New Identity - The False Disciple (John 13:21-30)

New Identity - John 13:21-30 by Tim Keller

Forgiveness and Grace

1. Nature and Enormity of sin

            Jesus looks at His disciple who's about to betray Him to death. But how did Jesus look at him? He was troubled in spirit. He was torn up inside, because Judas has broken His heart. In Gen 6:5-6 also said that God's heart was filled with pain when humans sin. As an example is a poor widow who raised her son and managed to send him to collage. She always told her son to be honest, work hard, and help the poor. However, his son later on does not care much. All he does probably just sending a Christmas card every year to her. He would say about himself that he is a good person, for he is honest, hard working and always helping the poor. However, he never spends time with his mother who raised him. He is doing those things all for himself, though he owes her everything. And he is not giving her; the love relationship that she wants. This is just like that most people tend to say that they are good person but they don't believe in God. This is the nature and enormity of sin. We never give God what He really deserves.

2. The power of sin

            Sin, according to the Bible, is the soul curved in on itself. So once it deserves itself rather than God or other people, sin makes your own ego / need  the only real thing in the world, and everything else discardable. It is "me first".

            There are 3 things about the power of sin:

            a. Power of sin to remain - insects (e.g. cockroaches) can take 60000 to 70000 more time radiations than human being can. Just like Judas. Tho he had spent three years with Jesus, he never gave his heart to Jesus. Because the "cockroach" of his sin still remains.

           b. Power of sin to hide. - When John asked Jesus who was going to betray Jesus, tho Jesus already answered clearly, but they still didn't understand, because Judas is just like every other disciples. He is not indifferent than any of them. He was sent out to preach, to cast out demon, to heal people, and he did!!! 

For example people like to say,
            "I am not bitter, I just have a strong sense of justice." or
            "I am not a workaholic, I am just productive." or
            "I am not an alcoholic, I am just the life of the party." or
            "I am not abrasive or mean, I just have a high standard." or
            "I am not stingy, I am prudent." or
            "I am not races, I just can't trust those people."

These are the sense of denial we have, which show the power of sins to hide.

            c. The power of sin to grow. - In John 13:2, Satan puts something into Judas' mind. And in John 13:27, Satan enters into Judas. That is progression! Sin has the power of gradual growth that eventually can take you over. Such as Cain and Abel. Abel was becoming successful, and Cain became displeased. Cain's identity was built over what others see him. He felt good about himself, because he was better than Abel. So when Able became more successful than Cain, he became bitter. So, he had 2 choices, either re-adjust his identity, or eliminate Abel. If you are indulging in bitter thoughts, and keep on grumbling, in the end, if you don't master your sin, you = grumbling. You won't realize it, but others will. The reason Cain killed Abel is not because he had insuppressible urge to kill people, but because he has an identity that based on "Mom and Dad like him better than Abel."            

3. Medicine for sin

            It  says that after dipping the bread, Jesus gave it to Judah. - it is a sign of honor, love, and friendship. Tho Jesus has seen everything to the bottom, He still loves him. When Judah grabs the bread, his heart was resolved. He was plunging into the spiritual darkness. Because God is perfectly loving and just, He was on the cross, though we are so unworthy, to offer us a new identity.