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Sermon

And It Was Night

Speaker
David Capoccia
Scripture
John 13:21-30

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Note: This transcript and summary was autogenerated. It has not yet been proofread or edited by a human.

Summary

This passage from John 13:21-30 examines the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, revealing that Jesus was never a helpless victim but was always fully aware and in sovereign control of his own death. We are reminded that Jesus foretold the betrayal so that his disciples—and we today—would believe more firmly that he is the Son of God and Messiah. Rather than shaking faith, the betrayal itself becomes further evidence of Christ’s divine identity and authority.

Key Lessons:

  1. Jesus knew about Judas’s betrayal all along and foretold it so that when it happened, the disciples’ faith would be strengthened rather than destroyed.
  2. Hidden sin cannot be concealed from Jesus—Judas deceived every disciple, but Jesus knew his heart completely and can expose any hypocrisy at any time.
  3. Jesus extended extravagant love and repeated opportunities for repentance to Judas even at the last hour, showing the beautiful and persistent heart of our Savior toward sinners.
  4. Rejecting Christ’s love leads to ever-increasing hardness of heart, even to the point of being wholly given over to darkness, as Judas was given over to Satan.

Application: We are called to examine ourselves honestly—are we truly believing and resting in the gospel, or are we maintaining secret rebellion and hypocrisy like Judas? We must repent and believe while we have opportunity, not taking God’s patience for granted, and find comfort that for those in Christ, any darkness in life is only temporary.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does knowing that Jesus foretold and even directed the timing of his own betrayal strengthen your confidence that he is truly the Son of God?
  2. In what ways might we be tempted to hide sin or maintain a respectable outward appearance while harboring unbelief or disobedience, and how should the example of Judas warn us?
  3. How does Jesus’ extravagant love toward Judas—washing his feet, honoring him at the meal, offering the morsel—challenge the way we respond to those who wrong us?

Scripture Focus: John 13:21-30 is the central passage, showing Jesus’ announcement of the betrayer, the private revelation to John, and Judas’s departure into the night. Supporting passages include Psalm 41:9 (the prophecy of betrayal by a close companion), John 6:70 (Jesus identifying a devil among the twelve), Numbers 32:23 (sin will find you out), and Isaiah 64:6 (our righteousness as filthy rags).

Outline

Introduction

Let’s pray again.

Oh Lord God, we give attention to your word now, but we know how easy it is for us to be distracted in our minds and to hold the word that we hear with a kind of halfbelief. Yes, we acknowledge it’s true, but somehow it seems less real than the world we see around us now.

Lord, tie the attention of our hearts to this word.

Shake us from this sleepy kind of belief we might have towards it. Lord, help us to realize that these things are true and weighty.

And Lord, may it be what soers our hearts but also fills us with immense joy.

Instruct us, Lord Jesus, by your spirit, open my mouth to explain this word well.

Transform us to be a people pleasing to you more in your image in Jesus name.

Amen.

Well, today we are looking at the most infamous betrayal in the Bible and indeed of all world history.

But before we do that, allow me to tell you about a only slightly less infamous betrayal.

A Tale of Two Betrayals

By March of 44 BC, gas Julius Caesar had become the greatest man in Rome.

First rising to prominence by skillful political maneuvers and a series of successful military campaigns in Gaul, modern France, Caesar then succeeded in defeating his rival Pompy the Great in civil war. In 48 BC, Caesar had obtained de facto control of the Roman Republic.

Caesar then set about remaking the Roman state according to his own will, even accepting the position of dictator for life in early 44 BC.

However, a certain man named Marcus Junius Brutus began secretly to oppose Caesar.

Brutus himself, an ambitious politician, had been Caesar’s friend once upon a time. However, when civil war broke out between Caesar and Pompy, Brutus sided with Caesar’s enemy.

“A certain man named Marcus Junius Brutus began secretly to oppose Caesar.”

But when the war turned against Pompy, Brutus came back to Caesar asking for mercy in exchange for Brutus surrender.

This Caesar readily granted.

Brutus then supported Caesar for the rest of the war until Caesar was triumphant. But when the war was over, Brutus became concerned about the increasingly obvious monarchical tendencies of his patron Caesar.

