Jesus Knows
LENT 2025 DEVOTIONAL:
John 13:21-38 (NIV)
(Sarah Khoo, Pastoral Team Member, Children’s Ministry)
John 13:21-38 gives us a picture of the last gathering of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. What caught my attention were the reactions of the disciples to Jesus’ words and actions. The responses of Judas and Peter offer much to reflect upon. I imagine myself in the scene, wondering how I would react to Jesus’ words and actions. Would I be like Judas, the betrayer, or Peter, the denier?
“Jesus was troubled in spirit”. His distress over Judas’ impending betrayal expressed His human side. Being fully human, Jesus may have wanted to stop Judas because He knew the consequences of Judas’ betrayal would only destroy Judas. But being fully God, Jesus knew that Judas’ betrayal had to happen. Jesus allowed Judas to choose and do what he intended to. By this time Judas, who had been following Jesus for some time, might have realised that following Christ did not end with personal gain but rather required a selfless act of being a servant of God. This might have caused him to lose the motivation to follow Christ and subsequently lose his faith in Jesus. Judas gave in to Satan’s temptation , indicating the spiritual darkness of his soul. Jesus knew this was coming.
Jesus knew that His act of obedience to the Father’s will had reached its climax. After Judas left, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment: Love one another. By imitating His love for them, they would show the world that they were His disciples.
Then He predicted the denial of Peter. Jesus knew Peter’s heart and His intention was to humble him. Peter boasted about following in the footsteps of Jesus and being willing to lay down his life for his Master and Friend. But Jesus knew Peter would deny Him when he faced pressure that threatened his life. Peter needed to face his weakness. He needed God’s guidance and strength to carry on the mission that Christ had for him. Jesus’ prediction was to humble him without breaking Peter’s faith and his commitment to obey God.
We know the end of the story: Peter was remorseful after his denial. Jesus knew Peter would repent. He saw Peter’s heart and knew that despite his denial and boasting spirit, Peter would ultimately be faithful. This event helped Peter understand what it means to serve God in humility.
As I reflect, am I like Judas or Peter? The posture that I need to take is to come to God and allow the Holy Spirit to search my heart, just like the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:23: “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”
I may have the same motivation of either Judas or Peter. I know Jesus loves them both. Jesus restored Peter for his pure heart and faithfulness, but Judas fell into spiritual darkness because of his choice to follow the enemy.
Jesus knows me, that I am neither Judas nor Peter. I am one of His disciples who desires to be faithful to God’s will till the end and remain close to Him, my Lord and my Companion. Like Peter, if I fail and give in to temptation, He will restore me. Jesus knows my heart for the Lord God.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways do you see yourself acting and making choices like Judas and Peter?
2. How can you cultivate a pure and faithful heart like Peter? How can you avoid the spiritual darkness that Judas fell into?
3. Jesus gave His disciples a new command: Love one another. How are you faring on this?
