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The True Son in the Midst of Failure
John 13:21-38
Beloved in the Lord, we can’t often tolerate failure. We’re hard on others who fail us. This happens at home with spouses, children, and parents. This happens at work with bosses and employees. And this also happens at church - some member or officer has done me dirty. We fail each other. But beloved, in God’s kingdom, all are failed sons. Adam ate the fruit, Jacob was a deceiver, David was a man of blood, even Solomon in all his wisdom was an idolator. They were all weak. But there’s failure outside the kingdom too that comes by rejecting God. Esau hated his inheritance, Pharaoh hardened his heart, Saul rejected God. But in the midst of failure there’s a man who triumphs. When human sonship fails, whether through weakness or rejection, the True Son, Jesus Christ never fails. That’s the picture we see here. Around the table sat thirteen men. Christ instituted the supper. He addressed their pride by washing their feet. He warned them against the world’s ethos. But even now there was failure. One was a thief and traitor. The other was a loud-mouthed coward who’d fail. But in the midst of this failure and defeat, Christ spoke of his own glory and victory. And that’s what gives us hope. At the heart of redemption is not our failure, but Christ’s glory. There are three divisions to this text. Firstly, the inglorious sons of perdition and failure revealed. Secondly, the different commands for different sons given. Thirdly, the true Son’s glory anticipated.
Firstly, the inglorious sons of perdition and failure revealed. At the start of this passage and the end, we see two predictions of failures. We see the son of perdition first - Judas Iscariot. After Christ instituted the supper and washed the feet of his disciples, he was troubled in spirit as he revealed a traitor among them. This word “troubled” was also used at Lazarus’ tomb, where Jesus wept. There, he was troubled by their unbelief. So similarly here, he’s troubled by Judas’ unbelief and rejection of him. And it says - Verily verily. This betrayal, unbelief, and rejection were certain. And it would be violent. Verse 18 - this traitor would lift up his heel - his purpose was to crush Jesus. And it was conniving. In verse 22, the disciples were dismayed. How could any of them do this? There were likely 3 reasons for their dismay. Christ had just washed their feet. Why would anyone want to betray this savior? Furthermore, it’s proof Judas had succeeded in concealing his true nature from them. He even asked in Matthew - “Is it I?” And also, how could Christ have bore with this so long, knowing there was a traitor? So the Lord felt this rejection keenly. It was a betrayal, unbelief, and rejection that would be as much violent as it was conniving.
In his shock, Peter motioned to John - the beloved disciple - to ask who it was. He could do this, because they were reclining at a triclinium - a U shaped table. The host sat at one end flanked right and left by the guests of honor - John, being one, who laid his head on Jesus’ chest, and Judas, the other, who easily received the piece of bread. And Peter could beckon because he was on the other end at the lowest place, directly opposite John. John asked, Christ revealed - the one I give this gravy soaked bread is my traitor. And he gave it to Judas.
Now, we see why Judas was the son of perdition. Not only because he was foreordained - but because he, until the end, rejected Christ despite the greatest display of mercy. This act was a gesture of the most intimate friendship - like raising a toast. It was a mark of honor. The Lord, in his mercy, appealed to Judas. He’d done it a first time - to his conscience when he revealed there was a traitor among them. Did Judas’ conscience not get pricked? No. “Is it I?” But in this second display of mercy, it was an appeal to the heart. The fact he accepted the honor showed the lengths to which he carried his hypocrisy. He could be honored by the one he was going to betray. It shows his hardness. No wonder he could call him Master, master, and kiss him at the garden later. The heart was hardened. But he wasn’t the only failure.
