NOTES for Joh 13:21-38
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. |
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. |
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. |
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. |
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. |
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. |
36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. |
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. |
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. |
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Jesus has gathered His disciples for the final meal, the meal of the covenant. He gives them a new law unlike the old one. His commandment concerns love within His community. It is so easy, after all, to love those who share your beliefs, your brothers...
But the Lord tells them that one of them is a traitor. His commandment now becomes almost impossible to fulfill: how can they love one another if any one of them may suddenly prove to be an enemy? Each tries to distance himself from the dreadful stigma of traitor, but Jesus stops them. He predicts that they will all prove unfaithful—and very soon, before morning.
The disciples, and after them all believers, are not divided into good and bad, faithful and unfaithful. They are united by one human weakness and one incomprehensible commandment: to love one another without trying to guess who will prove to be an enemy, and to imitate the love of the Teacher, who loves them unconditionally.
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Readings for 23 July 2026
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