Satan Enters Judas

Lesson #216

We left off last time with the verse: “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). You were left to imagine how Judas must have felt being singled out by Jesus as the betrayer, but it is going to get much worse because, “Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”” (John 13:27 ESV). Back in verse 2, the devil put into the heart of Judas the aspiration to betray Jesus, but here when Judas takes the morsel, Satan entered into him. Judas has spent three years living with Jesus and was learning about the kingdom of the beloved Son. Judas could have chosen Jesus and entered that kingdom, but instead he remains in the kingdom of darkness and now as Satan enters Judas the deal to betray Jesus has been sealed. I can’t begin to put into words how Judas must now feel. Jesus makes the separation final when he says to Judas, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Up to this point there was still an opportunity for Judas to embrace Jesus, but now he had sinned against knowledge and love, and even Jesus gives him up. What it must be like when the powers of hell and darkness take possession of a person, strengthening that one to do evil.

“Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor” (John 13:28 – 29 ESV). As I think about this it appears that when John asked Jesus who the betrayer was, Jesus must have whispered his response allowing only John to understand what was happening. As a result, the rest were relying on their imagination to come up with an answer. To think that Judas was being sent to buy what was need for the feast gives proof that this meal was not the Passover meal.

“So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night” (John 13:30 ESV). In the context of what we are covering, it is very difficult where to fit in the Lords Supper. Commentators, like me, are unable to determine the timing of these things. The important thing is to learn from what John is writing; not try to figure how everything fits together. The important thing to know is that Jesus is troubled in his spirit because of the suffering that lies ahead. This is brought into sharp focus when Jesus gives the morsel to Judas and Jesus tells him to go do what he going to do, and do it quickly. I believe Jesus wants this period of intense suffering to be as short as possible.

Prayer

Father, physically Jesus and the disciples are together having a meal. Jesus announces there is a betrayer in their midst and then points out Judas, but in such a subtle way that the disciples didn’t make the connection over why Judas left. Father, underneath this activity there was spiritual warfare going on between Satan and the kingdom of darkness and Jesus and his kingdom of light. One can feel the tension mounting as these two, with their kingdoms, prepare to engage a terrific battle concerning our salvation. How thankful I am that Jesus was victorious and that I am part of his kingdom.