Jesus Predicts His Betrayal – John 13:18-32
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread[a] has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. 20 Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
Jesus Foretells His Betrayal
21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.”28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
The New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
What does the passage say?
V. 18-20 Jesus’ life is a prime example of how we should live. Even though we didn’t read the previous verse, we remember how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He is asking his disciples to accept the love of God, which was shining through Jesus Christ.
V. 21-26 Then Jesus predicts Judas.’ betrayal. John asks, “Lord, who is it?” and Jesus shows them how it was by dipping bread and sharing it with Judas. It says that “Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified” (v. 21). The thought that one of his own would betray should have been mind boggling for him.
V. 27-32 It says, “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him” (v. 27) Judas always had the potential to betray Jesus. He followed Jesus but did what he wanted to do. He was in charge of the money but stole for his own, and expected Jesus to be the revolutionary who overturned the Roman reign. However, when things didn’t turn the way he intended, God allowed Satan to do what Satan needed to do, for Jesus to lay down his life for us.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
I can’t imagine what Jesus had to go through, as he knew who was going to betray him. As he lived in this world, from day one, he knew his death and the one who will betray him. He still selected Judas and included him in the circle of disciples and loved him.
This model is so different from how we face the future. If we, by any chance, knew what will happen in the future, especially when it is something tragic, what do we normally do? We will do our best to prepare ourselves so it will not happen.
Jesus did not prepare to avoid the hardship, even though his spirit should have been troubled the whole time, he just did what he needed to do. Love and serve the world, even Judas, who will betray him.
Do we by any chance pour our energy on preparing ourselves for the unseen future, instead of loving and serving others? Jesus’ life was not affected by the betrayal of Judas; he knew it from the beginning. Jesus was faithful to each day he lived in this life, being faithful to love and serve everyone he encountered, including Judas.
What are your thoughts?
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