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The Scriptorium

Grace at All Times

We need to have grace even for those who abuse it.

The Gospel of John: John 13.12-26

Read and meditate on John 13.23-26
Jesus revealed the identity of the one who would betray Him, but He did it in such a way as not to inflame the others against Him. This is what grace does, even with those who abuse it.

                                                                23Next
to Jesus, leaning on His bosom, was
the one whom Jesus loved the most. 24Because
of this, then Simon Peter motioned to
him, indicating he should find out who
it was of whom He spoke. 25He leaned back on
His breast and asked, “Lord who is it? Which one
of us? 26And Jesus answered, “It is he
to whom I give the sop.” And then, when He
had dipped the bread, he gave it to the son
of Simon, Judas.

- John 13.23-26

Reflect
1.  Verse 23 is John’s humble way of identifying himself. Does this mean Jesus loved John more than He loved the other disciples, or simply in a different way? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me, just as much, and in just the ways that I need, so that…

2.  Among the disciples, John seems to have been closest to Jesus. Peter and James, and sometimes Andrew, because they are sometimes mentioned as being close to Jesus (cf. Matt. 26.36, 37; John 12.20-22), appear to have constituted a second circle. Then there were the remaining eight disciples, the larger group of around 100 – including the women that ministered to Him and the others who gathered in the upper room in Acts 1.12-15 – and the masses, whose ranks changed based on where Jesus was. Did Jesus love all these people? Did He love them all the same? Is there any guidance for you here in thinking about yourself as an agent of grace within your own Personal Mission Field? Lord, You call me to be gracious to all people, but not necessarily to the same extent, or in the same ways. What I need to know each day is…

3.  Try to imagine you are Judas. What had happened to him by this time (v. 2). How do you think he might have been feeling? What affections were likely ruling in his heart? What had been done to him (v. 12)? Would that have affected him in any way, or caused any particular feelings to rise in his heart? Do you ever recognize such affections trying to exert rule in your soul? Explain. Lord, guard my heart! Let the affections that rule in my heart be always…

4.  Jesus answered John’s question, but evidently so that only he would know. Even then, it appears John didn’t fully understand (cv. 28). Jesus felt no need to “out” Judas at this point. He revealed the truth indirectly to John, but not to the others. What is suggested about the manner in which He revealed this truth? Did He want everyone to know? Did He want to Judas to know He was being outed? Sometimes we will only want to reveal the truth selectively, rather than broadly. Why? Lord, I understand that truth is such that not everyone receives it in the same way. Some truth can overwhelm people, and cause them to act in ways that might even compromise truth. You fit Your truth to our individual lives and circumstances, so in my witness for You, I need to learn how to…

5.  Jesus had grace even for Judas. Commentators differ on whether what Jesus offered Judas was the bread of the Supper or just an ordinary piece of bread, dipped in water or wine. I am inclined to think that Jesus gave Judas the elements of the sacrament here, and that there sharing in this sacramental meal was not so pro forma as we are accustomed to in our practice. He offered Judas His body and blood, and Judas took it, but he took it in an unworthy manner. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 10.27-32. What does it mean to take the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner? How can our consideration of Judas in this situation help us in answering this question? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Even the way he rebuked Judas was calculated to put him to shame. Judas did not respect the table, though he shared the bread. Be that as it may, who would not have been won over, however, by receiving the bread from Christ’s own hand? Yet it did not win Judas over.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus has grace for every sinner. So should we. But we must not abuse the grace of our Lord, and we must be especially careful about the manner in which we receive His body and blood. How would you counsel a new believer to approach receiving the grace of our Lord at His Table?

Closing Prayer
O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
Let them be confounded and consumed
Who are adversaries of my life;
Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor
Who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Psalm 71.12-17

Psalm 71.12-18, 3 (Solid Rock: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
O God be not too far from me; my ever-present Helper be!
Consume and shame my enemies; let them reproached and humbled be.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

But as for me my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

O Lord, I praise Your righteousness, Who me from youth have taught and blessed.
Forsake me not when I am old, ‘til I Your mercies all have told!
    A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
    My Rock and Fortress ever be!

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.

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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.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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