We see Simon Peter - the son of failure. Peter was opposite of Judas - at least outwardly. He was zealous, loyal, passionate. But he was a failed son. In verse 33, when the Lord said he was going away, Simon asked where he was going. Failure number one. He should’ve known. Christ spoke about his death and return to God multiple times by now. Then in verse 36, Peter blurted out - “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll lay down my life for you!” Sounds heroic! But this was failure number two. The Lord just said “Where I go, you can’t come, I’ve said this before and I say it now.” So one could say, his enthusiasm to love Christ mirrored Judas’ enthusiasm to betray Christ. But there was still failure. The Lord saw through it all. Intention alone couldn’t fuel obedience. “Will you really lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, the rooster won’t crow until you’ve denied me three times.” Failure number three. Peter’s boast was the flesh at its finest and most deluded. He thought his willpower was enough. Many of us fail because we rely on the flesh. And the Lord knew what Peter didn’t, and what we often don’t - that the flesh is weak. Peter loved the Lord. But he didn’t love the Lord enough. We love the Lord, but not enough. We’re failures. But what’s clear in all of this is that the Lord loved Peter. “Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” To the end! Yes, even showing mercy to Judas - to that last point with the sop when Satan possessed him.
Failed sons. But unequal. Judas was the one who walked into outer darkness permanently. Peter sinned grievously in the night, but was restored. Why? Because he’s better? No - because Christ prayed for him. In church, there are Judases and Peters. There are those who harbor secret sin and live in darkness, with no love for Christ at all - there’s no resistance again sin, but persistence in sin. Then there are those who try - they hate sin, but fail to resist.
But there’s a different response by Christ to each son. And warning, this is confronting. Secondly, the different commands for different sons given. There’s the command that leads to judgment. In verse 27, after Judas took the sop, Satan entered him. Now, receiving the sop should’ve broken him down in sorrowful repentance. But it didn’t. His heart was hardened. He’d seen all Christ had done, heard all Christ had taught, but rejected it all, having a reprobate mind. That’s when Satan took full possession of him. He’s the son of perdition. And then the Lord commanded him - whether Judas or Satan, or probably both - “what you do, do quickly.” This was a command to go and die. After the show of mercy and kindness was rejected, the time for repentance was forever gone. While Christ was the lamb ready for slaughter, Judas was the ready executioner. And remarkably, whereas Christ in the wilderness told Satan to go away, and rebuked Peter as if he was Satan; he now said to Satan and Judas - bring it on. And Judas left to betray Christ for blood money, while the rest thought he went to dispense money to the poor. This was the extent of his damnation. Verse 30 says he went out into the night. In John’s Gospel, darkness is the realm of sin, judgment, and death. Men love darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. Just as Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, Judas went out from the presence of the Light of the World. He was expelled from the covenant community. To be clear, Jesus was not surrendering to circumstances. He was the Sovereign God giving a command. He knew his hour had come. Judas’ hour had also come. This go and die command to reprobates is seen throughout the Scripture. Balaam wanted to curse God, asking him many times if he could. Finally God allowed it. Go and die. Ahab wanted to hear the lies of the prophets so God sent him a lying spirit. Pharaoh hardened his heart, so God hardened his heart. This is Romans 1 being played out, by one in the visible outward church. Beloved, this happens far more than we realize. And it’s sad. The unclean were expelled out of the camp in the Old Covenant. The leper cried - “Unclean! Unclean!” and stay outside the city. But here, the one who could’ve been cleansed, who could’ve let Jesus wash him, refused humility, and was cast from the camp of the redeemed.“Depart from me, ye cursed…into outer darkness, to weeping and gnashing of teeth…into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
But the Lord didn’t dwell on judgment. He turned back to the remaining 11 confused and failing sons - and gave them a charge. Verse 33 onwards - “Little children, yet a little while I am with you…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Notice his tenderness - “little children.” These men were far from perfect. Failures. He knew they’d be scattered in a few hours’ time - but he called them little children. But to these who believed, falteringly, he gave them a new commandment. He gave them commandment when they’d fail. Why? Because they won’t always fail! In our messiness and failure, we won’t always fail.
Now, why new? The Old Testament command was love your neighbor as yourself. That love was rooted in yourself. Love others with the same intensity that you have for your own needs. But the New Commandment is rooted in Christ - Love, as I have loved you. Love was now newly manifested and personified as never before. He displayed a superior love - a love that never varied. How did he love them? He loved them unconditionally - despite their failures. Sacrificially, even unto death. And he loved them while they were weak, and about to deny him. So therefore, this was the love they were to have for one another. They failed him. He loved them. They’d fail each other. They were to love each other. This was his last great charge to them.
