THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IV. THE DISCIPLES’ PREPARATION BY THE SON OF GOD (13:1–16:33) A. THE DISCOURSE IN THE UPPER ROOM (Jn 13:1 – 14:31) 1. The Prelude to the Betrayal (13:1-2) 2. The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (13:3-17) 3. The Exposure of the Betrayal (13:18-30)

a. Jesus Divulges (vv )  Read Jn 13:19. ~ Here Jesus reveals His very heart. ~ He shows what a kind Savior He is.  At the same time in this statement Jesus tells His disciples that when one reprobate turns his back on them, it should not be a good enough reason for them to be discouraged. ~ It ought, rather, to confirm their faith.

 The careful groundwork Jesus here lays proved sufficiently strong to keep the disciples together. ~ They did not scatter immediately after the crucifixion.  This phrase (Jn 13:19b) means that Christ is the promised Messiah. ~ The disciples must continue to believe.

 Read Jn 13:20.  This verse follows the thought of v. 16, where Jesus spoke of being a servant to the one who sent Him. ~ He would send forth His disciples so that whoever would receive them would receive Jesus and, in turn, receive the one who sent Jesus – God the Father.

 When the prediction of v. 18 begins to be fulfilled, Jesus nonetheless remains the Messiah, the Son of God, clothed with authority to send out His ambassadors. ~ The very facts of the humiliation confirm His authority and the validity of their commission. ~ The very facts of the humiliation confirm His authority and the validity of their commission. ~ They will remain ambassadors for Christ.

 At the same time the mission of Jesus is here assigned the highest theological significance, the most absolutely binding authority – the authority of God Himself. ~ Failure to receive Christ is failure to know God.  And because His disciples represent Him to the world, their mission, their ministry, takes on precisely the same absolute significance.

~ God Himself through their preaching will be making His appeal to the sinner. ~ The statement applies to all time, andto every true ambassador for Christ (i.e., to every ambassador who truly represents Him and truly proclaims His Word).

 Thus, in this verse, Jesus anticipates the commission of Jn 20:21, where the parallels between His own mission and the mission of His disciples are explicitly drawn. ~ To the same disciples after the resurrection, this became not only assurance that Jesus knew the direction He was taking, but also a foretaste of the commission that would consume them to the end of their days.