(43-41a)
For this week’s study:
- Whenever you read or study the Bible, always begin with prayer, asking God to guide you so you understand God’s message and learn His methods for living.
- Read John 13:21-38 several times using your Bible and the two translations provided below to understand the boundaries, content, and flow of the study passage. (Reading the passage once a day from any of those translations is recommended.)
- Read and respond to the “Study Guide” and use the “Study Resources” provided below to learn more from this study passage.
Read the Passage
Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)
<21>After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
<22>The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. <23>One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.1 <24>So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about. <25>Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
<26>Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. <27>And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him.
Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” <28>But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him. <29>Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. <30>As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.
Love One Another
(Romans 12:9–13; 1 John 3:11–24)
<31>When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. <32>If God is glorified in Him,2 God will also glorify the Son in Himself—and will glorify Him at once.
<33>Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
<34>A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. <35>By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Matthew 26:31–35;
Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38)
<36>“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked.
Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
<37>“Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
<38>“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.
Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*
<21>After Jesus had said these things, he became deeply distressed in his spirit and declared clearly, like a witness giving unexpected evidence, ‘I am telling you the truth, there is a traitor among us. One of you is going to betray me.’
<22>When his apprentices heard these words, they all looked hard at one another in shocked silence. They were bewildered and wondered which of them he was talking about. <23>One of Jesus’ apprentices, his very close friend who was deeply aware of Jesus’ love for him, was relaxing at table next to him. <24>Simon Peter looked at this man and, signalling to him—as close friends do—asked him which one of them he meant. <25>Leaning closer to Jesus, that apprentice asked him quietly, ‘Lord, who is it?’
<26>Jesus answered, ‘It’s the one I’m going to give the piece of bread to after I’ve dipped it in the sauce.’ He then dipped the piece of bread in the sauce and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. <27>After Judas took the bread, Satan himself immediately entered into him and took control of him.
So Jesus told Judas, ‘Get on with what you’re going to do. Do it quickly! I’m ready.’ <28>The rest of Jesus’ apprentices, however, couldn’t immediately understand why Jesus had said this to him. <29>But as Judas was responsible for their common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him to go and buy something they needed for the festival, or that he was telling him to give the poor something. <30>Immediately Judas had taken the bread, he left them all and went out. By then darkness had fallen, both outside … and also deep inside Judas’ soul.
‘I give you a fresh priority’
<31>After Judas had gone out, Jesus opened his heart to the rest of his apprentices. He told them, ‘The Son of Man has now been honoured, and God is honoured in him. <32>If God is honoured in him, God will honour the Son in himself, and will honour him again very soon. My Father will be honoured in what is about to take place in my dying and being raised to life.
<33>‘My dear children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Listen carefully therefore to what I’m going to say to you. After I’ve gone, you will look intently for me, wondering where I am. You’ll miss me being with you. Just as I told the Jews, so I repeat to you: you cannot come to the place I’m going to.
<34>‘I give you a fresh priority and command: love one another. Follow my example. Just as I have loved you all—as widely, deeply, sacrificially and constantly—so you must choose to love one another. <35>If you love one another in practice like this, everyone will know that you follow me, that you are my apprentices. Love is to be the distinctive mark of your relationships with one another.’
<36>Simon Peter then spoke up, ‘Lord, where are you going?’
Jesus answered him, ‘You can’t follow me now where I’m going, but you will later.’
<37>Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you right now? I’m willing to follow you wherever you go. I’m ready to sacrifice my life for you.’
<38>‘Peter,’ Jesus replied, ‘I know you better than you know yourself! Will you really sacrifice your life for me? I am telling you the truth, before the cock crows early tomorrow morning, you will have disowned me three times!’
* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text. They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.
Study the Passage
Study Guide
Verse 21 starts with “After Jesus had said this.” Read what Jesus said just before this verse in John 13:18–20.
In v. 21, Jesus said one of His disciples would betray Him.
- Look up the word “betray” HERE.
- If you knew someone was going to betray you, what would you do?
- How does that compare to what Jesus did, knowing Judas was going to betray Him?
In v. 34, Jesus said we are to love fellow believers in Jesus as Jesus loved us.
- What can we do to accomplish that?
- What is the result of living that way? (v. 35)
- Why is that important?
In verse 37:
- What does Peter’s question tell you about his relationship with Jesus?
- What does Peter’s statement tell you about his loyalty to Jesus?
How would you describe the differences between Peter and Judas?
Study Resources
To learn more about this study passage, go to
https://www.bibleref.com/John/13/John-13-21.html. Read the commentary for each verse in the study passage. (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)
If you have any questions about this passage, type the verse reference or your question in the search box at the top of
https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.
If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and study notes and see how they help you understand this passage. Also, check out any maps, charts, and articles related to the study passage.
Thessalonian Faith 