John 13:21-32
21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus 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. 27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some 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. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
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Jesus is troubled, who wouldn’t be knowing that soon they would be facing torture and death? However, in this passage, I think Jesus is less troubled by his upcoming fate and more troubled by his betrayal by a loved one. Just before this passage, in an act of love, Jesus washed Judas’ feet. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had given freely of himself to his disciples, including Judas. In this case, not only was this a loved one, but this was a CHOSEN person, one of only twelve that Jesus trusted with the care of himself and his ministry. This is what makes the betrayal more painful.
Would Jesus have been crucified without Judas’…probably. He was breaking Mosaic law, questioning authority, questioning tradition, calling on a higher authority than the ruling Romans…I think it was just a matter of time before the troublemaker was dealt with. So, why Judas, why a betrayal?
I think the story of Judas points out to us that we are all beloved of Jesus and we are all betrayers of Jesus (remember that soon it will be Peter who denies and betrays Jesus). We all receive the bread that he had dipped in the dish…not just Judas. The point is that our betrayal, does not stop his love, his forgiveness and care for us. Jesus loves us as we are, beloved and betrayer.
Prayer: Lord help me to live in your love and Word. Amen
—Lori Thomson