"That the Scripture might be fulfilled." Understand this expression in the same way as the other similar ones, about which we have often spoken.
Jn. 13:19. Now I tell you before it comes to pass, that, when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.
Jn. 13:20. Truly, truly, I say to you: he who receives whomever I send, receives Me; and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me.
What is the connection of the present words with the preceding ones? For until now He was speaking about the betrayer, and now He adds "he who receives whomever I send receives Me"? The connection exists, and it is the closest one.
The Lord said that He would be betrayed; He spoke of how He would leave them, that they would afterwards scatter, be dispersed, and endure many afflictions; therefore He comforts them in two ways. First, through Himself. For He showed them what He Himself would suffer, and what He did for the betrayer, washing his feet and admitting him to partake at the table. For if they keep this in mind, they will easily endure any afflictions. So then, the first way consists in this: that the Lord comforts them by what He did for the enemy, healing him to the very end, and by what He Himself would suffer.
Another way is that He opens the homes of all people for them, that all who hear their teaching will receive them. Do you see the connection of the present words with the preceding ones? The Lord will leave them; they will endure a multitude of evils and afflictions; He comforted them by His own example, for He would be betrayed by a disciple, yet He washes his feet; He also comforts them by foretelling that although they will experience many afflictions, all will receive them. He who receives you receives Me, and through Me, God and the Father. Note the power of the consolation. "You," He says, "people will honor as God Himself; therefore do not be disheartened by the malice of persecutors."
Jn. 13:21. Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said: truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.
The Lord, having considered that the betrayer had lost both the one and the other — both the endurance in labors and the services from people who would receive the apostles — "was troubled in spirit," that is, He felt grief in His soul.
"And He testified." This means: He foretold, He testified beforehand, He declared.
Some understood the words "one of you" as meaning: "one who has fallen away from your company and departed from your number will betray Me," just as the expression "Behold, Adam has become like one of Us" (Gen. 3:22) was explained rather ingeniously as: "he has become like one who fell away from us, that is, the devil." For just as he fell away, so also this one through disobedience became from (outside) us, that is, fell away from us.
Jn. 13:22. Then the disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He was speaking.
Each of them was conscious of being pure, finding no cunning in his own thoughts; but he regarded the word of the Lord as more trustworthy than his own thoughts. Therefore they all grieve and are perplexed. For the announcement was made by Him Who does not lie, and they were certain that it would inevitably come to pass.
Jn. 13:23. Now one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the bosom of Jesus.
All are in anguish, and even the chief Peter himself is in trepidation, while John, as if in joy, reclines on the Lord's bosom. Why is this? And further—why does he speak of himself as "whom Jesus loved"?
John reclined for the following two reasons. First, because he was loved more than all the others, and a sign of love was reclining next to the Lord. Second, because by his boldness and confidence he wanted to show that he was free from the accusation of betrayal. He testifies about himself that Jesus loved him in order to resolve a perplexity. So that you, hearing that Peter motioned to him to ask, would not think that he motioned to him as to a superior, the evangelist says of himself that Peter motioned to him not as to one who was greater, but as to one who was loved by Christ. Therefore these words of his express humility, not a desire to display himself. For he does not say "I loved Jesus," but "He loved me," having sought me out by grace and compassion, just as the apostle Paul also says: "I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phil. 3:12), and in another place: "Having known God, or rather, having been known by God" (Gal. 4:9). So too the words "whom Jesus loved" express not vainglory, but humility of mind.
Jn. 13:24. Simon Peter made a sign to him to ask who it was of whom He was speaking.
Why then does Peter not ask the Lord himself, but gives a sign to John? In many cases Peter, out of great fervor, was impetuous, but was subjected to reproach. Therefore now he was afraid to ask, lest the Lord once again rebuke him as being impulsive.
Jn. 13:25. He, leaning back on the breast of Jesus, said to Him: Lord! Who is it?
Why then does John lean upon the breast of Jesus so irreverently and indecorously? Because he did not yet understand anything great about Christ, and they had not been taught to render fitting honor to those deserving of respect, for they were fishermen and unversed in propriety.
The Lord allows him to recline upon His breast in order to ease his sorrow, to calm the disturbance in his soul, and in general to soothe his grief. For it was natural that much sorrow was expressed on their faces as well.
Jn. 13:26. Jesus answered: It is the one to whom I shall give the morsel of bread after I have dipped it. And having dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.
The Lord, when asked in this manner also, does not declare the betrayer by name, but makes him known by means of the morsel, so as to convert the betrayer and bring to his remembrance the fellowship of the table and bread, the partaker of which ought not to have betrayed the Nourisher and raged against Him. "Receive," He says, "this bread which you shared together with Me; acknowledge that we had a common table." But he, his soul lulled to sleep by passion, did not comprehend this.
If you yourself also desire to recline closer to Jesus and fall upon His breast, and to learn mysteries from Him, strive to earn His love through simplicity and goodness. For John was more guileless, simpler, and meeker than all, and for this he was loved. So you too, if you are equally guileless, will be deemed worthy to fall upon the breast of Jesus, which serves as a sign of theological dignity. For, according to the testimony of Scripture, the words of the Lord are hidden in the heart (Ps. 118:11). Thus, the entire mystery and the betrayer of the Word will be revealed to you. For to the one entrusted with the grace of theology, the betrayer of the Word also becomes manifest — that is, the one who thinks contrary to the right faith. For the heretic, who adulterates the word of truth, which is bread, turns out to have it not without admixture, but soaked.
Jn. 13:27. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him.
The Lord gave the morsel to Judas so that he might be shamed by the fellowship of the table and the bread, and restrain himself from the betrayal. But Judas did not improve even from this, and from that point became even more on the side of Satan and, as one incorrigible, gave himself over to him completely.