John chapter 13

vs 21

How did John know he was troubled in spirit? What does that mean? Well, we get the general jist of it, because he's trying to say that one his his inner 12 is going to betray him. That's pretty shocking - the amount of respect and honour you are meant to have for your master, let alone for someone who is the Messiah, should preclude any such idea. They already know the Pharisees are out to get them - but someone on the inside?

vs 22

None of them had suspicions at the time, it seems. Perhaps the way he said it suggested it was going to be the fulfilment of a prophecy, and so they realised it could be any of them.

vs 23-24

It's this sort of little detail that really lets you know that John was there. And at such a privileged position, right next to Jesus. Why didn't Peter ask him himself? It could be a cultural thing that discussion didn't fly across the table, but I don't know.

vs 25

Anyway, he does ask where Peter doesn't.

vs 26-27

In John's gospel, Jesus marks out Judas openly. And it says that only after he took the bread did Satan enter him. So could it hacve been anyone? Was Judas marked from before the beginning of time? So many questions here. Jesus then tells him to get about and do the thing he is about to do.

vs 28

Everyone else, though, doesn't realise that he was being so immediate. Judas probably did. It must be hard to betray someone who knows you're going to do it, and has just said it to you.

vs 29

John, being one of those who didn't understand at the time, gives us a fair insight into what the people were thinking at the time.

vs 30

Jesus did tell him to do it quickly, after all. Obedient, in a way.