Lesson 38

Jesus And Judas

John 13:18-30

The story of Jesus and Judas at the Last Supper is recorded for us in John 13:18-30, our text for today. It is a sad and sickening story. Jesus and Judas. It is hard for me to use those two names in the same breath. Merely mentioning those two names is to speak of the perhaps the two most opposite people in history. None of us would ever dare name a son either of those names. We would not name a son Jesus, because that name is too wonderful. We would not name a son Judas, because that name is too horrible. The character of one man in history has forever ruined an otherwise decent name.

In John 13, these two men come eye to eye. The scene takes place in the upper room. It is passover time. Jesus and his disciples have secured a rented room in which to celebrate the Jewish feast. Only one of the twelve knows that this will be Jesus' last passover. Jesus has given them ample words of warning and explanation concerning what is about to transpire, but somehow the truth hasn't sunk in just yet. In literally, a matter of hours, Jesus will be arrested, tried, crucified and unjustly killed. But the disciples for the most part are oblivious to this truth.

But Jesus knows fully what is ahead. And so, He spends these final hours in a quiet place with His little group of learners reminding them of the most important lessons which they will need to remember when He is gone, much like a mother would go over things with her children the hours before a life-threatening operation. And for a moment, John the author of this gospel account fixes our attention on Jesus and Judas.

How The Betrayer Was Expected, 13:18-21.

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that the betrayal of Judas was not a surprise to Jesus. In verse 18, Jesus says that it had been predicted in Scripture. The betrayal of Judas is a fulfillment of Psalm 41:9. No doubt, David had Ahithophel in mind when he originally penned these words. Ahithophel had been David's friend and loyal counselor but suddenly when Absalom, David's rebel son, rose up in an effort to overthrow David's throne, Ahithophel had joined Absalom in the rebellion. Perhaps, Ahithophel had a reason to betray David. Years earlier David had sinned grievously with Ahithophel's granddaughter, Bathsheba. But Psalm 41:9 was also prophetic. It predicted Judas' betrayal against Jesus, and this betrayal was without a cause. "He that eateth bread with me" (eating bread together symbolizes close fellowship) "hath lifted up his heel against me" (the "lifting up of a heel" is a metaphor derived from the image of a horse's hoof preparing to kick, indicating a hurtful or destructive act).

The Old Testament had predicted the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. In fact, Zechariah 11:12-13 had also predicted the betrayal price, thirty pieces of silver. Zec 11:12-13 ... So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. ... And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

What had been predicted in the Old Testament had also been predicted by the Savior, vs. 19-21. Earlier Jesus had made not so veiled references to a pretender, see John 6:64, 70-71. And even as He had washed their feet, Jesus said that not all of them had been cleansed from sin, 13:10b-11. Now, at this point Christ says openly and plainly (v. 21) "Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall betray me."

This raises two significant questions. First, why did Jesus tell them ahead of time of a betrayer among them? The answer to that question is clearly addressed in verse 19. You see, Jesus is demonstrating the attribute of foreknowledge. Our knowledge is all after knowledge. When John spoke of Judas' betrayal (12:4; 13:11) he spoke from the perspective of 60 or 70 years later. John spoke with after knowledge. We do not know the future. We may have suspicions or a hunch. We may have enough understanding of human nature to successful predict something that is going to happen. But the truth is if we are right about something that happens in the future, it is because of a lucky, educated guess. We do not have the attribute of foreknowledge. Only God knows the end from the beginning. Isaiah 46:9-10 ... For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done ..." If only God has foreknowledge and Jesus has foreknowledge, then who does that make Jesus? Jesus told them this so that they could believe that Jesus is God. Even the awful act of Judas' betrayal proves the deity of Christ.

The second question that comes to my mind is this, Why didn't Jesus simply tell the whole group of disciples "Judas is going to betray me"? Why did Jesus say, "One of you shall betray me?" You know what I think? Judas already has put his plot into place (Mt. 26:14-16) and so he thinks that nobody knows about him. Jesus lets Judas know that He is on to his plan but doesn't reveal it to give Judas an opportunity to repent! In fact, verse 20 almost seems out of place unless you see it as an invitation to Judas to receive Christ and the One who sent Christ. Those who do receive Christ become ambassadors for God.

