Letters to the Prison - Week 154

Hello!  We hope you find this study encouraging.  If you need a Bible, ask for one!  We’re moving on with our study of John 13.  Jesus promises a blessing to those who hear him and do what he says.  But then he has something dire and terrifying to say:

• 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.’ -John 13:18

John has made it clear that Jesus is referring to Judas Iscariot when he says this (John 13:10-11).  And we know from another Gospel (Luke 6:12-16) that Jesus, after a night of praying to the Father, specifically chose all twelve of the disciples.  So, Jesus knows who he has chosen… knows the status of their hearts and minds… knows what they will do.  He has nevertheless chosen each of them in prayerful obedience to the Father in order that the “Scripture will be fulfilled.”  The Scripture Jesus refers to is Psalm 41:9. Jesus continues:

• I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.-John 13:19

Here’s another profound thing: Jesus is so certain that this betrayal will happen that he’s telling the disciples (including Judas Iscariot himself!) what will happen ahead of time and that the purpose of both the prediction and the betrayal is so that the inevitable fulfillment of the Scripture will help the disciples’ belief.  

We could spend a long time considering what Jesus is saying about himself (and us!) here… but what should really stand out for us at this moment is the value, power, and significance Jesus himself ascribes to the Scriptures.  Here we have the self-proclaimed God of the Universe (Do you believe Jesus is who he says he is yet?  We hope so!) predicting his own betrayal (and death that will follow) in obedience to the will of God the Father and in fulfillment of the Scriptures.  Jesus is so sure… places so much trust in the Scriptures that he is willing to die in obedience to and fulfillment of them.  Is that like us?  Or not?  Do we trust what the Scriptures say to that degree?  Do we trust Scripture enough to obey it?  Even when it’s hard?  Does Jesus’ own obedience to the Scriptures bolster our belief the way he predicts it will?  These are challenging questions we should ask ourselves… and answer honestly!

Let us not ignore, however, the reminder of who Jesus claims to be: “I am he.”  This should be familiar to us by now…  “I AM” is one of God’s favorite ways of identifying himself (Exodus 3:14).  Jesus has already claimed this title for himself a few times in our study of John (John 4:26 and John 8:58 are two examples).  But then Jesus amplifies this reminder with his 19th “truly truly” statement:

• 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 13:20

We’ll examine this statement more closely as we continue our study next week.  Meanwhile, let us consider:  If we believe Jesus is who he says he is and we see him placing such faith and trust in the Scriptures, what value is there for us to study, understand, believe, and apply those same Scriptures ourselves and to our own lives?  We love you.

Dean A.