John The Author Writes Himself Into The Gospel
John 13:21-30
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 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. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
When we started our study of the Gospel of John on January 1(!), we discussed the identity of the author of the Gospel.
Who wrote the Gospel of John?
From the very earliest days, the church has always attributed the Fourth Gospel to “John.” John was a popular Jewish name in the time of Jesus; there are five different Johns that are specifically referenced in the New Testament:
• John the Baptist;
• John, the father of the Apostle Peter;
• John the Apostle, brother of James, son of Zebedee;
• John Mark (often just called Mark);
• John, a member of the high priest’s family.
In addition, the author of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:4) identifies himself as “John.” So, which of these Johns—if any—wrote the Gospel of John? Unlike the letters of Paul, e.g., nowhere in the text of the Fourth Gospel does it say, “this book was written by John.”The reason the church has always called the Fourth Gospel “John’s Gospel” is because “The Gospel According to John” was scrawled as a title atop even the most ancient manuscripts, thereby attributing the Gospel to John. (The other three Gospels are attributed the exact same way— “According to Matthew, “According to Mark,” “According to Luke.”) Who wrote the Gospel of John? Opinions differ and complete certainty is impossible—our best way forward, therefore, is to read the text itself and see what we can conclude about the author with the information he has given us in the text itself.
John has written himself into the Gospel at key points.
John never identifies himself by the name “John” in his Gospel—rather, he calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Why does he do this? The Gospel of John is a brilliant work of art, and John has slyly written himself into the story at key points to remind his readers that he was an eyewitness to some of the most crucial events he relates, most importantly at the Crucifixion itself.
By calling himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” John is making it clear he was in the perfect position to tell the story of the Gospel, and by not specifically naming himself, he ensures that the focus of the story is on Jesus, not on the one telling Jesus’s story.
Here, in chapter 13, is the first time that the phrase “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is used. Chapter 13 is when the narrative has permanently moved to take place in Jerusalem. (This detail makes it seem reasonable to conclude that John lived in Jerusalem and not in Galilee.)
The disciples are eating the evening meal, and Jesus is deeply troubled, presumably by the upcoming betrayal and the suffering it will cause.
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me” [John 13:21].
Peter then motions to the disciple whom Jesus loved to inquire about the identity of the betrayer. The disciple whom Jesus loved is in the perfect position to see what happens next.
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 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 13:22–26].
Jesus wants Judas to leave so He can speak candidly to the other disciples, so He urges him to get going.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night [John 13:27–30].
The other disciples are clueless about the meaning of Jesus’s words or about the true character of Judas.
Remember, that “night” is an important—and ominous—detail in John’s Gospel. The betrayer has left, and it is now “night.”
Indeed. What follows will be dark.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I always find it fascinating that the other disciples had no idea that Judas would be the betrayer.