The fact that both the scriptures and the Lord Jesus had foreknowledge about Judas' betrayal does not, in any way, mean that God caused the betrayal. God is absolutely holy and can never be held responsible for evil. Judas made a conscious choice to reject and betray Christ. He was given opportunities to come to Christ and this seems to be the final one. Judas was exposed to the same spiritual privileges as the other disciples, yet they did him no good. In spite of Jesus' warnings about covetousness, Judas continued to steal from their treasury. In spite of all the Lord's warning about unbelief, Judas persisted in his rejection. The same sun that melts the ice, hardens the clay. And Judas has a hard heart. Judas was responsible for his own decisions and those decisions fulfilled God's word.

How The Betrayer Was Exposed, 13:22-26.

It is remarkable that the others seated around the table did not know that Judas was an unbeliever and a betrayer. Judas had a polished exterior and was great actor, pretending to be something that he never truly was. Judas was a hypocrite. Did you know that the Greek word for "hypocrite" means an actor, one who wears a mask? That was Judas. He was so good at pretending that no one suspected him as the betrayer. They even trusted him with the treasury!

The disciples were shocked when Jesus said, "One of you shall betray me." Verse 22 says that they all looked at each other "doubting" (the word means questioning and conveys the idea of perplexed about whom Jesus was referring to. Mat 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? Did you hear that? Everyone of them asked, "Is it me?" Judas continued to pretend when he knew all along that it was him. Jesus has given Judas a final opportunity to repent. Judas refuses to repent, continues to pretend and so now Jesus exposes the betrayer. But not immediately to everyone.

First, we see John in focus, vs. 23-24. Admittedly, verse 23 sounds sort of strange to us. What does it mean? Understand that Jews did not sit at traditional tables as we know them. Their tables were low, solid blocks with either pillows or pallets around them for guests to recline upon. They reclined, leaning on their left elbow, leaving the right hand free to eat with. Sitting in such a way, a man's head was quite literally at the breast of the person who was reclining to his left. That would place John, the author of the gospel on Jesus' right.

There was a special relationship between Jesus and John. Throughout this gospel account, John does not refer to himself in the first person, never by name, always as that disciple whom Jesus loved, v. 23. How do we know it was John? See John 21:24-25. It is believed that John was the youngest of all the disciples (since he lived the longest, nearly to the year 100 A.D.) and that he may even have been a teenager during the ministry of Jesus. Jesus was affectionate toward John and at this meal John was in a place of privilege - on the right hand side of Jesus.

I suspect that next to John is Peter who is mentioned in verse 24. Peter was able to speak to John, apparently without the others hearing. Peter put John up to asking Jesus whom He was referring to, v. 25.

Next we see Jesus in focus, vss.25-26a. Jesus tells John (only?) that it will be the one to whom He gives the first bite of sop. The word means simply a morsel and it was dipped into something with a fluid consistency. Now, in the Jewish culture, the host would do this for an honored guest.

Finally, we see Judas in focus, vs. 26b. It would seem that Judas was on the left hand side of Jesus (another place of honor) and it would appear to the others (with only John as an exception) that Jesus is bestowing a special honor upon Judas. In fact, He is identifying Judas to John as the betrayer.

How The Betrayer Was Expelled, 13:27-30.

John tells us that at this moment "Satan entered into him." Judas was not just demon possessed (see 6:70); he became Satan possessed. Judas choose to reject Christ and now he has received Satan. Judas has gone beyond the point of return. But Jesus is still in charge and in verse 27, He dismisses Judas from the room. The others heard what Jesus said to Judas but did not understand the full force of His words. In fact, the others interpreted them (vs. 28-29) innocently. They assumed that Jesus had sent Judas to the market for supplies or on an errand of mercy to make a contribution to the poor.

So the first picture of Judas's expulsion is that of Judas and the devil. That is followed by the picture of Judas and the disciples. His reputation was so high that they were totally unsuspecting of any wickedness going on. He has successfully deceived them all. All except Jesus.

There have always been hypocrites within the ranks of Christianity. There have always been those who pretended to believe, who pretend to love Jesus Christ, who successfully deceive us all. But deep in their heart, they know that they are actually pretending. And God also knows.

Today there is still opportunity for you to come to Christ, to receive Him, to end the pretence. But that opportunity will not last forever.

The text concludes with an eerie picture. Judas left and "it was night." The final picture of Judas is shrouded in darkness. This statement carries tremendous impact when you consider how often John and Jesus have spoken in this gospel account of light and darkness.

John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 3:18-21 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

For Judas, it is still night. For him is reserved what the Bible calls in Jude 13 "the blackness of darkness forever" Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.