Jesus, Judas, and Peter

  • Sam Ford
  • Mar 2, 2008
  • Series: Gospel According to John

John 13.21-35 -Jesus Lord and/or Teacher

SCRIPTURE SAYS

 

Intro

We're in the last part of John 13.  John 13-17 is a detailed account of the last days of Jesus' time with his disciples before his arrest in John 18, which will lead to his death.  It is Thursday, probably quite late, and Jesus will be crucified on Friday afternoon.  We're going to hit John 18 and 19 at our Good Friday service so that on Easter Sunday we can party. 

 

On this evening, however, God in the form of this man Jesus shows his friends how much he loves them by washing their feet, how much he is willing to give up.  It's a humble act, but it's a picture of the ultimate humility of the cross where He will shed his blood for his friends.  

 

But there is still a man in the room who despite all experiences, despite all expectations, despite all appearances, does not believe Jesus.  And Jesus calls him out...

 

A Troubled Jesus Drops a Bomb

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

 

I appreciate the humanness of Jesus-he's troubled and disturbed..  It is quite easy to forget what Isaiah 53 teaches about him, that he was a man "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;" Jesus had experienced a life as a boy born to a teenage mom, nearly murdered by a king, adopted by a Dad, eventually learning life as a Galilean blue collar worker growing up in a dirty little town known more for the bad that came out of it....Nazareth was the armpit of Judea. 

 

After 30 years, he began his ministry only to be tempted by Satan, labeled a Radical cult leader, hated by the church people, lived as a nomad, homeless and penniless, abandoned by his family, falsely accused as a drunk, a liar, a rebel, a glutton, accused of being a demon-possessed loon, accused of being treasonous, only to walk into a town where men had threatened to kill him if he showed his face. 

 

Now, in an upper room, hidden from the crowds, he speaks with his disciples about how the night will end.  He is troubled.  And he DROPS A BOMB; he is going to be betrayed, stabbed in the back by one of his friends who have spent 3 years with him-watching him make wine, walk on water, feed thousands with a few fish, watching him heal the blind, the sick, and even resurrect the dead.  Jesus is visibly troubled, emotionally upset, and distressed.  You can only imagine what the disciples are feeling...

 

Disciples don't know who                      

22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?"

 

If their anything like me....their wondering, "Yeah, I wonder who that is?"  It's kind of like when a pastor is talking about "Good Christians" we're all thinking...yeah, preach it.  Then when he's exhorting someone to stop sinning or live better, we all want to look around and say, "Yeah."  When Jesus says ONE OF YOU will betray, the disciples "looked at one another."  They're giving one another the once over.  

 

Ask him...Who will betray?

It's important to note the way that the disciples are sitting and cultural way in which they at meals.  Most likely they are lying down with their heads and torso closest to the short little table and their feet are extended out.  Jesus would be the host of the dinner so lying to his left are most of the disciples.  John is lying closest to Jesus, so close he can put his head back in Jesus chest. Peter is somewhere down the row and Judas is most likely to the right of Jesus-in the place of honor. Peter, who isn't close enough to Jesus to ask, motions to John to ask him. 

 

I've wondered what Peter was thinking.  With the emotional impulsiveness that Peter generally guides Peter steps, I'm thinking he's going to take one of swords he has there and make sure this guy doesn't leave the place alive.

 

Identification of the Betrayer.

26 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. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him,  "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 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. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

 

Jesus dips a small bite of bread in wine and gives it to Judas.  The act is so chalked full of meaning and symbolism.  Not only is this a gesture of honor, but it is in a sense the final invitation of grace to his betrayer.  Judas is washed and fed by the very hand of God and yet, he does not believe (his feet and his food are not his heart).  In the case of Judas, it seems that the kindness of God does little more than harden his already sinful heart.  It has been said that the same sun melts the ice and hardens the clay.  In this case, Judas is possessed by Satan himself. 

 

The disciples think he's going to buy some groceries.  But, he is going to the Chief Priests who had sought a way to arrest Jesus and avoid a riot.  This was not the initial temptation, in Matthew 26, right after being rebuke by Jesus for his comment about the perfume,  "... Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.  This was that opportunity.

 

Jesus says, "What you are going to do, do quickly."  Some people believe that Judas is simply following Jesus orders here to betray him.  THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS...Heretical writing that claims Judas was heroic in following the orders of Jesus who had enlightened him. They regard him as worthy of gratitude and respect. In verse 2, John states that Satan had already "put it into his heart" probably referring to the meeting with the chief priests...then, after a gesture of grace, Satan possesses Judas...and Jesus tells him, "Get it over with..now."

 

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.       James 1.13-15

 

Children will say childish things

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said,  "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 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.'

 

Once Judas leaves, Jesus shifts into a dialogue with his friends.   Knowing he is going to be betrayed, knowing that he is going to be arrested, unfairly tried, and killed in less than 24 hours, he says-NOW, am I glorified. When we say God is glorified, or given glory...that is a real nice term that Christians use all the time without knowing what their talking about.  When God receives glory, he is receiving honor, praise, respect, and value as the supremely excellent, ultimate in value, and source of joy and pleasure. 

 

I believe Jesus addresses his disciples as children, the only place he does so in the gospel, to indicate how difficult it is going to be for them to believe this. To sit and watch as their Lord is nailed to a cross in weakness and shame...and for that to be God's plan.   It is no less difficult for us...But how could such a tragically, dreadful, and horrible death of an innocent man for the sins of those who do not love him, but honoring to God and give him glory? Consider just a few...

  • God being glorified in suffering (ROMANS)
  • God being glorified through those who have sin against me (JUDAS)
  • God being glorified through my own sin PETER)

 

[COME BACK TO HIS COMMANDMENT AT END - v33-35

 

Prediction of Peter's Denial

36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

 

Peter's response is a childish as most of his.  He asks Jesus WHERE ARE YOU GOING?  Even though Jesus has said on at least three occasions that he is going to die, on this last night, Peter's lack of understanding and his pride get the best of him.  When Jesus tells him that he can't follow, Peter says, "WHY?"  He might have done ok if he had stopped here, but Peter's pride comes raring ahead, "I WILL DIE FOR YOU!"

 

Jesus knocks Peter down a few pegs saying, "Your going to deny me...three times."

 

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

What can we learn from all of this...

I always try to lead the scripture wondering who I am in the story.  In this story, if your choices are Judas or Peter, everyone is going to pick Peter.  (Some of us would rather pick one of the silent disciples who don't express any opinion about the bomb Jesus just dropped...

 

I wonder if there is much difference between Peter and Judas...

 

Similarities between Judas and Peter

Strangely, there are a lot of similarities between Peter and Judas.

1.                  Both were chosen by Jesus  as disciples

2.                  Both had similar names: Simon Peter/Judas Son of Simon

3.                  Both experienced Jesus ministry as eye witnesses

4.                  Both had important jobs (lead/treasurer)

5.                  Both were called "friends" and had their feet washed

6.                  Both pretended to be something they weren't

a.                  Judas pretended to be something he wasn't/RELIGIOUS

b.                  Peter pretended to be more than he was/STRONG

7.                  Both Sold out Jesus for themselves

a.                  Judas

(1)                In keeping with his patriotic zeal, Judas turned Jesus over to the authorities after realizing that his Master did not intend to overthrow the Roman order and establish a Jewish state.

(2)                Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah and planned his arrest in hope of urging Jesus to usher in his kingdom.

(3)                He was a scoundrel who had plotted wickedness since the start of Jesus' public ministry.

(4)                Prompted by a satanic impulse, Judas betrayed Jesus; however, after recognizing that he was deceived, out of remorse he took his own life.

(5)                With damaged pride and humiliated ego from Jesus' caustic rebukes, Judas, originally a loyal disciple, turned against him.

(6)               Judas, moved by his own greed, yielded to his selfish materialistic instincts

 

b.                  Peter- Matthew 26.69

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man." 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus,  "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

 

From all appearances, these guys LOOK the SAME. 