Others around Brutus, such as the famous ortor Cicero, and Brutus own Porsche, they began actively to encourage Brutus to turn against his friend and to bring down Caesar for the sake of preserving the republic from tyrants.

Graffiti even began to appear in public spaces, mocking Brutus for not living up to his ancient namesake, Lucius Junius Brutus, who according to legend had helped overthrow Rome’s last king and had ushered in Rome’s republic.

Between these forces and Brutus own growing concern, Brutus eventually joined Caesar’s ex alli ex ally Casius and leading a conspiracy of liberators to kill Caesar at a Senate session on the eyides of March that is the 15th of March 44 BC in the theater of Pompy.

This con this conspiracy proved successful.

Approaching Caesar’s golden chair at the Senate meeting as if to present a petition, the assassins drew their daggers and stabbed Caesar repeatedly to death.

Though in his play Shakespeare has Caesar saying etu brute and you Brutus as Caesar dies. Roman sources either say that Caesar died without a word or that he did indeed say something to Brutus but not in Latin but in Greek. Kais technon and you child.

Either way, Julius Caesar died immediately and his glorious dictatorship was brought to an end.

I bring to your attention this other historic betrayal for the sake of comparison with Judas betrayal of Jesus.

In both cases, we have a close friend betray his master to death. And in both cases, the betrayal sadly results in the destruction of the betrayer.

Brutus would end up committing suicide after being defeated in battle in 42 BC by Caesar’s heir Octavian, later known as Caesar Augustus.

Judas, of course, would hang himself the morning after the betrayal, and his body would fall and burst onto the potter’s field.

Comparing Caesar and Christ

The differences though between the two betrayals are more interesting.

Caesar was a sinful pagan power-hungry man.

Jesus was the perfectly righteous son of God.

Caesar clearly did not know the betrayal was coming and did not take necessary precautions.

But Jesus not only knew the betrayal was coming, he repeatedly foretold it, even identifying the secret betrayer beforehand and making sure the betrayal took place according to God’s perfect timing.

“Jesus not only knew the betrayal was coming, he repeatedly foretold it, even identifying the secret betrayer beforehand.”

When Caesar was betrayed to death, he was honored afterwards, but he stayed in the grave.

But Jesus rose from the grave three days later and even now sits at the right hand of God in heaven.

Strikingly, both Julius Caesar and Jesus Christ are later proclaimed by their followers to be divine. Yes, they said Julius Caesar was a god after his death.

But Jesus and what he said and did both before and after his death, he proves that he actually is God.

While Caesar only shows himself to be nothing but an impotent, self-exalting, dirtbound man.

The Main Message of the Passage

Therefore, though Judas’s betrayal of Jesus is a far worse betrayal than even Brutus betrayal of Caesar, Judas betrayal, the betrayal itself becomes more evidence for the claims of Christ.

Because of how Jesus was betrayed, you should believe in Jesus even more as the son of God and as God’s saving Messiah.

“Because of how Jesus was betrayed, you should believe in Jesus even more as the Son of God.”

Certainly, you should not follow Judas and his self-destructive path into unbelief and betrayal.

That is the main message of our new passage today. Let’s examine it together. Please turn in your Bibles to John 13:es 21-30.

John 13:es 21-30. You’ll find this on Pew Bible page 177 if you’re using that.

My sermon title comes from the last words of the passage in verse 30 calling the message and it was night.

And it was night.

John 13:21-30 actually because verses 18 to 20 function partially as a transition to our new section. I’m going to read those verses along with our new passage before we take a closer look at the text. So follow along. John 13:18-30.

Jesus is speaking at the start of our passage.

I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But it is that the scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me. From now on, I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

When Jesus had said this, he became troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me.” The disciples began looking at one another at a loss to know of which one he was speaking.

There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he is speaking.” He leaning back thus on Jesus bosom said to him,”Lord, who is it?” Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Escariat.

After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now, no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose he had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things that we have need of for the for the feast, or else that he should give something to the poor.” So, after receiving the morsel, he went out immediately, and it was night.

Context: Jesus Prepares His Disciples

As we proceed forward here in Jesus farewell discourse comprising John 13-17, we see further how Jesus loves, comforts, and prepares his disciples in light of Jesus imminent departure.

