will betray me.” - John 13:21-32
Jesus’ identity is a major theme running through John’s gospel narrative. In washing the disciples’ feet during supper, Jesus had revealed himself as the servant Lord who models the serving behavior expected of his followers. After he finished washing their feet, he asked them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” The correct answer would not have been, “Yes, of course, we all know what you’ve done to us: you’ve washed our feet.” (He’d implied that it wasn’t when he said to Peter, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”) No, Jesus was after something less immediately obvious.
He had said to Peter (who had initially refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet): “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me” and “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean, though not all of you.” No, what Jesus did (with a single exception) was make his disciples righteous before God, make them clean on the inside, pure in thought and intentions, not just clean on the outside. The “foot washing” that Jesus commanded them to do for one another was to cleanse from the pollution from everyday contact with the earth, also known as sinful human society, through mutual confession, repentance and forgiveness. The cleansing work that Jesus did (though not as yet understood) was transform the disciples’ minds and hearts, transformation that is the hallmark of the “new birth.” This righteousness, right relationship with God, identifies the true disciple who will share God’s Kingdom with Jesus.
Recalling these events helps us understand Jesus’ startling announcement that one of the disciples will betray him. Peter’s question to Jesus through John, “Lord, who is it?” foreshadows Peter’s later denial. Yet Jesus is not referring to him but to Judas, of whom gospel writer says, “The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him” (13:2). Jesus is not referring to Peter, despite Peter’s later apostasy.
The identity of the betrayer is the one to whom Jesus, in friendship, will offer a piece of bread dipped in the dish. Yet all the disciples will receive bread from Jesus at his institution of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is here revealed as the Lord who offers the Bread of Life to all, friend and enemy alike. What then distinguishes Judas from the other disciples? Judas receives bread from Jesus deceitfully, with evil intention, and his hatred allows Satan to take up residence within him. The faithful disciples, including Peter, receive bread from Jesus faithfully, with good intention, in response to his invitation.
Yes, Peter will go on to deny Jesus three times, but he will repent and be fully restored to relationship with Jesus. Judas’ identification with the Enemy leads to his break with the Source of Life. As a sign of this break, John’s narrative says “he immediately went out” into the night, into the darkness which has never understood the light of the glory of God, leading directly to Jesus’ betrayal, death and glorification.
—Jim Ward
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