Lesson 54
John 13:18-30
[18] 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. [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. [21] 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. [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. [25] 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. [28] 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.
Related Scriptures
Background Information The
description of John leaning against Jesus probably sounds unusual to you. In the
ancient Middle East people, didn’t sit upright on chairs around the table at
meal time. Rather they stretched out on low couches or mats, probably laying on
their sides, with their heads raised up. John would have been next to Jesus with
their heads near each other. The physical closeness of such arrangements would
have been commonplace in that culture. It would not have seemed sensual or
romantic to them. You
may recall from previous lessons how the Jewish leaders had been trying to
arrest Jesus quietly and destroy Him. Until recently, Jesus had been staying out
of their territory for His own safety. They needed someone to betray Jesus
because He was one person in a crowded city, and withdrew to privacy when not
involved in public ministry. Judas’ job would be to lead arresting officers to
Jesus at a time and place where there were no sympathetic crowds to interfere
with the arrest. The
word “sop” refers to a piece of bread dipped in sauce or liquid. Verse
20 speaks of people who receive Jesus by receiving His messengers. This isn't as
much a reference to salvation as it is to supporting Jesus' work by supporting
His workers.
Questions This study is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.
Psalm 41:9
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 10:40-42
Matthew 13:24-30 and 13:36-43
Mark 9:39-41
John 12:4-6
John 13:11
Whenever you see one of the disciples referred to as the one “whom Jesus loved”
in the Gospel of John, it is John’s way of referring to himself. Jesus loved all
of the disciples, of course, but God chose to have John describe himself in this
way.
1. What did Jesus know about Judas that the others didn’t?
2. Do Jesus’ words to Judas indicate resentment over his treacherous secret or only ongoing love?
3. In verse 25, John asks Jesus privately who the traitor would be. In verse 26, how did Jesus quietly communicate the answer?
4. How might Judas have felt as Jesus served him at the table?
5. Did Jesus do anything to embarrass Judas as he sent him out into the night?
6. What should Judas have done differently at this point?
7. Who entered into Judas and influenced him as he put his evil plans into motion?
8. Which parts of the lesson text and of the related Scriptures would suggest that Judas had
been quietly disloyal to Jesus and His teachings prior to trying to betray Him?
9. How had Judas’ previous actions opened his soul to being controlled by Satan that night?
10. What are some ways that we can help Jesus by helping His servants today?