John 13: Nothing is a Surprise to God
- Admin
- Aug 20
- 9 min read
In the thirteenth chapter of John, the Lord instructs His current disciples and all future disciples about His expectations. We will look at our responsibility, and we will also look at the omnipotence of God because nothing is a surprise to Him!
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him… (John 13:2 ESV)
As the supper begins, Jesus is aware that Judas’ heart has been given over to evil. Imagine sitting down for your last meal before enduring a torturous death with the person who would turn you over to the torturers! John makes this very clear before describing what occurred that night.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.”
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, “Not all of you are clean.” (John 13:3-11 ESV Strong’s)
Jesus made it clear that He also knew that the time of His departure was near. God knew which were the real disciples and which were merely pretending for their own benefit. Because God is truth, when Jesus made the statement, “and you are clean,” He had to specify that one was not, or He would have been lying. You have to smile at Peter’s enthusiasm! He tries so hard!
When He had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17 ESV Strong’s)
Washing your guests’ feet was a disgusting job; there were no paved streets in the desert, and everyone wore sandals. This was a job for a servant. The Pharisees loved to be recognized for their greatness and to be waited on by others. That attitude is typical of people in positions of power. Jesus provided an elaborate display to His disciples on having a servant’s heart for one another. Those who lead the body of Christ should be willing to do even the most menial of work to serve others.
“I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He (the Messiah). Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:18-20 ESV Strong’s)
When Jesus declared a blessing for following His instructions, He made sure to exclude Judas, the one who would betray Him. He quoted a prophecy from hundreds of years earlier about the Messiah being betrayed. Prophets speak what God tells them to. This means God knew Jesus would be betrayed, and told Him who to choose so that they would betray Him. The betrayal was not a surprise to God!
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in His spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke.
So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (John 13:21-22, 25-26 ESV Strong’s)
Jesus is God and He knew who would betray Him. This is the third time Jesus mentions that one of those gathered is not what he seems. Imagine having dinner and knowing that person will betray you before the next morning! No wonder Jesus was troubled.
Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (John 13:27 ESV Strong’s)
God has unlimited precognition because He created all of time and every possible outcome throughout the history and future of the earth. God knew all the options and the decisions Judas would make throughout his life. God knew when his heart was ready to betray Jesus and accept Satan.
Throughout the meeting, Jesus was poking at Judas; declaring that one of the disciples was not true. Judas was entertaining thoughts of betraying Jesus, then finally Judas hit a tipping point in his heart. Jesus revealed that Satan actually possessed Judas and went into him. After Judas leaves, Jesus gives His true disciples new instructions.
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” (John 13:33-36 ESV)
Jesus didn’t say to love everyone the way He loved them. He said we must love other disciples of Jesus as Jesus loved us. Jesus gives His disciples a commandment that is a step above one God gave to His people: one of the greatest commands, according to the Lord.
And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)
We are to love all others as we love ourselves, but we love other disciples, those devoted to Jesus, as He loved us. Jesus not only gave His life for us, He lowered Himself to our status, to being human, so that He could reach us. Jesus humbled Himself.
Are You Willing to Love?
Love is more than a warm fuzzy feeling. Love is about placing the desires and needs of someone else above what you want. Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross, but He did it anyway. Here is what God says about love:
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. (1 Corinthians 13:4 AMPC)
When looking at how to love other Christians as Jesus did, many of us get stuck at one of these in the opening description of love. Are you working on any of these:
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that must be developed over time.
Envy and jealousy are traits of a particular spirit that is rampant in the world today.
Haughtiness is thinking we are better than others
Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. (Romans 3:22-23 AMPC)
We need to truly realize and accept that without Jesus we were bound for Hell, and that we could not get to Heaven on our own. Once established, this fact should urge us to accept every disciple of Jesus, everyone trying to do right by God, as being in a process of improvement. We are not perfect, we are still learning, and so are they!
Accepting these attitudes in the core of our being is impossible without God. We cannot walk in love without growing in God. God is Love and only with His love can we even begin to show love to one another, that is why people will know we are from God when we operate this way! Let’s continue looking at love:
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. (1 Corinthians 13:5 AMPC)
It was pride that caused Lucifer to rebel against God: he wanted to rule over others. Jesus said we are to be willing to do the most menial of jobs to serve each other. When we consider ourselves better than someone else, we can be rude and unmanly towards them. That is a sign that we are inflated with pride; arrogant.
When we think “I deserve such and such” we are determined to have what we think we are due. When we don’t get what we expect to receive, we can become touchy, fretful, and resentful. Since we are supposed to forgive one another, we should not be holding onto grudges when we have been wronged. Are you able to walk in this way with other Christians? But wait, there is more!
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (1 Corinthians 13:6-7 AMPC)
I love the Amplified version of this verse. It provides greater details on what true love is. We should not rejoice in the unrighteous acts of others, or when injustice is occurring. We should rejoice in truth because God is truth. Most importantly, love believes the best in others and holds on to hope in all circumstances. With God’s help, we can continue to love unconditionally!
Most of us are still working on some aspects of love because we are human and growing in God. But we should be growing! Would you like to love others in this way? There are free online classes, also available on an app, so you can learn what may be hindering you. You can find them at the OnlineChristianChurch.com!
How did the disciples of Jesus respond to this new commandment:
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow afterward.”
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times. (John 13:36-38 ESV Strong’s)
Sometimes I can sympathize with Peter. He ignored the new commandment and continued with the previous conversation. Peter wanted to remain with Jesus and go wherever He went. How many times has the Lord tried to communicate with me, only to find that I am too preoccupied with what I believe He desires?
Without hearing from God, Jesus might have been surprised when Peter deserted Him within the next several hours. But God knows all things. Jesus knew Peter’s heart was willing, but he did not yet have the Holy Spirit to strengthen him. God knew Peter would fail, and so did Jesus. It was only a surprise to Peter, who expected more of himself. Yes, I’ve been there and done that!
Do you feel like that? Have you made God a promise, or tried to do something, then totally bombed? Perhaps it was a sin you tried to overcome or a job you tried to do for God.
Your failure was not a surprise to God.
He knows you are human and would sometimes fail, despite your good intentions.
This is why He sent Jesus!
Ask the Holy Spirit why you failed so you don’t fail the next time.
The attack upon you didn’t take God unaware.
Attacks can come because of an open door through sin or as a test from God.
God knows where, and if you missed it
Ask Him so you can shut the door and remove the attack.
Tests and trials are difficult situations that arise in our lives.
When we hold onto God through these and do things His way, we will go to the next level.
Rejoice! Tests and trials come before a promotion!
Guess what? The free online classes also have information about attacks, tests, and trials! What you are going through isn’t a surprise to God and He has the answer if you are willing to learn His ways and apply them to your life. That is what being a disciple of Jesus means. Come and learn, let’s walk in love together.
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