Differences between Judas and Peter

1A.  Judas met Jesus and accepted him as Rabbi - Mark 14.42

45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" (good advice/example)

 

1B.  Peter met Jesus and accepted him as Lord - Matt 16.15-16

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."(Allegiance, submission, guidance, strength, and hope)

 

2A.  Judas Sinned, was Guilt ridden, and Killed Himself - Matthew 27.3

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

 

2B.  Peter Sinned, was Grieved, and then Repented - Luke 22.61

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him,  "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. (Sin grieves God but it never surprises him.  Nailed to the cross)

 

3A.  Judas met Jesus and lived a life of religiosity (never mission) to his death - John 12.4-6

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. - Judas lived a life of flesh in the guise of spirituality, for himself

 

3B.  Peter met Jesus and lived on mission the led to his death - John 21.15-17

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him,  "Follow me." - Peter lived a transformed life, at war with the flesh, on mission

How did Peter die? - According to church tradition, the Roman Emperor Nero, publicly announcing himself the chief enemy of God, was led in his fury to slaughter the Apostles. Because of the persecution, Peter was crucified upside down while in Rome.

 

WHY THIS MATTERS/WHY I FIGHT IT...Why does this all matter? 

1.      A proper view of conversion/justification - why does someone accept the gospel?

  • How are we converted?  Didn't Judas have every opportunity? Wasn't he religious?
  • How exactly is a man who the bible says naturally chooses evil, has a mind that his hostile toward God, possesses a heart of stone, and is best described as a dead man ever find God or have the power to choose him? - We don't.
  • Answer:  God shows up and opens your blind eyes:  PETER/Matthew 16.17 And Jesus answered him,  "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
  • There are a lot of people claiming to be Christians who are not. Maybe you're one. 

 

2.      A proper view of relationship/sanctification - how does someone live like Jesus? 

  • Conversion doesn't mean we're suddenly Jesus clones walking around never sinning again. In fact, right after Jesus says that to Peter, Peter reveals his sin again.
  • So the question is not whether we sin, but how differently we respond to it-like Peter or Judas? 2Corinth. 7.10 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
  • Judas sinned the entire time he was with Jesus. And, he didn't feel remorse over it, he didn't feel bad about it, because he never got caught. No one ever knew. Judas felt guilty when he saw the consequences of his betrayal. There is a difference between GRIEF over the SIN itself and GRIEF over the CONSEQUENCES of that SIN.
  • There is a difference between being regretful and repentant.
    • Peter sinned and wept bitterly....then repented.
    • Jesus is the only one who saw him/all other disciples had fled
    • Relationship with God is about giving him your whole life...Like Judas, we separate our lives into spiritual and non-spiritual - perfect around church life (AMONG DISCIPLES PEOPLE) and sinful in our regular life (ALONE/OUTSIDE CHURCH) where we don't get caught.

 

WHY JESUS IS THE HERO - John 13.31-35

3.      A proper view of mission/church - what we are converted to?  WE ARE NOT converted to be good moral people who good live moral lives, raising good home schooled kids, voting for good conservative politicians, and placing good pro-life bumper stickers on our cars and listen to good artists like Carrie Underwood's Jesus take the Wheel.

 

34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

Quite simply, we're on mission to tell people how much God loves them.  We do this by telling that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, that he was buried, and in three days he rose conquering sin and death.  

 

We have a lot of Judas' in churches today...FAKES WHO LOVE THEMSELVES

Judas' mistake was that he did not love Jesus, so he did not love others.  He was not interested in anything but himself, so he loved no one but himself while PRETENDING to be concerned about others.  He never really saw who Jesus was so he remained on the throne of his own life.  A church full of Judas' is not a church full of betrayers, rather, it's a church full of religious people who look "Christian" but in the darkness they Jesus is just a means to get what they want and they'll drop him the moment JESUS REBUKES or disappoints in some way. (YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE JESUS)

 

We need a lot of Peter's in churches today...REALIZE HOW MUCH GOD LOVES THEM

We need some Peter's who, because they realize how sinful they are, can share the love of god in a genuine way.  So it's not a PHARISEE telling someone how to live good...but a denier of the Lord (which we all are)  who is still very much loved by Jesus.  1Peter 1...

 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 

 

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