With Dale Ratzlaff
John 13:21-30
When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
Just after Jesus said that someone who “eats bread” at His table would turn against Him, as mentioned in the last lesson, He “became troubled in His spirit”. We can only imagine the human nature of Jesus being “troubled” at the coming events. He wanted to tell them before “it”—the passion of the cross—happened so that they would believe that Jesus was and is the I AM. Thus, He “testifies,” as one who is under oath, to tell the truth.
Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.
Previously, Jesus had told them that one of the twelve was a “devil.” John, writing years later, informs the readers it is Judas; however, at that time, the disciples had no idea of whom Jesus was speaking. We also note that when Jesus said: “One of you will betray Me,” there was no indication of timing or of the full consequences of what “betray” might mean. We are told that Judas had the money box and served as treasurer of the group. He would have been considered a trusted person, and none of the other disciples suspected that the traitor was Judas. The Synoptic Gospels record that the disciples questioned their own loyalty.
Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Mt. 26:22).
Peter, who will soon “deny” knowing Christ but not “betray” Him, wants to know who the traitor is. To more fully appreciate the dynamics of the following events, we should understand the typical seating arrangements of the day which are quite foreign to us.
The usual arrangement at a meal was to have a series of couches each for three persons arranged in a U around the table. The host, or the most important person reclined in the center of the chief couch placed at the junction of the two arms of the U. The guests reclined with their heads towards the table and their feet stretched out obliquely away from it. They leaned on the left elbow, which meant that the right hand was free to secure food. The place of honor was to the left of, and thus slightly behind the principle person. The second place was to his right, and the guest there would have his head on the breast of the host. Plainly this was the position occupied by the beloved disciple ( Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, p. 625,626).
Obviously, Peter was not sitting next to Jesus as he motioned to John to ask Jesus. It has been speculated that Judas may have been next to Jesus. When Jesus turned His head to speak to John, if Judas was sitting on the other side, he would not have heard the whispered communication. Judas was the trusted treasurer of the group; it would have been quite natural for him to take this position.
So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
The fact that Jesus dipped the morsel and then handed it directly to Judas gives credence to the theory that Judas was seated in an honored position. Even at this point, only John and Peter knew who the traitor was. It appears that none of them sensed any immediate threat.
Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast;” or else, that he should give something to the poor.
It appears that there was not the slightest inkling that Judas was on the cusp of taking such a despicable action.
Matthew records this statement.
Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself” (Mt. 26:22-25).
In the betrayal of Jesus, we see God’s sovereignty and human responsibility working together.
After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
From the biblical record, it appears Jesus was giving Judas opportunity to confess his faith in Jesus and repent of his sinful plan. Consider each of these events.
Doubtless, Judas was present when Jesus said that one of the twelve was a “devil” as recorded in John 6:70. Now that he is seeking to betray Jesus, he should have perceived that he was on the devil’s side.
- On this very night Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” This must have struck Judas’ conscience as that very night he was planning the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver. The fact that Jesus revealed to Judas that He knew what Judas was planning gave him yet another chance to confess his evil plan and seek forgiveness.
- When Jesus said, “What you do, do quickly,” gave Judas one more chance to repent, but he did not. Jesus clearly showed Judas that He read his evil heart and plan.
- Judas had been witness to countless miracles and signs that Jesus had performed, but they were not met with a responding faith.
- In Matthew’s account, as quoted above, we read that each one of the disciples said, “Surely not I, Lord?”. However, we get a sense of Judas’ heart as he answered. “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Apparently, Judas, despite the multitude of evidence given him, never fully accepted Jesus as “Lord” and saw Him only as a “teacher.”
As we have seen throughout this gospel, John often states things which can have a double meaning. Such is the case here.
So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
Not only was Judas walking in the darkness of physical night, but he had turned from Jesus who is The Light of The World. In the Gospel of John, “light” takes on several spiritual meanings when associated with Jesus. Light stands for truth, life, revelation, and the saving power of God. It represents all that Christ is and does.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man (Jn. 1:4-9).
Judas had every opportunity for faith, but turned His back on Christ time and again and followed Satan. Judas’ treasonous act in betraying Christ, however, set in motion the events leading to the cross and ultimately the resurrection and victory of Christ over death. Again, we see divine sovereignty and human responsibility working side by side to accomplish God’s will. Now we have the choice to follow Christ who has dealt with our sin.
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2).
Or, we can remain under the banner of evil.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 Jn. 5:19).
Application
- We can trust the word of Christ. What He says will come to pass. This holds true for all the promises of God.
- God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work side by side. We cannot say that Judas had no chance to be saved because God predestined him to be the traitor.
- Neither can we say that God’s plan for the cross would have been hampered in any way by the actions of Judas or any other person.
- The over-riding personal application is that we follow the evidence God has given us for faith in Christ. To turn our back on the prompting of the Spirit is dangerous indeed.
Prayer
Father, may I follow the “light” you have given in Scripture. May you reveal your truth to me. May I understand more of the revelation you gave us in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Strengthen my weak faith, so that I will not falter in times of trial.
In Jesus name.
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