Last time we were in John together, we saw how in Jesus washing his own disciples feet and then teaching about it. In John 13 1-20, Jesus gives his disciples a powerful example example of and a direct call to humble and loving service.

Those disciples and we too who have come after them are to do for one another just as Jesus has humbly and lovingly done for us. No act of service is too low. This is a key lesson for Jesus frequently self-exalting disciples to learn before Jesus leaves.

But already in that beginning instruction during Jesus final Passover in that upper room, Jesus alludes to the imminent betrayal of Jesus by one of the 12. In John 13:10, Jesus tells the disciples, “You are clean, but not all of you.” And in John 13:18-19, which we just read, Jesus again tells the disciples that when he speaks of his disciples knowing the truth of what he says and experiencing blessing and consequent obedience, Jesus knows that one among the number will be the exception to that rule.

He will not experience the blessing that Jesus promises. For Jesus says,”I do not speak of all of you.” Jesus then goes on to clarify that one of the 12 will fulfill for Jesus what was true for Jesus ancient forefather David.

As David says in Psalm 41:9, “He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.” That is to say, even my close and trusted companion will betray me.

Psalm 41:9: “He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.”

Why Jesus Reveals the Betrayal Beforehand

Now, crucially, Jesus explains in John 13:19 why he is revealing this imminent betrayal ahead of time. Jesus says, “From now on, I am telling you before it comes to pass so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.” You see, Jesus knows with the soon departure of their master, friend, teacher, and Lord, the disciples face great dangers to their faith. And one of those dangers is the destabilization that will come by Judas’s unleashed betrayal.

“Jesus tells you before it comes to pass so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.”

As we’ll see in a moment when we more closely examine the passage before this Passover, none of the other disciples suspect that there is a resolute traitor in their midst.

Yes, Jesus has already told the disciples in John 6:70, John 6:70, “Did I myself not choose you, the 12, and yet one of you is a devil?

And yes, Jesus has already told his disciples more than once that at this very Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus will be betrayed into the hands of the Jews and into the hands of the Gentiles to be killed, but then will rise again.

But the disciples still do not understand what exactly Jesus means by these words.

The Disciples’ Ignorance of the Traitor

At most, the disciples might think that one of the 12 might accidentally betray Jesus by some cowardice or momentary moral failure. But it has not even entered their minds that one of their close-knit group would purposefully and steadfastly betray Jesus to death.

Therefore, to behold Judas boldfaced betrayal unfold will utterly shake the disciples.

They will quickly wonder if they have believed in Jesus in vain.

It’s one thing for our hoped for Messiah Jesus to die, but to be betrayed by his own close disciple.

“To behold Judas’s bold-faced betrayal unfold will utterly shake the disciples.”

How could circumstances go more wrong?

Maybe Jesus isn’t the Messiah after all.

Maybe he’s just a well-meaning but tragic victim.

Maybe we were all wrong about him.

Jesus Will Strengthen Their Faith

Now, Jesus will not stop Judas betrayal for this betrayal is ordained by God as part of Jesus accomplishing salvation for the world. But Jesus will make clear for his disciples that before the tra the betrayal happens, Jesus knows that it is coming and he knows who will do it.

In this way, when the betrayal happens and Jesus is taken away and killed and the disciples are left to pick up the pieces, they can think back and remember that everything took place just as Jesus foretold and even directed.

Which means what?

That despite Jesus shocking betrayal and death, he is not a helpless victim.

He was always completely aware and in control. Why? Because he is who he says he is. He is man and God. He is the son of God and the Messiah.

“Despite Jesus’ shocking betrayal and death, he is not a helpless victim. He was always completely aware and in control.”

Just as the 11 disciples had already come to believe and confess.

So rather than lose faith in him because of Judah’s betrayal, Jesus makes sure that their faith in the end would only be strengthened to keep following Jesus.

Now, as I said previously, up to John 13:21, Jesus has only alluded to a traitor among the 12. But in our new section, Jesus foretells the betrayal more explicitly. He privately reveals the identity of the betrayer to one of the disciples and he forces the betrayer to put the plan of betrayal into action to fulfill God’s timeline.

As I said in my introduction, we can articulate the main idea of this scene as John reports it in the following way.

John records Jesus foretelling and revealing of Judas the betrayer so that you will believe in Jesus and not betray Jesus like Judas.

