Lent 2025 Day 26: Thu 3 Apr
John 13:18-30
Jesus predicts his betrayal
18 ‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: “He who shared my bread has turned against me.”
…21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.’
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘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.’ Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
The hint had been there all along in the Scriptures – bread and betrayal, in Psalm 41. In John’s account, we have Peter nudging another disciple, the one Jesus loved, thought by some to be John, to ask Jesus who the betrayer was. Jesus tells him plainly. He identifies the betrayer by offering him a piece of bread. It may be that only this close disciple had heard what Jesus had said. It may explain why Judas could simply slip away without a riot flaring up. It’s all conjecture, but it’s good to bring yourself into the room along with the group.
Jesus addresses Judas directly. “Do it quickly”. Judas goes, though no-one else in the room reacts. If they’d picked up on Jesus’ actions and words they may still have not realised that it was going to happen that very night.
Judas accepts the bread and goes.
Luke and John tell us that Satan entered into Judas. Satan has no authority to take up residence in people unless he’s invited. Judas may have been tempted by thoughts of betrayal, but had he rejected them then Satan would no point of entry. In taking up the temptation Judas opened himself to Satan’s deeper influence and control.
Satan may have seen Judas as the one most likely to betray Jesus. He knew what Judas what up to as treasurer, and he knew how he responded to that woman anointing Jesus with expensive perfume. Once he was allowed in, he could steer Judas in the direction he wanted.
How powerful is Satan?
Why might Judas have taken the bread rather than refuse it?
Where do you sit in the room?
Father God, things happen that we just don’t see, and blessings slip by. Keep our eyes fixed more closely on you today so that we both pick up where you are leading us and that we are kept from temptation. Amen.
1:40:14 Befiehl du deine Wege (Choral)
44. Chorale
Commit your path,
and whatever troubles your heart,
to the most faithful caretaker,
who directs the heavens,
who to the clouds, air, and winds
gives path, course, and passage;
he will find ways
for your feet to follow as well.
45a. Evangelist At the festival, however, the Governor had a custom of releasing a prisoner to the people, whichever they wanted. He had, however, at the time a most unusual prisoner named Barabbas. And as they were gathered together, Pilate said to them:
Pilate Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus, of whom it is said, he is the Christ?
Evangelist For he knew well that they had handed him over out of envy. And while he sat upon the judgment seat, his wife sent to him and her message said:
Pilate's Wife Have nothing to do with this righteous man; I have suffered much in a dream today on his account!
Evangelist But the high priests and the elders convinced the people that they should ask for Barabbas and convict Jesus. So when the Governor answered and said to them:
Pilate Which one between the two do you want me to release to you?
Evangelist They said:
Chorus I & II Barabbas!
Evangelist Pilate said to them:
Pilate What shall I do then with Jesus, of whom it is said, he is the Christ?
Evangelist They all said:
45b. Chorus I & II Let him be crucified!
46. Chorale
How strange is this punishment!
The Good Shepherd suffers for the sheep.
The Lord, the Righteous One, atones for the crime
on his servant's behalf.
47. Evangelist The Governor said:
Pilate What evil has he done then?
Ends at 1:44:55
Paul