John 13:21

"Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”"

Key Reflection

In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus was preparing his disciples for the betrayal by Judas and the coming hardships they would face. By saying, "Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me," Jesus underscored the importance of obedience and reception. His audience would have understood that this statement reinforced the idea that following his teachings and accepting those he commissioned was a form of receiving him personally. This emphasizes the interconnectedness between Jesus, his disciples, and ultimately God, highlighting the significance of trust and loyalty in the face of adversity.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. Trouble in spirit. See Joh 12:27. The reason of his trouble here was that Judas, a professed friend, was about to betray him. He doubtless foresaw the deep and dreadful sorrows of his approaching death, and was also deeply affected with the ingratitude and wickedness of a professed friend. Jesus was man as well as God, and he felt like other men. His human nature shrank from suffering, and his tender sensibilities were affected not less deeply than would be those of other men by baseness and treason. Testified. He bore witness to the truth; openly declared what he had before intimated -- that one of them would betray him.

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