that was going to take Him by surprise. He was going to be handed over, falsely accused, beaten, whipped, spat upon and lifted up on a cross to die.
Jesus knew this and yet he still did it.
I am very risk-averse and avoid pain as much as I can. I sometimes delay sending certain emails because I know there may be fall out or uncomfortable meetings in the future about it. When I do take a risk, it is calculated, in the sense that I do the sums and work out what is reasonable. I used to do rock climbing when I was in high school. It was not as risky as some thought, as we had the right apparatus, which we knew was strong enough to hold trucks, so we were going to be fine. It was calculated and rationalised and in the end safe. When I left my ANU job to work here, again I did the numbers to see what we could afford and before anything had happened, I knew me, and my family would be ok. My living standard really has not been dramatically affected by going into ministry.
Jesus came to earth, knowing that he was going to die. I don’t know how you do those sums, how do you calculate that risk, as the plan is excruciating pain. They had to come up with that word “excruciating” to describe the pain of the cross. (You know it’s bad when they make up words for it.) And Jesus was not forced to do this. The Father did not demand Jesus to do this and Jesus recently obeyed. Instead, Jesus says in John 10:
Jesus knowingly, willingly lays His life down for us. For you. And the calculations that I can only work out why He would do this, was because he was motivated by love. Love for us. To rescue us and to bring us back to Him.
Two summers ago I was with one of my kids in the ocean and I saw a blue bottle quite close to them. They didn’t know what it was and what they can do. I immediately went and grabbed my kid held them above the water, only to have the next wave knock that blue bottle into me and get tangled around my ankle and foot. But I did not put my kid down till we were out of the water, and then I sought to untangle this blue critter from my foot. I was sore for a few days on holidays, but I think it was right for me to take the pain than for one of my young children to face the possibility of that pain.
I sometimes I think we don’t really know how bad our sin is. But even then, God loved us so much, to come and take our punishment for us, to bring us back to Him.
He saw the cost and knowing headed towards that hill outside Jerusalem and laid down his life on his own accord. And he did all this because He loves you. Like it all not, apart for Jesus, we would be separated from God. But in God’s great mercy and wisdom, He rescued us back to Himself.
So, was Jesus’ death something that could have been avoided if Jesus was just a little smarter, or a bit more subtle or nuanced in what He said? Could His unfortunate betrayal have been avoided if Jesus played His hand a bit better? If he just pleased Judas a little bit more?
No, it was always the plan. God has always planned to bring people back in relationship with Him, Scripture had predicted it and Jesus knew it. Jesus knowing went through pain and death because He loves you. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
We now can live as loved people.
Loved people are free. They can be confident knowing they have someone backing them. When it feels like you are alone, that no one understands your situation, know that God is not some distant being, but knows, personally, through experience what it is like. He knows what it is like to be alone, betrayed, forsaken. Turn to Jesus, He knows what it is like and He loves you.
We are now free from guilt and condemnation. That weight has been lifted from us. We now can live joyfully and humbly. Being servant-hearted towards others, because we are free. Because we are loved.
Love people also come back to the one who loves them as they find security in them. The news, like always, can drive up fear. There is confusion and worries and unknows about what the future is going to be like. Who is going to win the next elections? Is Canberra going to be safe from COVID-19? I don’t know these things. But I do know the guy who does. Turn to Jesus, find security in Him. He knows what is going to happen and He loves you.
We are now secure, knowing that whatever happens, we are safe in Jesus. We live confidently knowing that Jesus will come back again, He will right all the wrongs, He will judge justly and graciously, and we will dwell with Him forever.
Love people also can’t help but tell others about their love. When you experience love or joy you can’t help but share it. The act of sharing good news only increases joy. Engagement announcements are good news. Baby announcements are good news and everyone shares in the joy of hearing it. God’s love for you and for others is good news.
We can now share this news with others, as in sharing our own joy to others about Jesus’ love for us only increases others joy too. We can do this without fear for God’s love and sovereignty gives us security and confidence, in the fact of any uncertain or hostile situations.
Let’s live as loved ones of God.
When we look to Jesus’ betrayal, we see a man who was troubled, but not caught off guard. He was resolved to die for us, because He loved us.
I’m going to give thanks, by praying a prayer a thanksgiving prayer from the Prayer Book.
[1] The question was how many times in the Bible is the word Christian mentioned. I knew the answer was three. He was amazed that it was so low (he guessed about 12,000 times) and that I knew this bit of trivia.
[2] R. C. Sproul, John (St Andrew’s Expositional Commentary)
[3] R. C. Sproul, John (St Andrew’s Expositional Commentary)
[4] Some think this means Judas must have been on the other side of Jesus (with John on the other), but the text doesn’t say. It just means that Judas was in arms reach of Jesus from His cushions or triclinium
[5] Colin G. Kruse, John (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries); D. A. Cason, The Gospel According to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary)
John leans over closer to Jesus and asks who it is. Who is the traitor in their midst? Jesus does not say with his words, but when His actions. It will be the person he passes the bread to next, and then he gives it to Judas[4]. It seems that at this moment John is privy to something that no one else in the room knows. He is the disciple who Jesus loves, but also who Jesus revealed this to first.
And the rest of the disciples didn’t know the significants of what just happened. Jesus tells Judas to act quickly, and he leaves, obeying Jesus command. Everyone else thought it was for either shopping for the festival of the unleavened bread which started at midnight, or perhaps Judas was told to follow the custom of giving to the poor on Passover, as the gates of the temple were left open till midnight for beggars to gather[5].
