“Lord, who is it?”
The full verse · John 13:25 · KJV
lying unto , , is ?
Asked by
Beloved Disciple: the disciple "whom Jesus loved," reclining next to Jesus at supper (John 13:23), whom Barnes identifies as John
Asked to
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, who had just said, "one of you shall betray me" (John 13:21)
The Scene
At supper, Jesus was "troubled in spirit" and said that one of them would betray Him; the disciples looked at one another, and Simon Peter beckoned to the disciple leaning on Jesus' bosom to ask who it was (John 13:21-24).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe disciples were at a loss. They "looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake" (John 13:22). Peter wanted to know, so he signaled to the disciple who was closest to Jesus and asked him to find out (John 13:24). That disciple simply leaned back and asked. Barnes explains that he laid his head back on Jesus' bosom "so that he could speak to him privately without being heard by the others." Matthew Henry says he had "the convenience of whispering with him." Gill adds that he asked in compliance with Peter's request. It was an honest question, asked from the nearest place at the table.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus answered with a sign: "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it." Then He dipped the sop and "gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon" (John 13:26). After the sop, "Satan entered into him," and Jesus said, "That thou doest, do quickly" (John 13:27). Even so, "no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him"; some thought Judas was being sent to buy things for the feast or to give something to the poor (John 13:28-29). Judas "went immediately out: and it was night" (John 13:30).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsAt this supper the guests reclined at the table rather than sitting upright. Barnes explains that "leaning on Jesus' bosom" (John 13:23) means this disciple had the place next to Jesus, so his head naturally fell back on Jesus' bosom when he spoke to Him. Gill pictures him on the couch just in front of Jesus, with his back to Him, bending backward to whisper in His ear.
The KJV word "lying" translates the Greek anapeson, "having leaned back." Barnes notes it is a different word from the one rendered "leaning" in John 13:23. The "sop" Jesus gave was, in Barnes' words, "a morsel, a piece of bread, or anything else eaten."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus was not caught off guard. He had already said, "I know whom I have chosen" and quoted the Scripture about the one who "eateth bread with me" lifting up his heel (John 13:18). Yet this knowledge troubled Him (John 13:21). Matthew Henry writes, "The falls and miscarriages of the disciples of Christ are a great trouble of spirit to their Master." Even the sign that marked the betrayer was a piece of bread from Jesus' own hand.
Matthew and Mark record the disciples asking one by one, "Is it I?" (Matthew 26:22; Mark 14:19). John records the question asked from the closest place at the table. At the end of his Gospel, John still describes this disciple as the one "which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?" (John 21:20). Nearness to Jesus is where the hardest question of the night was asked and answered.
Look Closer
Why did this disciple ask Jesus instead of Peter asking directly?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You knew the hardest truth at Your table and still let Your friend lean close and ask; what troubling question are You inviting me to bring near to You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- This disciple asked his question from the place closest to Jesus. What helps you feel near enough to Jesus to ask Him hard things?
- Peter asked a friend to ask for him. Tell about someone who helped you bring a question or a worry to God.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
When something troubling surfaces, you can take it straight to Jesus. This disciple did not hide his question or wait for a better moment. He leaned back and asked, and Jesus answered him.
Notice too that Peter asked a friend to ask for him. You do not have to bring every hard question alone. Sometimes the people closest to Jesus can help you put your question into words.
This does not mean every answer will make everything clear at once. Even after Jesus gave the sign, the rest of the table did not understand what was happening (John 13:28). Jesus answered the question, but the others did not yet see what it meant.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources