The Chosen Ones

Lesson #214

Jesus was using the foot washing as a means of separating the disciples into two groups; those who accept him as Master and Lord and the one who doesn’t, who is going to betray him. For those who believe, the spiritual implications will take on greater meaning as time and events advance. For Judas, the one who does not believe, it surely must drive him into a greater dislike for Jesus.

Jesus continues speaking: “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’” (John 13:18 ESV). In John 6:70, Jesus comments on the twelve he chose: “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil” (ESV). Here in John 13:18, Jesus makes it clear to the disciples that one of them who is eating with them has deceived them as being one of them, but isn’t. Jesus knew who he was choosing and I believe he intentionally chose Judas for the purpose of betraying him. I believe Judas was born with a specific assignment, which we see unfolding before us. Remember, as born again believers, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). I believe God will see to it that we will do the assigned work, but how well we do it is up to us and will determine our reward and blessing we will receive from him. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB). I believe there will be many from the western church that will stand before this judgment seat in great shame because they lived for self and not for the Lord; they left little time to do the assigned work properly and with the right attitude.

Jesus continues by saying, “I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he” (John 12:19 ESV). Jesus had a knowledge of the heart and the power of foretelling future events, and must therefore be seen by his disciples as sent by God. Also his frequent predictions of his death, so circumstantial in themselves, continued to confirm to his disciples that not only was he the Messiah, but that he was also omniscient. If these things Jesus was telling his disciples came to pass, then they would have greater evidence and assurance of who he was.

John then concludes this section with Jesus saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me” (John 13:20 ESV). It is not real clear why Jesus included this statement here. In general, it means that anyone Jesus sends out as a witness for him, including us, will experience a few who will receive our message, but most will not. Those who do receive the message in essence, receive Jesus and if they do they would also receive the Father. In the context of this chapter, those who do not receive the message we have to deliver may turn against us in persecution. This is a growing reality today.

Prayer

Father, Judas was accepted by the other disciples as one of them. I don’t think they had any idea what he was going to do. Today in many persecuted churches there are those we would call a “Judas” who act like a true believer, but are there gathering information about true believers to be used by others in an attempt to destroy them. Father, how different life would be for us if we knew the enemy was infiltrating our circle of worshipers for the purpose of learning who the true believers were. This sure gives meaning to 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (ESV). Father, encourage us to learn about persecution and how to face it when it comes.