The False Disciple

Jesus, Mission, and Glory: New Identity PART II
Rev Abe Cho
06 November 2016

John 13: 21-30
21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."

22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.  23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.  24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish."  Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly."  28But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.  29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.  30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out.  And it was night.

TROUBLED CHRIST
--v.21 recalls His feelings in the Garden of Gethsemane.
--Jesus saw sin has a personal and relational betrayal.
--Sin is a relational breach with God/Jesus.
--God's anger at our sin is a sign of love.

DISILLUSIONED DISCIPLE
--Judas's betrayal was shocking--that's why disciples didn't make the connection that it was him.
--Judas was disappointed with Jesus--possibly because he didn't resolve Roman oppression.
--Judas placed what he thought was important / right over God's will.
--Evil is real in the Bible and profound--hence the reference to Satan.
--Judas was seized with remorse--hence the suicide.

OFFER OF LOVE
--John's reference to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved could be seen as a sign that John defined himself in relation to Jesus.
--His identity wasn't about his name, John, but in reference to the Lord.