A (2-5) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
B (6-10) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
C (11) For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
D (12-17) So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
E (18a) I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:
X (18b) but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
E’ (19) Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
D’ (20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
C’ (21-22) When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
B’ (23-25) Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
A’ (26-30) Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
I found this in the readings today and checked – you have it in a larger pattern but I wonder of this may help. a,a’ have “verily verily”, and “send” in common. “if you know’ is put in parallel with “ye may believe”, The exception in verse 18 is Judas who is the subject of the prophecy, leaving as the centre the assurance that the Lord knows who are his true disciples.
a. (16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
b. (17) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
c. (18a) I speak not of you all:
d. I know whom I have chosen:
c’. (18b) but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
b’ (19) Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
a’ (20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
I noticed this small structure in v26:
Jesus answered,
d: He it is,
c: to whom I shall give
b: a sop,
a: when I have dipped it.
a: And when he had dipped
b: the sop,
c: he gave it to
d: Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Actually, I have just checked the Greek and the word order is different to the KJV, so the units should come in the order D, C B A, C B A, D.
Author: Erik Reimer
Email: [email protected]
Upon learning of the chiastic structures in Scripture back in 1998, I discovered the following chiasmus in the gospel of John in 2003. What struck me (in addition to the center being Jesus leaving us an example) was that of the 7 points on either side of the center, the center of those 7 points is about Jesus serving both the one who would deny him and the one who would betray him. It seems as though this gives us an even more precise explanation of his commandment to love one another and do as he has done for us. We are not merely to love those who love us but even love those who would deny or betray us.
A. The Command from the Father (12:46-50)
B. Almost Time for Jesus to Leave (13:1)
C. Judas is Prompted to Betray Jesus (13:2)
D. Jesus Serves the One Who Will Deny Him (13:3-5)
E. Peter Questions Jesus (13:6-9)
F. Jesus Knows His Betrayer (13:10-11)
G. Clarifying Titles/Roles (Teacher/Lord) (13:12-14)
H. Jesus’ Example: Do as I Have Done For You (13:15)
G’. Clarifying Titles/Roles (Servant/Master) (13:16-17)
F’. Jesus Knows His Betrayer (13:18-21)
E’. Peter Questions Jesus (13:22-25)
D’. Jesus Serves the One Who Will Betray Him (13:26)
C’. Judas is Prompted to Betray Jesus (13:27b-30)
B’. Almost Time for Jesus to Leave (13:31-33)
A’. The New Command from Jesus (13:34-35)