This narrative is really straightforward as it proceeds and we can break it into five parts.

Let’s look more closely at these different parts to understand why Jesus betrayal should cause us to believe not fall away. The first part is in verse 21.

Point 1: Jesus Painfully Announces a Betrayer

Point number one, Jesus painfully announces a betrayer. Jesus painfully announces a betrayer. Look at verse 21 again.

When Jesus had said this, he became troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me.” Notice the beginning phrase in verse 21.

When Jesus had said this, this is a transition phrase, tying off the previous section and beginning a new one. The this in the opening phrase refers to Jesus teaching in verses 12 to 20 earlier in the chapter and especially the words of verses 18 to 20 when Jesus teaches his disciples that their own loving and humble service will sometimes be betrayed verses 18 and 19 but that Jesus and the father nevertheless will be with the disciples and will vindicate them verse 20 Jesus becomes affected as he further considers how these are true in his own life.

Notice the second phrase of verse 21.

It says he became troubled in spirit.

Troubled in Spirit

This is the third time in John that we see this poignant description became troubled applied to Jesus soul or spirit. You can compare John 11:33 and John 12:27.

“The Greek word denotes a deep inward turmoil—stirred up, shaken, unsettled.”

If you remember from my previous messages, the Greek word behind this phrase, it denotes a deep inward turmoil.

It could similarly be translated stirred up, shaken, unsettled.

This is what Jesus is now feeling in his spirit.

What’s causing it? What’s shaking up and deeply paining Jesus’ own soul here?

It’s the grievous reality that he must now announce.

The Solemn Testimony

Notice the word testified in verse 21 used to describe Jesus announcement.

It says, “He testified and said.” This verb choice testified is perhaps unexpected, but it underscores the serious nature of what Jesus is about to declare.

And we hear that declaration at the end of the verse. Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me.

Now, we see again that attention grabbing phrase from Jesus. It’s his favorite, but it it lends further semnity to the declaration. Truly, truly I say to you, that is what I’m about to say will shock you, but you must believe it because it is true.

“Truly, truly I say to you—what I’m about to say will shock you, but you must believe it because it is true.”

What’s true, Jesus? That one of you will betray me.

Word translated to betray means literally to hand over.

Jesus deeply grieved in his heart now testifies to his disciples what so troubles him.

One of you, one of my chosen disciples, one of my companions with whom I have lived and eaten and ministered over these past three years. One of you in whom I have poured out my life in teaching.

One of you will soon hand me over to the enemy.

This is a solemn and grievous declaration.

But again, this more specific announcement now of a traitor among the 12, it proves that Jesus is completely aware and in complete control of his death and betrayal. He is the unexpected Messiah. But you can and you must believe in him. Here also is evidence that Jesus and God are not dispassionate about sin.

For even in testifying of it here, Jesus does not remain stonefaced and apathetic.

No, Judas heart and Judas prepared sin against Jesus. It deeply grieves Jesus.

Betrayal troubles God’s heart.

“Judas’s heart and Judas’s prepared sin against Jesus deeply grieves Jesus. Betrayal troubles God’s heart.”

And if we love the Lord, we therefore cannot treat sin nonchalantly or expect that God himself does.

How do the disciples react to Jesus sudden painful testimony to them?

Well, we see as we go to the second part of the passage in verses 22 to 25.

Point 2: The Disciples Try to Understand

Number two, the disciples try to understand. The disciples try to understand. Look first at just verse 22.

The disciples began looking at one another at a loss to know of which one he was speaking.

We can see here that Jesus says for good reason, truly, truly I say to you, for his disciples, all of his disciples, aside from Jesus, are completely shocked and confused by Jesus pronouncement.

At first, the disciples don’t even say anything. They are stunned into silence.

“All of his disciples aside from Judas are completely shocked and confused by Jesus’ pronouncement.”

All they can do is look at each other around the room to see if somebody might obviously give himself away or have some sort of inkling as to what Jesus is talking about.

Notice poignantly that none of the disciples immediately stands up and says, “I knew it. It’s that Judas character, him from Keroth.” Judas of Simon is Scariot just means Simon from the town of Keroth. He was always suspicious. He was always skulking about. I was wondering where that money in the money box went.

It must be Judas.