But that was not why Judas left. Judas left to betray Jesus, and as he left, we are told that it was night. I do wonder if John puts that last line about the night for more of a mood-setting. It was Passover, so it was full moon, if it wasn’t cloudy, it wouldn’t have been too dark. But throughout John’s Gospel, there is a motif of night and darkness. From the start of this gospel, we are told:
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)
Judas goes out into the night, and he betrayed Jesus. Judas had no light in him. We are told that Satan was in him.
The disciples were in the dark about what Judas was up too, but not Jesus. Jesus knew. Jesus in fact instructed Judas to go and do it quickly, to which Judas obeyed. It a perverse way, Judas is only being obedient to Jesus.
Jesus knew that he was going to be betrayed. Both the scriptures and Jesus’ word confirmed this. Jesus even knew who was going to betray him. There was not a moment in the next 24 hours that was going to take Him by surprise. He was going to be handed over, falsely accused, beaten, whipped, spat upon and lifted up on a cross to die.
Jesus knew this and yet he still did it.
I am very risk-averse and avoid pain as much as I can. I sometimes delay sending certain emails because I know there may be fall out or uncomfortable meetings in the future about it. When I do take a risk, it is calculated, in the sense that I do the sums and work out what is reasonable. I used to do rock climbing when I was in high school. It was not as risky as some thought, as we had the right apparatus, which we knew was strong enough to hold trucks, so we were going to be fine. It was calculated and rationalised and in the end safe. When I left my ANU job to work here, again I did the numbers to see what we could afford and before anything had happened, I knew me, and my family would be ok. My living standard really has not been dramatically affected by going into ministry.
Jesus came to earth, knowing that he was going to die. I don’t know how you do those sums, how do you calculate that risk, as the plan is excruciating pain. They had to come up with that word “excruciating” to describe the pain of the cross. (You know it’s bad when they make up words for it.) And Jesus was not forced to do this. The Father did not demand Jesus to do this and Jesus recently obeyed. Instead, Jesus says in John 10:
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
Jesus knowingly, willingly lays His life down for us. For you. And the calculations that I can only work out why He would do this, was because he was motivated by love. Love for us. To rescue us and to bring us back to Him.
I sometimes I think we don’t really know how bad our sin is. But even then, God loved us so much, to come and take our punishment for us, to bring us back to Him.
He saw the cost and knowing headed towards that hill outside Jerusalem and laid down his life on his own accord. And he did all this because He loves you. Like it all not, apart for Jesus, we would be separated from God. But in God’s great mercy and wisdom, He rescued us back to Himself.
So, was Jesus’ death something that could have been avoided if Jesus was just a little smarter, or a bit more subtle or nuanced in what He said? Could His unfortunate betrayal have been avoided if Jesus played His hand a bit better? If he just pleased Judas a little bit more?
No, it was always the plan. God has always planned to bring people back in relationship with Him, Scripture had predicted it and Jesus knew it. Jesus knowing went through pain and death because He loves you. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Loved people are free. They can be confident knowing they have someone backing them. When it feels like you are alone, that no one understands your situation, know that God is not some distant being, but knows, personally, through experience what it is like. He knows what it is like to be alone, betrayed, forsaken. Turn to Jesus, He knows what it is like and He loves you.
We are now free from guilt and condemnation. That weight has been lifted from us. We now can live joyfully and humbly. Being servant-hearted towards others, because we are free. Because we are loved.
Love people also come back to the one who loves them as they find security in them. The news, like always, can drive up fear. There is confusion and worries and unknows about what the future is going to be like. Who is going to win the next elections? Is Canberra going to be safe from COVID-19? I don’t know these things. But I do know the guy who does. Turn to Jesus, find security in Him. He knows what is going to happen and He loves you.
We are now secure, knowing that whatever happens, we are safe in Jesus. We live confidently knowing that Jesus will come back again, He will right all the wrongs, He will judge justly and graciously, and we will dwell with Him forever.
Love people also can’t help but tell others about their love. When you experience love or joy you can’t help but share it. The act of sharing good news only increases joy. Engagement announcements are good news. Baby announcements are good news and everyone shares in the joy of hearing it. God’s love for you and for others is good news.
We can now share this news with others, as in sharing our own joy to others about Jesus’ love for us only increases others joy too. We can do this without fear for God’s love and sovereignty gives us security and confidence, in the fact of any uncertain or hostile situations.
Let’s live as loved ones of God.
When we look to Jesus’ betrayal, we see a man who was troubled, but not caught off guard. He was resolved to die for us, because He loved us.
I’m going to give thanks, by praying a prayer a thanksgiving prayer from the Prayer Book.
Almighty God and merciful Father,
we give you humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness
to us and to all people.
We praise you for creating and sustaining us
and for all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your amazing love
in redeeming the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,
giving us grace and the hope of glory.
Give us such a sense of all your goodness,
that we may be truly thankful and may praise you
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by serving you in holy and righteous ways;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
[1] The question was how many times in the Bible is the word Christian mentioned. I knew the answer was three. He was amazed that it was so low (he guessed about 12,000 times) and that I knew this bit of trivia.
[2] R. C. Sproul, John (St Andrew’s Expositional Commentary)
[3] R. C. Sproul, John (St Andrew’s Expositional Commentary)
[4] Some think this means Judas must have been on the other side of Jesus (with John on the other), but the text doesn’t say. It just means that Judas was in arms reach of Jesus from His cushions or triclinium
[5] Colin G. Kruse, John (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries); D. A. Cason, The Gospel According to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary)
It was a great sermon- lots of personal illustrations and and original thought with great illustrations. Easy to understand and a good challenge. I doubt Sunday's PhD will come close.
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