John 13:21-30--One of You Will Betray Me

John 13:21-30
English Standard Version

One of You Will Betray Me
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

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As mentioned yesterday as we were talking about Jesus washing the disciples' feet, Jesus had complete knowledge of the right time for things to happen and who the actors were and what parts they were going to play, but He still took the time to wash the feet of those who were going to betray Him and deny Him in order to show His love for them--this was done even though they didn't deserve it--and to leave an example for them.

Now we get into the part of the conversation where prophetically reveals that one of the Twelve is a traitor that is is going to betray Jesus.  Today we know this to be Judas Iscariot and we often associate the name Judas with betrayal and wickedness and one who has turned themselves over to Satan.

It seems that none of the disciples had picked up on Judas's true nature, though John has been leaving us some clues throughout his entire gospel and has been foreshadowing this event for us, so we as readers should not be surprised at what is about to occur.  We see the disciples confused and left wondering who Jesus is talking about so that Peter (who seems to be some distance away from Jesus) motions to Jesus to inquire which one of them He is referring to, but John, who refers to himself in the third person as is typical in his gospel, seems to be seated right next to Jesus and leans in close to Him to ask Him who it is (seeming to understand that this is something that is a secret).  Jesus identifies Judas to John, but it appears that the rest of the disciples don't hear that conversation or at least without hearing the question, they have no context for what Jesus is saying and don't understand the answer as the other gospels seem to indicate that everyone is continuing to ask, "Is it me, Lord?"

At that point Jesus dips the sop (the morsel) and gives it to Judas Iscariot, identified here as son of Simon Iscariot.  This is typically a sign of favoritism from the host, so those that did not hear the part about this being the sign that Jesus would use to identify His betrayer probably thought that Jesus and Judas were on pretty good terms if Jesus decided to give this morsel of dipped bread to Judas.  At that time is was clear that the election has been made.  Judas was going to be the "son of perdition" that had been foretold, and Satan actually enters Judas Iscariot.  Jesus then tell Judas and Satan, "That which you must do, do quickly."  Notice that Jesus is in complete control, and He is still controlling the timeline, telling Satan and Judas that it is the right time to betray Him to the chief priests so that arrest and trials occur at the right time--when we get to the trials we'll see that Jesus again controls things and makes things advance on His timetable.

The next verse is the verse that makes some people assume that this whole event is happening on Wednesday night instead of Thursday night as the disciples assume that Jesus had something to Judas about Judas needing to go buy something for the feast or to go and give some money to the poor.  This is just more evidence that none of the disciples, save possibly John, had heard Judas identified as the betrayer, and it is quite possible that even John was kept from understanding what Jesus said as it might not have been time for him to understand--the Holy Spirit could have brought these words of Jesus back to Him later and opened his eyes to their meaning.

So this part of the story ends with Judas receiving the morsel as a sign of his commitment to doing what he needs to do and he heads out into the night.  There will be lots that happens between now and the next time that we see Judas, and I think it's important to see the things that Jesus saves for those who are His sheep, even the ones that we know were still going to deny and abandon Him as the prophecies foretold, (See Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, and Zechariah 13:7).