Judas Singled Out

Lesson #215

With this lesson we begin the next section, defined by John 13:21 – 30, which is about the one who would betray Jesus. Jesus has alluded to the disciples that one of them is not clean. Jesus will now give us some details about this: “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”” (John 13:21 ESV). “After saying these things” refers back to the previous section and about what Jesus said about the one who was eating bread with them and has lifted up his heel against him by going to make a deal with the Pharisees to betray him. Thinking about his betrayer, Jesus once again “was troubled in his spirit.” We first encountered this troubled spirit in John 12:27 at the time of the death of Lazarus. The sorrow of Jesus was very deep now, so deep that it penetrated from body to soul, and then into the inmost spirit. The Lord was deeply distressed, not merely with the approaching agony aggravated by treachery and desertion, but by the rejection by Judas and his pending doom. To help the disciples come to grips with what was about to happen to him, he says to them with great seriousness, “One of you will betray me.” We will see later that there is more than one betrayer in the group. Consider the three denials of Peter at the trial.

“The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke” (John 12:22 ESV). As the disciples looked at one another, they were perplexed as to who it might be. Judas had done such a good job deceiving them about his feelings toward Jesus that they didn’t suspect him. With a heart rending inquiry, the disciples wanted to know who it was. “One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”” (John 13:23 – 24 NIV). No words were spoken, just a gesture to have the disciple closest to Jesus ask him to find out who. “So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”” (John 13:25 ESV). They still did not suspect Judas and thus they wondered if it might be one of them. There are some who think that Judas was on one side of Jesus and John on the other side. If the disciple was John, who Peter got the attention of, he leans back against Jesus and asks the question, “Lord who is it?”

“Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot” (John 13:26 ESV). Surely, everyone’s attention was waiting for the answer. Jesus takes a morsel of bread in his hand and dipped it and he tells them that the one he gives it to is the one. Imagine how Judas must feel having been singled out by Jesus. We will consider that in out next lesson. Even though Judas was singled out as the one, the disciples still did not understand the extent or the meaning of his betrayal.

Prayer

Father, Jesus knew all along what Judas was going to do and that he was an enemy among them. This shows me that our sin is not hidden from you and that you know from the beginning how we are going to live out our lives. We also have an example of how Jesus treated an enemy among them; with love and without partiality. My heart aches for Judas; he walked with the Son of God who could give him eternal life, but he turns away to soon receive his just punishment; the eternal wrath of God. Father, Judas sure had opportunity to learn and walk in the truth, but selfishness and pride takes its stand and he will continue his fall into the pit of hell. Father, how we need to humble ourselves before the Lord Jesus to prevent your hand coming down upon us.