God in the Midst 1

John 13

Following on from the previous chapter, John 12, where we introduced the concept of “God in the midst”, the idea that we have to seek the spiritual man God the Father and where we have to move from a place of knowing Jesus the man, to knowing God the Father, moving to a place that is Spiritual.

Our starting point to knowing God has to be from a place of spirituality, because “God the Father is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth” John 4:24. It is true to say that in reality “Everything is Spiritual”, it is only when we recognise Spirit that we can begin our life’s journey towards and with Jesus. As John wrote at the outset of this gospel in John 1:12-13 “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God”.

To be a Christian is not just about what we do or what doctrinal position we take or have about the theory of “God in our midst”, it is about experiencing “God in our midst” and naturally working out the great work of salvation that God has worked in us, a work accomplished through His Son who willing trod a path to a cruel cross in order that you and I could have, and experience, eternal life.

Here in John 13 we have an account of both commitment to and betrayal of Jesus, an account that demonstrates to us today the seriousness of what the cost of discipleship really means.

Our story starts around a meal table, a place where conversation takes place. Jesus is celebrating with his disciples a meal we have come to know as the last supper. It is in this place of closeness with his disciples, those he had chosen to be with him on his three years of extraordinary ministry, that we encounter the man Jesus, demonstrating what true Christianity is all about.

The narrative tells us in John 13:3 that Jesus knew “that the Father had given him all authority” and “that his time had come to return to His Father.” With this knowledge of knowing what was ahead Jesus rises from his place at the table, takes a towel and a bowl of water and proceeds to wash his disciples feet. This act is demonstrating that Christianity is about service not ritual. He is also showing that for anyone of us to be able to partake of the “Kingdom of Heaven” we need the experience of washing by the hands and life of Jesus so we can be presented to the Father, spotless, by and in the person of Jesus Christ.

We read in John 13:8 that Peter protests at this demonstration of servant hood that Jesus is modelling and the narrative gives the impression that Peter was too proud and too full of self importance to allow this man, who he had come to know and revere as friend and Lord, to stoop so low as to wash his feet, a job that would have been the task of an employed servant in an established Jewish/Roman household of the time. Jesus response to Peter’s attitude was “you don’t understand now, but someday you will” and “if you don’t allow me to perform this act of service on you then you have no part with me.” At this point in the proceedings Peter has a light bulb moment where he demonstrates and reveals his ignorance to the whole situation and says “well not just my feet then, wash all of me.” The truth is that we are all clean through the word already spoken (as we will discover in John 15:3 later) but we need to be in a place of submission where we allow our feet, the area that is symbolically in contact with the world, to be washed in order for us to continue to live in this great freedom we call salvation.

It is true to say that everyone of us has the potential to betray, and as we know even Peter, who has just made a scene over the demonstration of servant hood, would betray Jesus in the not too distant future.

Judas was a man chosen by Jesus to be part of the twelve men that He called disciples, he was a man who obviously showed promise, rising to the rank of treasurer, a role that gave him authority, respect and responsibility.

This raises questions around how Judas had aspired to the role, was he naturally good with money? Was he a manipulator working to hold some kind of power? Was he a control freak? Did he have a heart of compassion for the poor and therefore was naively entrusted with the money? What ever the reason for Jesus choosing Judas will remain a mystery except for the fact that Judas was chosen to betray Jesus, it was God’s plan, which again raises questions around who God chooses and who betrays Him.

The truth is God does not choose people to betray Him. We all have the potential to do that ourselves and we are all vulnerable when we loose focus of, or stray from Christ Himself.

We have here in John 13 the ultimate betrayal, that of a man’s life for approximately half a years wage equivalent (we can assume there was quite a bit of money at Judas disposal as 30 pieces of silver would have been equivalent to half a years wage, a lot of money for one man but divided between 12 that would equate to about two weeks wages, and he was entrusted with it on their behalf).

Betrayal is the act of being unfaithful and in our case, as Christians, that is being unfaithful to Christ and His indwelling life within us.

What John is recording here in this chapter is that Jesus had called Judas out, He had shown him up for who he was, a liar and a cheat. The reality is that Judas had already strayed in his heart and head, the act had already been committed, Jesus just says “Go and do and do quietly”. Jesus knew Gods plan and no longer needed to or wanted to procrastinate the unfolding plan of salvation. We read in John 13:31-35 words that should drive us to our knees in acknowledgement that this man Jesus is without any doubt God. What Jesus was saying in John 13:31 was ‘now my Father’s work and my work is complete, from now on you will need to support yourselves’. Jesus says follow my example of love to you and extend this among yourselves so all those around you will know you are my disciples.

In John 13;36-38 we read the well known exclamation of exuberance by Peter, who is not unlike many of us, who rushes in where fools fear to tread”. Peter utters words that no man or woman can fulfil without the indwelling, ongoing work of the “Helper”, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus in chapter 14.

I have said many times before in different writings that salvation is worked out daily and the truth is that none of us can utter Peter’s words in John 13:37 “Lord why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake” and ever hope to fulfil them without us living a life in and through the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus demonstrated in John 13;31 and through His life on earth, “laying down our life” involves us willing giving up all rights to our life and accepting that a life lived in God is first and foremost Spiritual which works out Salvation in and through our circumstances and therefore glorifies God and makes Him known.