John 13:18-30 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled… I. A SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT. 1. The reason of it. (1) To indicate Christ's knowledge of the human heart, and to show that He had not been mistaken in Judas (ver. 18). Had it not been made it would have appeared as though Christ were not omniscient. (2) To direct the disciples' minds to an impressive fulfilment of Scripture (ver. 18). (3) To confirm the faith of the disciples in Himself (ver. 19). (4) To arrest, and if yet possible rescue, the soul of Judas. 2. The certainty of it (ver. 21). "Amen, amen." Had any other made the announcement it would have been rejected with scorn. 3. The effect of it. (1) It filled the Saviour with horror (ver. 21), just as He had been perturbed at Lazarus's grave (John 11:33). (2) It plunged the disciples into consternation and dismay (ver. 22). II. AN ANXIOUS QUESTION (ver. 25). 1. Moved by Peter, with characteristic impetuosity, who thought perhaps that John was in the secret, but he was equally ignorant. 2. Proposed by John — (1) With affection — leaning back till his head rested on Jesus's breast. (2) With reverence — "Lord."(3) With pity for Christ, who should suffer, and the disciple who should inflict so sad a fate. (4) With humility and self-examination — as if he dreaded it should be himself; and yet surely — (5) With conscious innocence — though Judas had the effrontery to ask, "Is it I?" III. AN EXPLICIT ANSWER (ver. 26). 1. Clearly given. 2. Defiantly accepted. 3. Strangely misunderstood (ver. 28).Lessons — 1. Christ in His Church a searcher of hearts. 2. The possibility of sitting at Christ's table without being a true disciple, of enjoying religious ordinances without possessing grace, of falling from Christ so far as to lift the heel against Him. 3. Apostasies, though they do not affect Christ's position in the Church, are occasions of pain. 4. John-like spirits are most likely to obtain from Christ revelations of His grace and truth. 5. Christ loves those who hate Him; but he who will not be won by that love must eventually fall into the devil's grasp. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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