John 13.18-30

John 13:18-30

18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ 19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

21 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.” 22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 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. 27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 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. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

We have all been a part of conversations where there are two or more people that have inside information that the rest of the group does not have.  Even though everyone is hearing the conversation, only the people with the inside information really understand what is being said.  This is exactly what is happening between Jesus and Judas in this text.  The rest of the disciples are there, hearing and even participating in the conversation, but they do not understand all that is going on.  Only Judas really comprehends what Jesus is saying and he is in denial because he thinks that there is no way Jesus can know what he is about to do.  There is one thing about which all of us can be certain: Jesus always knows all the inside information.  None of our words, thoughts, motives or intentions can be hidden from Him.

JESUS WARNS JUDAS: Jesus lets Judas know that He knows about the betrayal and that it was even foretold in Scripture.  Jesus also lets the other disciples know the same truths.  I believe Jesus did this for two different reasons.  The text tells us that He did it so that His disciples would believe when they saw it take place because He had warned them about it before hand.  However, I believe He told Judas about this as a means of warning Him.  Jesus wants Him to know that what he had done in secret was fully known to Him.  Judas may have been deluding himself into thinking that Jesus would have no way of knowing that it was him.  He may have thought that his chosen way of treason would not be detected by Jesus or the others and he could just go on faking it like he had been doing.  Jesus is showing him that is not the case.  Any time any of us sin, we practice the same delusion of Judas.  We pretend Jesus cannot see or that He does not know.  Jesus knows and sees everything.  No thought, action or motive escapes His attention.  We can never hide anything from Him.

JESUS HONORS JUDAS: When the disciples all began to question whom the traitor might be, Peter asks John to find out from Jesus since He obviously knew who it was.  It is interesting that they did not consider Judas to be the obvious candidate nor did anyone consider himself to be the one.  They all seemed to trust Judas and they all seemed to trust themselves.  That is a dangerous position to be in.  Jesus responds to John’s question by indicating that it was the person who received the morsel dipped in the wine and then proceeds to give that morsel to Judas.  This was a custom bestowed on the person of honor at the table.  Jesus, as the host of this meal, was honoring Judas as His special guest.  In essence, Jesus was asking Judas: “do you want to be honored by me or betray me?”  What is astounding is the disciples still did not pick up on the fact that Judas was the betrayer.  Perhaps, it was only John who heard what Jesus said.  Clearly, there was communication going on around this table, that not everyone was understanding.  Judas clearly knows that Jesus knows and takes His offer of honor and throws it away.  Every time we sin, we turn our backs on the honor that comes through a life of obedience.

JESUS RELEASES JUDAS: After Jesus gives Judas the morsel dipped in wine; He releases Judas to go do what he has been planning to do.  Jesus had warned Judas.  He had honored Judas.  None of these actions moved Judas to repentance, so Jesus releases him to accomplish Satan’s biding.  The text clearly states that Satan entered the body of Judas to encourage and empower him to do this terrible thing.  Judas had rejected Jesus as Messiah because instead of establishing a kingdom, He insisted that He was God.  Ruling and reigning with Messiah was attractive to a money and power-hungry man.  Following a man who claimed to be the Son of God into a life of suffering and sacrifice was not what Judas had signed up for.  Satan takes the rejection of Judas and transforms it into betrayal.  It is a dangerous thing to have a man-centered view of what it means to follow Jesus.  If we believe that discipleship is a path to peace and prosperity, it is very likely we will become disillusioned and end up following some other way.  Every promise Jesus has made will be fulfilled.  However, many of them will only be realized in heaven as a reward for a life of service and sacrifice on earth.  Don’t allow unbiblical expectations to discourage following Jesus.

APPLICATION: Know that nothing is out of the view of Jesus.  There are no secrets from God, only from others.  Many times, fighting the sins that only you and God know about involves telling others about our struggles.  Value the honor of God over the pleasure of sin or the pleasing of men.  Don’t allow the love of money, comfort or any other idol distract you from following Jesus.  Guard your expectations for this life and live in light of eternal life.