In this sermon Graham is again preaching from John’s gospel. This is part 3 of a series on chapters 13 to 17. This week the passage is chapter 13, verses 18 to 30.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted in this post below.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
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Sermon John 13:18-30
One leaves, the rest draw closer.
1) V18 He Chooses
He chooses for blessing v17
He chooses for service v14-16
He chooses for life eternal 14:1-4
2) He Draws Close
He draws them close. He speaks of them being chosen.
V33-35 - Had they all mainly connected with Jesus only? How much fellowship had they had with each other? Not much I think. See Luke 22:24 (”A dispute arose…”)
Jesus now goes on to bring them into fellowship with each other. His departure will mean they will fall upon each other as never before. We know they did. Jesus is the connection point in our Christian relationships.
He introduces the “Body of Christ” concept, the idea of the unit, the Church. In 1 Peter 2:5 Christians are likened to stones being built into a building in which God lives. See Acts 9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. To Jesus his own are special. When one of his is touched, so is he.
3) Darkness
Judas in Darkness (see previous week, “And you are clean, though not every one of you.” Here he refers to Judas.)
v22 They did not know about Judas. How could they not have seen this? They knew Judas was a thief.
See John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. ” It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
V29 Love of money. See 2 Tim 3:2. Again John mentions Judas and the love of money.
Matthew 6:24 No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
Was this love of money the start of the rot in Judas? I wonder, what would be the start of the rot in me?
Conclusion
V28 “Still no one understood.” Amazing that light, blessing and fellowship can exist alongside such darkness.
Satan entered him. Having rejected the rule of God, his good conscience, and all the opportunities of entering the light and walking in the light, he has crossed over. He has entered the darkness. And so the writer adds the comment “it was night”.
Satan entered him. But not until after he took the bread. This was his last opportunity to change course, the final appeal to turn back, which he refused.
The bread was offered to Judas. Rescue is offered to us.
Some people wonder if it is too late for them, if the opportunity has passed them by. My reply is that if your conscience bothers you, and you are still troubled by your past or things you have done, then you still have a chance for forgiveness and rescue.
Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
