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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Thursday, July 20 . John 13 : 31 - 35 -
bled in His innermost being, and at last burst forth in the heartbreaking wail of this passage, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.” It is unutterably sad to be betrayed by one of our most intimate friends, by one whom we have most befriended. But that was our Master’s bitter lot. And constantly are new Judases arising, men and women from the very circle of those who outwardly gather close around Jesus, but who later, ensnared by the love of money, or applause, or ease, betray their Lord. It is no won der that the disciples were in doubt of whom He spake. Such perfidy seemed impossible. And there may be those today whom we would never suspect of such infamy, who in coming years will betray their Lord. There was nothing yet in the outward conduct of Judas that made the disciples suspect him. Who could it be? each one wondered. There was one disci ple very near and dear to the Lord who was reclining next to Him at the table, where he could lean back upon the Sav iour’s bosom and whisper in His ear, “Who is it?” John does not give this disciple’s name because it was himself. If many modern Christians had been writing this book they would not 'only have mentioned their own name, but also given their own photograph. Simon Peter nodded to John to ask Jesus who the betrayer might be. Jesus does not directly answer the question, but gives, an -obscure sign by which he might be known. He tells them it was one to whom He was,about to show a special Courtesy. Then Jesus dipped the morsel and handed it to Judas. The heart of Judas closed against Jesus by covetousness and ambition is open to Satan, and Satan, ever on the alert, enters in. Satan today will enter into any heart that does not respond to Jesus’ kindness. Jesus seeing clearly that there is no hope of reclaiming Judas, bids him quickly perform his nefari ous purpose and be done with it. Judas, unblushingly taking the food which the kindly hand reaches out to him, goes out immediately, “and it was night."
With the going forth of Judas to get his band to arrest Him, Jesus sees the approach of His own glorification. He sees that His death will be His lifting up (cf. ch. 12:31, 32), lifting up not merely on the cross, but lifting up to a glory above all other glory ,(cf. Phil. 2:8-11). The glory of the Son of Man came through crucifixion, and our glory must needs come in the same way (Rom. 8:17). In His being thus glorified God was also glorified in Him. Jesus realized that His stay with His disciples was fast drawing to a close, and therefore left them a law of life. That law is the law.of love. Moses had said that we should love one another as we love ourselves. Jesus, went beyond that, we must love one another even as He loved us, i. e-, we must not merely put our neighbor on a level with ourselves, but put him before ourselves, be ready to sacrifice our lives for his. That is the Christian law of, life (cf. 1 Jno. 3 :14, 16-18). This too is the proof whereby all men shall know that we are indeed dis ciples of Jesus (v. 35). Poor Simon Peter does not yet know his own heart; he fancies that he can fol low Jesus all the way and that he is ready to lay down his life for Him. The day will come when He will be ready for that, but it is not come yet, it will npt come before Pentecost. “Whither goest thou?” he asked the Lord. Jesus will answer this question a little further on (ch. 14:1-6). As yet Peter had no comprehension of where He was going, nor how difficult was the way to get there, viz., the way of the cross. His Lord tells him that the way was such an one that he could not take it now, but the day would come when he could take it and would take it. “Not now,” He says, “but thou shalt follow me after wards.” But Peter persists that he is ready now, even though it meant the laying down of his life. Then Jesus tenderly lays bare to Simon the unrealized weakness of his Friday, July 21 . . John 13 : 36 - 38 .
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