We continue our study of the Gospel of John. Picking up at verse 21 in Chapter 13, we read the words penned by the Apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
“After He had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you one of you is going to betray Me.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them He meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask Him which one He means.’
John 13: 21-24
There are three truths we can draw from these passages.
1. Once again we see the fact that Jesus dealt with the same feelings that we do as He was troubled in spirit over what was to happen. Jesus wants us to live in a spirit of peace, but that comes as we learn to let His Peace reign over whatever may be troubling us. He has a plan for each of us, and He will always bring it to pass. But sometimes we get in the way and delay it as we let our feelings control our actions rather than going with the process and trusting Him.
2. The Apostle John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, and certainly he was. But Jesus loves each of His disciples – those of us who have chosen to believe Him, and ask Him into our lives, and follow Him in The Way; so John had no greater love from our Lord than any other. Perhaps John believed he was special to the Lord, and no doubt he was, but so are each of us. It is when we believe that truth, and operate in that love and special place He has for each of us, that we receive that wonderful beautiful Peace that passes all understanding.’
3. Peter may have been simply using the fact that John was reclining beside Jesus, and wanted him to ask Jesus the question because he was close to Him, or Peter may have felt that Jesus would tell John, but not him if he asked. If the latter were the case, we must always know without a doubt that Jesus talks to each of us, and that we do not need someone to speak for us to Him. We are given the privilege to be intercessors, and we should pray intercessory prayers for our brothers and sisters, and children, but when it comes to a question or a prayer for us, we go straight to the Lord. He always has time for us, and will sit and talk with us about anything that is on our heart.. Whatever the feeling, He is Lord over it and wants us to talk with Him about it as the Friend that He is. Son of Man. Son of God. Our very Best Friend. ?
“Grace and Peace be yours in Abundance.”