Into The Night

Scripture: John 13:21-30  (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

21 Now Jesus was in great anguish of spirit, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” 22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night. (John 13:21–30 NLT)

After he washed their feet, Jesus put on his robe and sat at the table with the Twelve. His heart ached as he looked around the table at these men he had chosen, men he knew so well and loved so much! He startled them as he exclaimed, “One of you will betray me!” They looked at each other. Peter motioned to John to ask, “Who is it, Boss?” Jesus replied, “It’s the one I give this bread to!” Then he dipped the bread in the gravy and handed it to Judas. Judas took the bread and ate it. As he did, Satan entered into him. Jesus told Judas, “Hurry! Do it now!”

Judas had got off track. Did he betray Jesus for the thirty silver coins? Was he impatient with Jesus’ progress as Messiah and trying to push him to do something powerful, violent, military? We don’t really know. But look at this progression: 1)Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him. (John 6:70-71) 2)The Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. (John 13:2) 3) When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” (John 13:27) He left the table and went out into the night. His night never ended!

Within a few hours, Jesus would die for the sins of the world. The sins of the Eleven. The sins of Judas. The sins of the Pharisees. And your sins and mine!

Prayer:

Merciful Father, When we get off track, please help us turn back quickly! Don’t let us make those choices that lead to our leaving the table and going out into the night!