Judas Departs
TRANSLATION
(18) “I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen, but the verse, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me,’ will be fulfilled. (19) I am telling you this now before it takes place so that when it does take place, you may believe that I am he. (20) Truly I tell you whoever accepts the one I send accepts me. And whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
(21) When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Truly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” (22) The disciples looked at one another, not sure which of them he meant. (23) One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at the table reclining right in front of him. (24) Simon Peter motioned to him and said, “Ask him which one he means.” (25) Leaning back this disciple asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” (26) Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So, after he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (27) After Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus said to him, “What you’re about to do, do quickly.” (28) No one at the table knew why he said this to him. (29) Some thought that because Judas was in charge of the purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. (30) Having received the piece of bread, he immediately departed, and it was night.
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus did not feel free to share intimately with his closest followers until the one who would betray him to the Jewish authorities had departed from their midst. Only he knew the identity of this traitor whose actions were inspired by Satan. These two paragraphs, describing how Judas’ left the supper, contain several repetitions which point us to their message. “Bread” as well as “piece of bread” is found several times in (vss. 18, 26, 27, & 30). We should not overlook the phrase found twice in verse 19, “it takes place” and “when it does take place.” Verse 20 contains four occurrences of “accepts.” Two more repetitions marked the second paragraph: “give” and “dipped” (both in vs. 26).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus described his betrayal as a fulfillment of Psalm 41:9. (18-20)
II. Jesus identified his betrayer as the one to whom he would give the dipped piece of bread. (21-30)
IDEA STATEMENT
Jesus first foretold his betrayal and then identified his betrayer while eating with his disciples in the Upper Room.
APPLICATION
The disciples had no idea that one of their number would soon betray their master to the Jewish authorities. When Peter through John asked Jesus to identify the one who would do this, Jesus indicated that it would be the one whom he, as the host of this Passover meal, would honor by giving him a piece of unleavened bread dipped in the bowl of stew. Ironically, it was this last act of grace extended to Judas that precipitated his act of betrayal. It was at that very moment, John tells us, that Satan entered his heart. When Jesus told Judas to act quickly, he immediately left the fellowship of the Passover supper and pursued his path of darkness and treachery. At last, Jesus was free to share with the remaining disciples the great truths they would need to carry on in his absence, teachings that have become known as the “Upper Room Discourse.”