Beloved, why was this important? Consider what would happen. When God struck the shepherd, they’d scatter. They were weak and faltering. But that’s where they’d need each other. Peter would be restored to strengthen the rest. And there are those here who falter. But others are to be examples to the believers, in word, in conduct, in charity, spirit, faith, and purity. That’s how we love. And it’d be by this love, verse 35, that all would know they were his disciples. In our failures, we forgive each other when there’s repentance. In our failures, we support each other. In failure, we don’t give up on each other. And this was very different from the Pharisees who gave heavy burdens without helping; who were known for their phylacteries. Judas was known by his murderous intent - he was of his father the devil - who didn’t love Christ. And in betraying Christ, he was prepared to betray all his brothers. One only escaped without the clothes on his back. Love defines us as Christ’s disciples.
Congregation, perhaps there will be Judases amongst us - those who’d heed the command to depart as unbelievers. They’ll betray Christ and his church. They may even do it quickly. Some of you may be at that brink - but it doesn’t mean you’re Judas! Christ offers you that bread of mercy. Come, let’s reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet, they can be as white as wool. Receive that sop and let your heart be softened. Seek help now. That sin of betrayal can be resisted. The night’s not here yet. Repent now, before the night comes when no one can work. And perhaps we each know someone who’s faltering. We must all help in love. This is how we’re known as Christ’s disciples. So beloved, this is the context. In the midst of struggles, faltering, and failure, we’re to love one another. May the Lord forgive us for failing to love this way. But beloved, we’re not defined by our failure. Judas was, but not Peter nor those like him. Why? Because our redemption is in Christ. What he’s done on the cross far outweighs, far cancels, far forgives all our failures.
We see thirdly, the true Son’s glory anticipated. This is the heart of this message. Judas has walked out into the night. The time of betrayal was coming. But what would fuel the disciples to keep the commandment? Christ’s own demonstration of love. The Lord said in verses 31-32 after Judas was gone - “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.” The Lord was speaking about the cross, like in John 3:14 - “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” The glorification speaks about his crucifixion, which by every human standard was a moment of maximum shame. But not to our Lord - it’s the time of his glory.
The cross is glory because it’s the place where the Son fully obeyed the Father. It’s the place where justice and mercy met. The place were he would be condemned, so that failed sons can be redeemed. And the Son was not dragged to the cross as a victim, he laid his life down willingly. He drank the cup of bitterness. In doing so, he glorified the Father by satisfying His justice and revealing His mercy - so much so that his Sonship was recognized! Even the centurion cried out - “Surely, this was the Son of God!” Because he was not a failed son, the Father glorified him by raising him victorious from the dead.
Beloved, in the Old Testament, the glory of God was cloud of fire that filled the Tabernacle. So bright it was that Moses couldn’t enter the tent. But here, it’s there at the cross, where the glory of God is revealed in a bloody, battered, dying man. That’s the great reversal. Judas went out because he wanted power, wealth, and triumph. God says glory is sacrifice, obedience, and love. But we’re still looking for that kind of glory in each other. No wonder we can’t take it when we fail each other. But thankfully, because the True Son is glorified, the failure of us sons of failure is not final. Peter was restored. The glory was in his redemption because the Son died for him.
In the Upper Room, there was a traitor, a boaster, and ten confused men. The whole thing looked like a shipwreck. Your life today may look like one - and it may very well be. You’ve denied Christ by your sins and your words, it might seem like you’ve walked out into the darkness - that all seems lost. But no, you have Christ - the true Son who went to the cross, so you a failing son can be received by God. The rooster may have crowed, we may weep at our failure. But Sunday is coming. When we repent, and help each other to, when we forgive, and help each other to, that’s love. And that’s glorious.
1. The Inglorious Sons of Perdition and Failure Revealed (21-27a, 36-38)
2. The Different Commands for Different Sons Given (27b-30, 33-35)
3. The True Son’s Glory Anticipated (31-32)
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
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