DENIAL OR FAITH

 

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’  - In vs 18 – Jesus knows whom He has chosen.  He knows who belong to Him and those who do not.  Also, the sheep their shepherds and master’s voice.  Jesus also clears up that is not referring to all of them.  This verse makes it clear that following Jesus is a decision which brings assurance confidence.  Matt 28:20 says that the Lord will never leave or forsake us. Jesus also said at this moment is a fulfillment of Ps 41:9.

 

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am, - In vs 19 – Jesus then shares that He is telling them this before it happens.  God often tells us before hand so we will not be caught off guard, you can some preparation, you can be pro-active instead of reactive, can be in prayer, be forewarn, watch, and do the right thing. 

     In this case Jesus said that they would know that as the great I am they would believe and know that He is the great I am.  The events that would follow shortly would verify and confirm what Jesus and Lord.  Jesus claim to be God, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord.  This is one of the themes of the book of John. 

 

20 “Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” In vs 20, When someone accepts us and the message, we bring they accept Christ.  Now remember we are also the message by how we live.  We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  The message we bring, and Christ are intertwined.  Part of our purpose, destiny, aim goal, and plan is to share the gospel. 

     Whoever accepts Jesus Christ accept the Father who sent Him.  You cannot separate them.  This is the stumbling block to the Jews and the foolishness go the Greeks and gentiles.  Jesus claim to be God.  C.S Lewis says you have three choices with Christ, He is a liar, lunatic, or God.  Jesus earlier said he came from the Father and was going back to the Father.

 

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”  22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”  25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”  26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  In Vs 21-26  Jesus was troubled because he knew that He was about to be betrayed and by whom.  Foreknowledge is not always a good thing.  It can create sadness, heartache, and sorrow.  Jesus knew but it didn’t stop Him from having his heart broken.  Jesus had invested three years in Judas, and it had not penetrated. 

     Jesus then reveals again that one of them was going to betray Him.  The reaction of the disciples is three-fold.  First, they can’t believe someone in their group would do this, Secondly, they look at each other in shock and suspicion.  Lastly, they did not understand at that moment what was happening. This often happens at the moment of the event where there is confusion and chaos.  Even when warned we don’t fully understand until after it happens.  That is where the four coping mechanisms. The word, prayer, Holy Spirit, and mature believers.

     Peter then motions to John which from the text is described as the disciple Jesus loved.  Ask Him who it is?  John then asks Jesus privately a good action because the room was already filled with tension and confusion.  This action can also deescalate a tense situation. Jesus does not answer.        

John directly but says, “The one whom I give this dipped bread too is the one who will betray me and then gives it to Judas.  Jesus often used illustrate lessons to get His point across.  This is the moment of decision for Judas.  John knows and Jesus knows.  Remember Satan had already prompted Judas into betrayal this moment would change the course of Judas life forever.  Remember one moment can do the same for us.  God’s way, our way or the enemies.  It is a choice.

 

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.  In Vs 27-30   As soon as Jesus gave the bread to Judas satan entered him.  He was no longer doing his will but the will of the enemy.  Remember there are three wills you will do in your life.  Yours, God’s, or the enemies.  Judas was doing the will of the enemy.  He was satan’s pawn.  He was prompted, lured, and deceive by satan but when he took that bread it was decision time.  Jesus had revealed to the group that one of them was going to betray Him and Judas sat quiet he knew he was in the throws of a decision.  In that moment the decision was made.

     Jesus then told him to do what he had determined in his heart to do quickly.   No one there understood why Jesus said that.  It would only be later those things became clear.   The disciples at the time thought two things.   Jesus asked Judas to go out to get things that were need for the festival or to give money to the poor because he was their treasurer.

     Unfortunately, this Judas situation is played out repeatedly.  Someone is exposed to the truth, to salvation, love, redemption, and all it brings and still turn away, betray, neglect, and never have it penetrate their heart to bear fruit.  If you live long enough in the faith you see it repeatedly.  Please don’t let this be you.  Sadly, you can have the most anointed, loving, gracious and gifted leader and people will still reject and betray them. 

      Judas then take the bread and leaves.  The last statement John makes here that it was night, In Jewish imagery it means a time of sin, evil and darkness.  Judas was about to commit the most horrid, heinous, and despicable crime in history.  It was his moment of darkness.  Man loves darkness because their deeds are evil.  This passage is a warning to all of us that we are all a decision away from evil or good.  Also, a warning of whose will we are going to do.  Ours, satan’s, or God’s.