CHAPTER LXIII.
THE LORD'S SUPPER INSTITUTED—PETER FOREWARNED.
AND as they were eating, the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and gave thanks, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come
[314]to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me: and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
And as they sat and did eat, when Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, one by one, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said unto them,
It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish: the same shall betray me. The son of man goeth as it is written of him, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered,
He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.
And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him,
That thou doest, do quickly.
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him,
Thou hast said.
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said,
Now is the son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall
[316]straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him,
Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him,
Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.