23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”
25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him.
29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.
30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.” John 13:21-30.
——————————-
The disciples were troubled and at a loss to know of which one Jesus was speaking: “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
Peter was wise in using John, who was the disciple “whom Jesus loved” and who was leaning on Jesus’ bosom, to get the answer to everyone’s question: “Lord, who is it?”. Peter knew that John appeared closer to Jesus than the rest of the disciples, who was literally leaning on Jesus’ bosom and who was figuratively leaning on Jesus for an answer.
Of course, Jesus would not answer such a question against His will. Even after His answer, the disciples still did not understand. But, Jesus does answer the question and disclose out of such closeness, and I do think this close situation and this disclosure arising out of this close situation give us a taste of what we can expect as Christians who are also loved by the Lord and who are also close to the Lord.
John 16:13-15 tells us: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”
We have the Spirit of truth Who guides us into all the truth and Who takes of Jesus and discloses it to us. We are closer to Jesus than John was when he leaned on Jesus’ bosom, because we have this Spirit of Jesus, this Spirit of truth.
As I write these devotions, I should write out of such faith. As you preach or teach, you should write out of such faith. As we read Scripture and listen to sermons, we should do so out of such faith. As we all live our lives, we should live out of such faith that “the Spirit of truth … will guide you into all the truth”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 