Some of my favorite teachings in the gospels are in John, chapters 13-16. I am fascinated by how Jesus spent his last night with his disciples. He knew as the minutes ticked by that evening what was going to happen to him. Like a parent saying goodbye to children, Jesus had a limited amount of time in which to impart his last instructions to these that he loved so much, yet knew were still ignorant of what lay ahead.
Although we are impressed and challenged by Jesus’ example of intimate, humble service in washing his disciples’ feet at the beginning of this chapter, a close reading of the chapter as a whole shows us this was merely a springboard for an important discussion on the realities of servanthood. Jesus was singularly focused on his great purpose, undistracted by any physical consideration.
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.” (John 13:1-4)
A part of Jesus’ experience as an all-knowing leader and servant to these men was his certainty of being betrayed. Verse 11 reads, “For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’” As surely as Jesus knew the fullness of his critical purpose in going through the suffering before him, he knew that suffering would be caused by the very ones he was trying to save. He knew he would be rejected and betrayed by the very ones on whom he had poured his heart and time over the last three years. He understood betrayal as an integral part of working with human beings because of our choice to sin. So this was the first of what I call ‘famous last words’ he had to share with his disciples on this night. The weight they would carry as deliverers of the gospel to the world after his ascension would be too heavy to bear if they did not understand that betrayal and pain were part of the job.
“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:12-20)
As followers of Jesus we are to be willing to serve in humble capacities. Keeping our focus on our spiritual goal of leading others to the saving blood of Christ can help us be willing to undergo unpleasantness here. Also in this passage Jesus began to describe for them the kind of betrayal they would experience. As the chapter unfolds, consider the following verses.
“After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.” (John 13:21-30)
I have observed servants of the Lord experiencing betrayal as brethren who had been good friends of theirs for years, beneficiaries of their love and teaching, suddenly turn on them in a disagreement. They recant all the love they previously had for teachers who are attempting to keep them from spiritual suicide, declaring they never want to hear from them again. I have experienced betrayal as well, losing friends for the sake of the truth. Any Christian who goes beyond just giving lip-service to Christ, who actually tries to live the truth and share it with others will experience what Jesus described in the verses above. Our broken hearts and shocked minds need to know how to deal with these blows from Satan. Jesus knew we would need to know this, so we have this brief discussion in this context. The important verses that come next tell us how to respond.
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 33-35).
In the final verses of this chapter, Jesus declared to Peter that even he would betray him before the night was through. We learn from Jesus’ example; feeling the pain and injustice of personal betrayal was not enough to knock Jesus off his purpose. Today people make a great priority of being able to trust others before getting into relationships with them. As Christians we grow to expect the pain of denial and betrayal as we fully walk in the steps of our Lord. He showed sacrificial love, loving us even though it hurt him; as we mature in Christ, we aspire to show this same love to others. Instead of trusting other flawed humans to treat us properly, we trust God whose love never fails. This concept of service, humble enough to do the dirty jobs, courageous enough to take the pain of betrayal imitating our Teacher and Lord, was the first of Jesus’ famous last words.