No, we don’t see that. According to this text and the others that parallel it in the Gospels, no one in the group suspects Judas’s Scariot or really anyone else.

And that tells us something. What does that tell us?

Judas the Perfect Hypocrite

That Judas was very skilled in hiding his sin, at least from men.

For years, Judas successfully concealed his thievery, his unbelief, and his wicked plan of betrayal from all the other disciples.

Judas was the perfect hypocrite. No one suspected him of anything.

“Judas successfully concealed his thievery, his unbelief, and his wicked plan. He was the perfect hypocrite.”

But Judas couldn’t hide from Jesus.

Jesus knew all along who Judas was, what Judas was doing, and how Judas was planning to betray Jesus.

At any time, Jesus could have unmasked Judas.

Jesus looks like he’s about to unmask Judas right now. And we can imagine at Jesus’ announcement how Judah’s heart must have jumped into his throat. I’m about to be exposed. I’ve got to keep cool. Can’t give myself away. Just do what all the other disciples are doing.

Look shocked and as confused as they do.

As they discuss, join in the discussion.

And when they ask humbly, “Is it I?

Could I really betray my beloved Lord?” Ask the same. Don’t give yourself away.

What terror must have been in the traitor’s heart?

But it was not a terror unto turning.

It was not a godly fear unto contrition and repentance.

You Cannot Hide Your Sin from Jesus

From this, brethren, let us be reminded that you may be able to successfully hide your sin from men for a time.

You may be able to hide sin from your spouse, from your kids, from your parents, from others in the church, from the pastors, but you cannot hide your sin from Jesus.

You may think that you are perfect in your deception. You are as good a hypocrite as Judas was. You’ve fully and carefully covered all your tracks, but like Judas, know that God can expose you at any time.

You cannot outsmart God.

“You may think you are as good a hypocrite as Judas was, but you cannot outsmart God.”

And remember the promise from Moses in Numbers 32:23.

Numbers 32:23. He warns Israel, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Therefore, let us not test God by hypocrisy and secret sin.

Numbers 32:23: “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

Do not take his kind patience for granted or or a sign that there will be no consequences or judgment and that you can delay your repentance. Rather, repent now while you have opportunity. Run to the only savior who forgives and cleanses before you are exposed, before you are judged.

Now, interestingly here in John 13, Jesus does not further elucidate Judas identity as the betrayer before the whole group.

But Jesus does make the betrayer’s identity clear for at least one disciple. And that is because of certain factf finding efforts from Simon Peter.

Look now at verses 23 to 25.

The Passover Dining Layout

There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he is speaking. He leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom said to him,”Lord, who is it?” Now to understand these verses, you need some idea of the typical first century Passover dining layout.

Though the Jews in those days apparently often ate food in chairs and at tables just like we do today, formal banquetss like the Passover came to require a different setup.

By Jesus’ day, the Greeks and Romans had popularized throughout the Mediterranean world a banquet plan based on the triclenium or literally three couches.

Basically, a dining room was set up with three I’ll do it kind of like a picture for you. Three low couches or set of cushions arranged in a U-shape around a central low table or perhaps a U-shaped table. So, you got U couches around a U-shaped table or some shaped table in the middle. The diners then laid down or reclined on these couches propped up on one elbow, usually the left, leaving their main hand, their right hand, free to pick up food, dip food, or drink wine.

And this arrangement also meant that everyone’s faces were toward the table and toward one another while everyone’s feet were fanned away from the table.

“Everyone’s faces were toward the table and toward one another while everyone’s feet fanned away from the table.”

This was the preferred relaxed luxurious mode of eating and it was required for formal banquetss like the Passover.

Now our new verses indicate that there is a disciple reclining at Jesus’ side on one of these couches. Literally in verse 23 says this disciple is reclining on Jesus’ bosom. What that phrase means is that this disciple is reclining on Jesus right side with the disciple’s head as he’s reclining the disciple’s head around the same position as Jesus’ chest.

So they could be said that he’s residing in Jesus’ bosom. Also, if this reclining disciple leans back at all, he will be reclining right onto Jesus’ chest and be able to say something to Jesus privately that no one else in the room will be able to hear.

The Beloved Disciple Identified

All right. The question now is, who is this reclining disciple? He’s not given a name. He’s identified here merely as one of his disciples whom Jesus loved.

