The Gospel of John: John 13.12-26

Read and meditate on John 13.18-20.
Jesus said we would know to believe Him because He both knew the eternal plan of God, and submitted to it. And He would be sending others in His Name with that same plan.

                                                             ¹⁸I
do not refer to all of you. For I
know those whom I have chosen. But the Word
must be fulfilled, according to the Lord:
“He who eats bread with Me, he will betray
Me.” ¹⁹This I tell, and I want to say
it to you well before it happens, so
that when it comes to pass, then you may know
the I am He.²⁰I say to you, that he
who will receive whom I have sent, receives
Me also; and the one receiving Me,
receives the One Who sent Me.”

- John 13.18-20

Reflect
1.  Jesus’ betrayal did not come to Him as a surprise. He knew from the beginning who would betray Him. How shall we explain His willingness to persist with Judas for some three years, knowing what He did? Is there counsel for us here for our relationships? Complete the following prayer: Give me patience, Lord, and grace to bear with those who…

2.  According to Mark 3.13-19, Jesus appointed Judas to be in the band of His disciples. But apparently, He did not choose Him. What’s the difference, and what are the implications for those who wish to be disciples of Jesus? Thank You, Lord, for both choosing me to follow You, and appointing me to my Personal Mission Field. Help me to…

3.  Jesus knew what the Scriptures taught, and He chose to submit to the Scriptures, even knowing what that would require. What does this imply for those whom Jesus sends in His Name? What are the implications of this for you? Jesus said that when the teaching of Scripture was realized as He said, His disciples would believe in Him. What counsel is there for us here as we do the work of making disciples? Help me, Lord, as I grow in understanding Your Word, to…

4.  Jesus indicates that He will be sending certain people. Sending them for what? What kinds of responses should they expect? What authority will they possess to do this? Lord, You have sent me to my Personal Mission Field, and I…

5.  Notice that Jesus is not the end of our reason for being sent as His disciples (v. 20; cf. Jn. 14.6). What is? How can you know when you have realized this goal? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Whomever the Savior sends to minister to the salvation of anyone, that person who is sent is an apostle of Jesus Christ. But just as the apostle is an apostle of the one who sent him, so is he an apostle only to those to whom he is sent.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)

If we are chosen by Jesus, and appointed to follow Him, we should understand that He considers us to have been sent. How can you tell someone who is on a mission for Jesus Christ?

Closing Prayer
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 27.1-4

Psalm 27.1-6 (Joanna: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
Lord, You are our Light and our Savior most dear!
You guard us with might; therefore, whom shall we fear?
Though evil surround us, our enemies fall;
No harm shall confound us when on You we call.

One thing we request, but to dwell with You, Lord.
Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace;
No foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise!

T. M. Moore

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Men, God is calling you to pray. Watch this brief video, then seek the Lord about joining our Men at Prayer movement.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.