DAY #169: John 13:18-38

What a great day at the beach yesterday. God is working in the hearts of kids and staff. Keep praying for protection and for God to break through barriers. So many broken homes and hurting kids. We must be a church that builds families and equips parents and trains children.

In today's passage, we see Jesus’ previous statements about serving and loving one another did not apply to all of his disciples because, in fact, one of his disciples (Judas) was about to betray him. However, this betrayal was not an unexpected event, for Jesus had known from the beginning that one of the men he chose would betray him.

Jesus’ betrayal was necessary to fulfill Scripture—specifically, Psalm 41:9. Jesus drew from Psalm 41 because it describes how one of David’s friends turned against him. This may have referred to the story of David’s trusted companion, Ahithophel, who betrayed David and then went and hanged himself (2 Samuel 16:20–17:3, 23). Judas, who had been with Jesus and was a trusted companion (Judas was keeper of the money), would betray Jesus and then hang himself.


Next, we see Jesus and the Disciples Share the Last Supper. At this point in the dinner, the mood shifted, partly as a reflection of the ominous tone Jesus used. Apparently the food was on the table, and they may have already been eating. Moments later, in answer to John’s direct question, Jesus indicated his knowledge of Judas’s betrayal by handing him the bread that he had dipped in the bowl. The rest of the disciples could not understand the meaning of Judas’s abrupt departure.

Jesus was in great anguish of spirit over the coming betrayal, even though he knew that the betrayal had been foreordained. His inner turmoil was expressed when he said, “The truth is, one of you will betray me!” Jesus’ pronouncement caused great consternation among the disciples. It was not obvious who the betrayer was. Judas, as keeper of the money, may have been the one they would least suspect.

Peter motioned to the one who was sitting beside Jesus to ask who the betrayer was. So that disciple, the one Jesus loved (identified as John, the author), asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus identified the betrayer as “the one to whom I give the bread dipped in the sauce.” Jesus dipped the piece of bread into a dish filled with a sauce probably made of dates, raisins, and sour wine. Having said this, Jesus dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas. Ironically, a host offering a piece of bread to a guest was a sign of friendship. Jesus’ act of friendship was his identification of the betrayer. Later, in the Garden, Judas would identify Jesus to the guards with another sign of friendship—a kiss.

After Judas ate the bread, Satan entered into him. Thus the betrayal was set in motion. Jesus said to Judas, “Hurry. Do it now.” No one else at the table understood, but Judas did. Jesus identified Judas so tactfully that all the disciples missed the significance of the act: they did not connect Jesus’ earlier statement (“One of you will betray me”) with his present exchange with Judas. Despite the disciples’ misunderstanding, the stage was quickly being set: Judas left at once, going out into the night. The last statement recounts the actual time yet also symbolizes the spiritual condition of Judas. He was in darkness, under the control of the prince of darkness, Satan.

After Judas’s departure, Jesus spoke of his own glorification and referred to the brief time they would still have together. With a sense of urgency, he commanded them to love each other. He indicated that this single characteristic would set them apart from the world as his disciples. Peter wanted to know where Jesus was planning to go that they could not go with him. Jesus simply restated that his destination would not be theirs until later.


When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “The time has come for me, the Son of Man, to enter into my glory.” As Judas was on his way to betray Jesus into the hands of those who would crucify him, Jesus looked past the cross to his glorification at the resurrection.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, help me be more like you. Even though You knew Judas would betray you - even though you knew Judas was stealing money and had the wrong motives in serving, You did not alienate him or ostracize him - you served him and you loved him. Simply awesome. Lord, give me that grace and mercy for those who speak ill of me or do harm to me. Daily, help me see the big picture of Your love and mercy and grace.