“He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me” (v. 18). In quoting Psalm 41:9, Jesus made it plain that He knew what was going to happen to Him that night. So, it’s no wonder that He could announce to His astonished disciples, “One of you will betray me” (v. 21).

Yes, as Jesus handed a piece of bread to Judas (v. 26), He was making it plain that Judas would fulfill David’s thousand-year-old prophecy when he informed Jesus’ enemies of where they could arrest Him that night. And we shudder in awe of God’s complete control over the events of Jesus’ crucifixion, even as we solemnly affirm Judas’ guilt for his betrayal of his Master and friend.

Of course, the sobering truth is that it is still possible for people to turn their backs on Jesus in this formal sort of way, to stop following Jesus and to renounce faith in Him. But that’s not the only way to lift our heel, to kick at Jesus. In fact, Jesus told Peter that he would do the same sort of thing that very night, denying Jesus three times (v. 38). And Peter would go on to do just that, refusing to admit even to a slave girl that he was a disciple of Christ (18:17).

And under the increasing pressure of the “cancel culture,” we too may be tempted to soft-pedal our allegiance to Jesus. Oh, we may not formally renounce our faith in Him. But, in order to stay on good terms with some of our friends, we might be tempted to keep our mouths shut about certain hot-button topics. We might be tempted to turn a deaf ear when others attack Jesus’ teachings, especially about the marriage and family issues that are so contentious these days.

But there’s one more way we can turn our backs on Jesus, one more way we can turn away from following Him – by refusing to love one another. After all, Jesus said that such love is the clearest way to demonstrate our discipleship (v. 35). So, when we Christians allow ourselves to be divided into warring factions, when we hold grudges instead of forgiving those who have hurt us, or when we refuse to help our brothers and sisters who are in need, are we really any more loyal to Jesus than Judas and Peter were? Are we following Him any more closely, being any more obedient to His commandments?

So, today, let’s take a stand for Jesus, not just with our lips but with our lives. Let’s affirm our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and let’s spread His gospel of grace and truth as we demonstrate His unconditional love, even for other hesitant, fearful, inconsistent disciples – disciples like us.

John 13:18-38 (ESV)

18 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.’
19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
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.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.
33 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.’
34 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.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 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.”
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 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.