The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 194

,loubt whether his ohoioc., of Juda.a was consistent with his being the Messiah. It r!!I here tmced t,o the "ill of God. II. 'l'HE ENOOURAGEMENTB OIi' THE APOSTLESHIP. "Re that recelveth whomsoever I ~end roccivcth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that eeut me." 1. Tfie Master·s grta,tne.q is nftected in the mission of his servants. They are'apostles from J,im, as he is an Apost.le from the.FRther. 2. The tre<lchery of Jwia.s, though it migh, iha~·e their «>n~. oovJ.d not annul the dignity of their apostolic office. , ors. 21-80.-'l'he di,smi,ssal of J'U<Ul,8. The departure of the traitor was necessary to the full di11clol!W'e of all that our Lord had in store for his beloved disciples, I. MARK TIIE EMOTION OF OUR LoBD. "He wae troubled in spirit." 1. Not on account of wounded lo~ 2. Nor from 'horror at the conduct of JtJ,i/,as. 3. Nor from pity for his approaching doom. 4. But, as the word (,n,,iiµ.a) signifi,es,from the shoch that was caused by the th()'U,!Jht qf the fearful crime about to be committed at the instiga- tion of &tan. II. MABK OUR LOBD's OPEN mENTIFIOATION OP' THB TRAITOR. .. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." The statement proved the omni- science of Jesus. Judas had ae yet done nothing to excite suspicion of his treachery. 1. Mark the astonishment and perpla;ity qf the discipks. " Then the disciples looked: one on another, doubting of whom he spa.ke." (1) They doubted their own hearts rather than the ominous sentence of their Master. There is a remarkable humility manifested in their attitude, as each asks, "Lard, is it I? " (2) They never suspected the guilt of Judas. None of them said, "Lord, is it Judas?" The fact proves the skilled hypocrisy of the traitor. 2. The anxuty of Peter to discove-r the traitor. (1) He takes the initiative, with his usual promptitude, suggesting that John should aak the Lord "who it was of whom he spake." (2) Jesus does not name the traitor, but silently identifies him by giving him the sop. (a) This act was one more appeal to the- CODBCience of Judas. (b) Judas received the sop, as if to mark his fellowship with Jesus; but it only gave additional point to the ancient prophecy, "Mine own familiar friend, who did eat of my bread, bath lifted np hia heel against me." (c) Judas was thus made knowo to John only. 3. The traitor opening his heart to Satan. "And after the sop Satan eo.tered into him." (1) What a mysterious power Satan exercises over the he.arts of sin :icrs I Peter says to Ananias, " Why hath Sat.an filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Ghost?" (2) It is for the sinner himself to determine whether Satan shall have entry or not. Therefore men ought to "resist the devil" at his first solicitation. 4. Our Lord dismisses Judas from hia presence. "That thou doest, do quickly." (1) The resolntion had been already formed, and Judas does no!; deprecate the issue for himself. (2) Jesus needed the little space that remained of his last night for the instruction of Lis disciples in farewell duties. 5. The perplezity of the duiciples at our Lord's command to Jud,a,s. (1) None but John, and probably Peter, knew that the traitor had been identified, therefore the words of Jesus were of doubtful meaning. (2) The disciples imagined that Judas held his old footing ae treasurer, and had received an injunction to provide either for the poor or for the observance of the Passover. It is remarkable that Judas should have so successfully concealed his real character and designs from his fellow-disciples. 6. The departure of Judas. "He then having rect:ived the sop went immediately out: and it was night." (1) Judas bide an eternal farewell to Jesus on the old footing of discipleship. 'rhey never meet e.,,aain till the hour of our Lord's arrest. (2) The night into which Judas stepped forth was but a faint figure of the deeper night of a soul into which Satan had entered. Vers. 31-38.-Stpa.ration and its issue. The departure of Judas sets Jesus free tc> discourse familiarly with his disciples. I. THE TRAITOR'S DEPABTUBE 1B THE SIGNAL FOR THE REDEEMER'S GLOBIFIOATION. "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him." 1. Jesus regards his death, now so near, a11 involving his glorifaation. (l) The glorification extended over Christ's whole past life. It lay in his voluntary self-abasement. (2) The redemptive work is regarded as virtually completed (eh. xvii. 4). (3) The Father is glorified by the obedience and 8111ferings of his Son. '!'he sufferiDgs and the glory were closely OB. xm. 1-38.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 201