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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, The Dismissal of the Traitor, Part XIII, John 13:28-30 - Lesson 121
Read Verses John 13:23-27, for review: Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
Jesus had said to all in the group, one of you shall betray me.
By his giving the sop to Judas he identified the traitor but only to John.
This was private communication as shown by Peter's motioning to John to find out who Jesus meant
Jesus now tells Judas to do something quickly.
Another gift to Judas by Jesus Christ.
Staying around disciples who soon would know who the betrayer was would not be a comfortable place to be.
Jesus also had no desire to give the disciples opportunity to interfere with the mission of Judas.
The disciples all heard "That thou doest, do quickly" but no one of them, not even John knew what this meant.
Only Jesus and Judas knew what was to come.
None of the disciples could have imagined how fast events would occur concerning the errand that Judas was now embarked upon.
John 13:29-30, For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
John records that it was night.
A perfect time for Judas to carry out his evil deed.
Man loves darkness so evil deeds can be done outside the light.
Judas spurns the light and walks out of the comfort of fellowship with Jesus Christ and his disciples.
He had walked with this little band for three years keeping the bag as the treasurer.
The disciples assumed he was about his duties, perhaps to buy supplies for the feast or as an offering for the feast giving alms to the poor.
But Judas was not about to follow light.
He was about to go into outer darkness, for when light is rejected only darkness is left.
There are no other options.
So like Cain he went out from the presence of the Lord.
Like Baalim he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and he went to betray his familiar friend. |