Gospel of John
It is Thursday evening, and the crucifixion will happen on Friday. Jesus is meeting with his disciples in the last meal, and in it, giving them instructions and assurances, and again predicting his death. Much of this did not register with the disciples, as indicated by their responses upon his arrest and desertion after the sham trial. But Jesus has some final lessons for his disciples, which will shape them and the early church after his resurrection and departure to heaven. First, he leads by doing – by washing their feet. Secondly, he leads through teaching – what it means to be great in the Kingdom of God. Now the narrative shifts to two of Jesus’ disciples – Judas, who will be a co-conspirator in betraying Jesus, and Peter, a devoted disciple, who, in fear, denies knowing Jesus, in the shadow of the cross and crucifixion of Jesus.
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:21-27.
This, now, is the presentation of Jesus, as fully God and fully man.
Hypostatic union (from the Greek: ὑπόστασις hypóstasis, “person, subsistence”) is a technical term in Christian theology employed in mainstream Christology to describe the union of Christ’s humanity and divinity in one hypostasis, or individual personhood.[1]
The most basic explanation for the hypostatic union is Jesus Christ being both fully God and fully man. He is both perfectly divine and perfectly human and has two complete and distinct natures at once.
1. Jesus’ Struggle in Obedience and Faithfulness. The Person of the Son of God – Jesus – was fully divine and fully human. After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirits. God his death could redeem and save those who believed in Him. As Man, he broke the power of him who had the power and fear of death, Satan himself.. and the final consolation to both redemption and representation of the human race, this hypostatic union allows Jesus is able to help those who are being tempted.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18.
2. Judas, the willing conspirator to betray Jesus. While Jesus knew the identity of Judas who would betray him, the disciples were clueless. That shows how carefully Judas hid his true purpose of refusing to believe in Jesus through following with the band of disciples for three years. Amazing.
3. Satan, the true adversary. The true enemy was Satan himself, reaching from the garden of Eden, and God’s prediction that Satan receive a mortal head wound while striking the heel of Jesus.
And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust. All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:14-15.
Here in the final hours of Jesus life, all the forces gather and collide. The will of God the Father, the obedience of Jesus as the Son of God, the recognition of the supernatural collision between good and evil, God and Satan, and the nurture and care of the disciples, to whom Jesus loved and cared for to the end of his life. Amazing lessons about the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Peter’s denial next week. Stay well this week.
John Moore
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