IS REARRANGEMENT NECESSARY?

The narrative of the Footwashing comes to a dramatic denouement with the departure of Judas into the night (13: 1–30), and at once Jesus begins to speak, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified…’ Peter, Thomas and Philip in turn participate in conversation with Jesus, who baffles the disciples with what at a later point (16: 25) he calls ‘riddles’. First, ‘where I am going, you cannot come’; next, if they had really known their Teacher, they would have known the Father. Hence his primary themes in 13: 31–14: 31 are consolation (‘Let not your hearts be troubled’), and the inspiration of his revelation (‘he that has seen me has seen the Father; pray to the Father, and you will do still greater works’). Moreover, he assures them, ‘I will not leave you orphaned’ (14: 18). They will have both the communion of his Father and himself, and the abiding presence of the spirit of truth as a paraclete. All this he has told them in advance…so that they may cling to their faith (14: 29).

Judas had gone out, a man into whom Satan, the ruler of this world, had entered (13:27). But now, says Jesus at the apparent close of his comforting address, ‘the ruler of this world is coming…Rise, let us go hence’ (14: 30 f.).