“After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ’Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ’It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ’What you are going to do, do quickly.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night” (John 13:18-20, ESV).
What we usually hear about politicians in our country (Philippines) are their corruption, divisiveness, or desire for publicity. So, when it comes to our attention that a particular politician performs impressively, it’s like breathing a fresh air for us.
Do you have someone in mind?
We could mention the American businessman turned politician, Donald Trump. Some news commentators agree that he has spine of steel. There are ordinary US citizens who want him to run even for the third term. Many admire him.
Not only in politics, but we also appreciate and admire anyone who performs what is exemplary or impressive in sports, in business, in class, or in whatever field. We admire even a church member, not financially well off, yet willing to give financial help to someone who is in need.
Because of knowing such person, we are also awakening something within ourselves. How much more if we know the exemplary, breathtaking, impressive humanity of Jesus Christ?
So, this time, let’s explore our topic, ADMIRE THE SPECTACULAR HUMANITY OF JESUS, while we study our text (John 13:21-30).
Why do we say the humanity of Jesus Christ is impressive, extraordinary, breathtaking, or spectacular?
For some time, we have been going through the Gospel of John.
Last time, in verses 18-20 of John 13, we dug out some peculiar desires of Jesus for His followers. He wanted for them to strengthen or increase their faith. He wanted for them to realize that He regarded them in a very special way. He wanted His words of promise be directed to them. And that He wanted for them to be encouraged greatly when they go on their mission.
Now, in our present text, we’ll look on the humanity of Jesus Christ. And we note that His humanity is spectacular. Why it is so? In what way that we can label it as extraordinary, phenomenal, impressive, stunning, breathtaking, or spectacular?
First, CONSIDER THE SPLENDOR OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY (verses 21-25).
We read verses 21-25, “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, ’Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, ‘Lord, who is it?’"
Before we cite the Sovereignty of Jesus, we note in verse 21, His true humanity. Notice the words, “Jesus was troubled in his spirit,..” It showed that He suffered emotional pain. His humanity was not just displayed or showed on the outside, as having a physical human body; but it was expressed in the inner being. It was suffering an inner pain felt by any ordinary human being.
Jesus is not only Divine, but truly and fully human -- outside and inside. He is truly human, for He has human emotion. But though He is human, God’s attribute of Sovereignty is evident in this passage. Notice what Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” It was not just an speculation. It was not just a supposition. He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you…” It was a declaration of certainty. He displayed not just God’s Power to know what’s going to happen in the future. For he ordained what’s going to happen.
If we move forward to verse 27, we learned that after Judas took the morsel of bread from Jesus, Satan entered into Judas. Of course, we do not read that Satan asked Jesus’ permission to enter into Judas. But we do know that the devil cannot act anything on his own will alone. As Jesus handed the bread to someone who would betray him, did Jesus give the hint for Satan to influence or even possess Judas?
If so, then, truly Jesus displayed His Sovereignty, not only by knowing but also by controlling what’s going to happen in the future.
Touching on the humanity of Jesus Christ he was not omniscient. He did not know everything. He needed to study and learn the Old Testament. He did not know the day and time of His second coming. But He is not only fully man. He is also fully God. As fully God, He is Sovereign. The infinity of His Sovereignty cannot be totally contained by the finite humanity. His Divinity could “spark” at times. Sometimes, He displayed it by forgiving sins of others.
In our text, Christ demonstrated not only His human knowledge of the Scripture, or just knowing that a certain event was going to happen in the future. It is Sovereignty. It’s not just simply knowing the future, but orchestrating, even ordaining what, how or when is the event to happen in the future.
So, the act of Jesus in giving the morsel of bread to Judas was not just to identify who would be the traitor. It could also be a signal for Satan to enter into Judas. Did it mean that Judas was forced against his will to do his evil act? No.
All the unbelievers have the tendency to be a Judas. Romans 1:28 declared: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”
On the other hand, God did not give up the believers to a debased mind. He gave them to Jesus in order to believe and follow Him (John 17:6B, 8). In John 10: 27, Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus knew the Judas in His company, but He knew intimately those He had chosen.
Believers or lovers of Christ, Jesus Christ is Sovereign. He knows not only what we are doing. He knows what we are thinking. He knows what we are feeling. He knows if we are really His. He knows if we are just with Him, or if are really in Him.
Judas was with Him, within His company. But he was after only for the benefits he could enjoy. As the treasurer, he loved the financial favor he could get out of it. On the other hand, the true disciples of Jesus were in Him. They felt the love of Jesus and they loved it. And the Apostle John expressed it. He addressed himself, as the disciples “whom Jesus loved.” He felt to be known intimately by Jesus.
How about us? Are we just with Jesus, or also in Him?
Jesus knew who would betray Him before. Even now He knows, who are just with Him. He knows not only who are just with Him, but He ordains or allows who would be with Him just to enjoy whatever favor. On the other hand, just as He knew intimately His disciples before who loved Him, Jesus knows today those who really love Him. He knows not only those who are just in Him, but He reveals or makes Himself known to them through His Word, so they really believe and love Him.
Knowing Jesus’ Sovereignty, we could examine ourselves and feel if we’re love by God.
In my case, I could ask myself, “Am I just standing here, appearing to be with Jesus, doing the preaching ministry, because I am just pleased with what I am doing? Or because I am in Him, feeling that Jesus really loves me? Am I interested only to stand and speak before a group of people, or I love more to promote the Biblical Jesus and to proclaim His Word?”
I could deceive you. But I cannot deceive the Sovereign Jesus. He could tell me in the future, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23).
Our performance does not guarantee that we are in Jesus. We can be with Jesus, but it is only through God’s Sovereign choice that we can be in Him. For only the Father can draw or give us to Jesus. Then, the Son will give us the Word, and we will be enabled to receive it.
Knowing also this aspect of God’s Sovereignty ought to strengthen our reliance on Jesus. It should also help us not to boast in whatever accomplishment for our salvation. It should remind us of Ephesians 2: 9, “not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Reliance on Jesus’ Sovereignty means humility on our part. We are humble not only when we think of our salvation, but in all aspects of our life. Remind ourselves with the words of Jeremiah, “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). Be humble. We are truly humble not because others are better than ourselves. We feel humble because it is the Lord who controls all things. He is Sovereign over our earthly destiny. He is Sovereign over our eternal destiny.
What else can we define the Humanity of Christ as spectacular?
Second, CONSIDER THE GRACE OF HIS HUMAN VIRTUE (verses 26-30).
We read verses 26-30, ”Jesus answered, ’It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ’What you are going to do, do quickly.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.”
The quality of the human behavior of Jesus Christ is obviously good and desirable. When he told Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly,” some of his disciple thought He was telling Judas to buy what they needed for the feast, or He instructed Judas to give something to the poor. They were used to that kind of practice of Jesus. He used their resources for what they needed, or for helping the poor.
The human quality or trait of Jesus is better than that. It is spectacular. In what way?
In verse 26, we read that Jesus gave Judas “the morsel” or piece of bread. It was not just an act that demonstrated to John who would betray Him. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, offering a dipped morsel of bread was “a powerful act of friendship, favor, and honor.”
So, while Judas was going to betray Him, Jesus demonstrated to him an “act of friendship, favor, and honor”! And it was a display of grace.
When Jesus gave Judas the morsel of bread, He extended “friendship, favor, and honor” to him. And he did not deserve such kind of treatment. He would betray his Master. The act of Jesus demonstrated grace.
It was the same grace of virtuous act that Jesus demonstrated when He washed the dirty feet of Judas. He rendered then a slave kind of service. And now He gave another demonstration of grace to someone, who would betray Him. Treating Judas as friend, with favor and honor by handing him the morsel of bread.
Not only Judas, but every unbeliever has experienced the common grace that God bestowed in every person on this planet. The air to breath, sunlight, rain and other physical favors on this earth are available to everyone.
Believers or lovers of Christ, are we aware that as true believers, God has extended to us not only common grace?
He gives us not only physical or material favors. Remember when Jesus washed His disciples feet? Judas was among them who also received the cleansing of his feet. But His true disciples received not only the cleansing of their feet. They were also cleansed spiritually.
As true believers we enjoyed not only common grace from God. He gives us special grace, Sovereign or saving grace. He gives us regeneration, faith, forgiveness, repentance, and glorification. In short, He gives us salvation.
Just like the rest, we could just be given up to a debased mind by God. And suffer His wrath in hell for eternity. That’s what we deserve. Instead of giving us up, He gave us to His Son, or drawn us to Him. In turn, Jesus gives us God’s Word. Through the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to receive it and keep it.
Instead of just allowing us to receive common grace or earthly favors, He blesses us with His special grace. He qualified us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col. 1:12B-13).
So, what should be our response? Our hearts should be filled not only with unending gratitude, or great admiration for what He has done. Our affection for God Himself should explode in our hear! Our love for Jesus should dominate our love for anyone or anything else.
Also, because we are recipient of His grace, should we not also extend grace to others? Yes, we should also be willing to bless those who betray us. To do good to those who do us evil. To honor those who dishonor us. To extend grace to those who disgrace us. To pray for those who persecute us.
CONCLUSION:
Before we end, could you see something in the President of our country (Philippines) to admire him?
Some of us perceive him as a “weak President.” Recently, a certain blogger who was previously attacking him is now defending him. Why? He noticed and was attracted to the attitude of the President that though he has power to crush his attackers, he did not retaliate. When our President met recently Pres. Trump in the White House, the US President expressed his praises of him. He said that he is great and his family is great. For he knew them. He added that our President is tough, when he negotiated. A reporter asked Trump what would be his message to the Filipino people. His reply was quick and brief, “Respect your President!” And I would add, the Bible tells us to pray for our leaders.
Some of us may see only the weakness of our Philippine President, the Democrats may see nothing to be admired in the policies of Trump. But, by God's grace, may we really see the spectacular humanity of Christ. May we see and be in awe of the splendor of His Sovereignty. May we see and be so grateful and affectionate for the grace of His Human virtue. And may we see not only His spectacular Humanity, but the beauty of the Majesty of His whole Being, as worthy to be admired, worthy to be adored, worthy of to be greatly loved.