Who is this?

Well, this must be our writer, the Apostle John.

Now, I mentioned back in the book introduction sermon to the Gospel of John, why the author must be the Apostle John, how we know from details within the book and information outside the book that he is the author. I’m not going to repeat all that information now, but just know that the just know that out of self- aacing humility and to emphasize the wonder of simply being known and loved by Jesus, John the Apostle never refers to himself by name in his gospel only as the disciple or the other disciple or even the disciple whom Jesus loved.

“Out of self-effacing humility, John never refers to himself by name—only as the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

At the very end of the book, he he connects himself as the writer to those terms. This is John the Apostle. And we’ll see John show up a few more times in the narrative before the books ends, especially around Jesus crucifixion and resurrection.

Peter Enlists John’s Help

But John himself has a poignant experience with Jesus here based on John’s honored spot reclining next to Jesus. And that experience is made possible because Peter, John’s friend, wants John to use John’s position to gain a little intel.

Notice in verse 24 that Peter gestures to John and somehow indicates that Peter would like John to find out which person Jesus is talking about as the betrayer.

Now the particular translation of the verse it may be that there’s a actual question stated or the question is only implied. The fact that there’s gestures along with the question to my mind makes it make more sense that the question is merely implied not spoken.

I imagine that or I’ll say this first.

This exchange, as it’s reported in verse 24, shows us that Peter must not be reclining near Jesus, or else Peter himself could ask the question and he wouldn’t need John. I imagine that Peter is probably across the table from John, maybe on the other side of the U.

And so without trying to draw attention to himself as concerned discussion begins and begins to circulate in the room, Peter gives some subtle signals to John as to what Peter was hoping that John would do and find out. I don’t know what that was. Maybe something like know something like that.

Trust Peter to be the first among the disciples to take action in a crisis.

“Trust Peter to be the first among the disciples to take action in a crisis.”

Though of course Peter doesn’t always think before he acts.

Well, eventually John gets the hint and in verse 25, John leans back against Jesus and asks Jesus quietly,”Lord, who is it?” By the way, let’s pause and be amazed, as John probably was, that he could be welcome to lean back on the bosom of the Son of God.

What a picture of the intimate welcome and love that belongs to all believers.

Yes, even the love of the holy one, our savior.

Point 3: Jesus Quietly Reveals the Betrayer

John’s question though in a quest to understand what Jesus is talking about, it brings us to the third part of the passage in verses 26 and 27. That’s number three. Jesus quietly reveals the betrayer. Jesus quietly reveals the betrayer. Look at verse 26.

Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon, a scariot.

John 13:26: “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.”

Notice here, perhaps to John’s surprise, that Jesus readily reveals the identity of the betrayer to John.

Jesus does so, however, Jesus agrees to do so, however, only by signal. Meaning that only John would understand the meaning of Jesus action. The rest of the disciples, probably Peter included, would remain in the dark.

The signal Jesus arranges is for Jesus to dip a morsel of food and then give it to the betrayer.

Now, what is this morsel?

Though the Greek literally means a bit of bread, the term probably is used to mean some delicious bit of food. Perhaps a particularly tender piece of meat or a bit of bread well dipped.

What’s the dip?

We cannot say for sure, though probably this would be a sweet fruit and nut paste known as kadoset which is still eaten today in the traditional Passover seder.

Whatever exactly the morsel and the dip were, Jesus dips the morsel and then gives it straight to Judas.

The Significance of the Morsel

The fact that Jesus uses this dipping and giving of a morsel as the signal to point out Judas as the betrayer is significant in two ways.

First, to do this, as it’s recorded in the text, Jesus and Judas must have been reclining very near to each other, as apparently Jesus handed the morsel to Judas without getting up.

Now, since we already know that the Apostle John is reclining on Jesus right, Judas then to be within easy reach of Jesus is probably reclining on Jesus left.

By the way, this reclining on Jesus immediate left would also explain how Jesus could answer Judas’s question, “Is it I?” in Matthew 26:25, without anyone else in the room hearing.

Now, to be positioned on the right or left of someone great like the host of a meal, as Rabbi Jesus is acting in this instance, would be a mark of high honor and trust. John was being honored. Judas was being honored.

“To be positioned on the right or left of the host would be a mark of high honor and trust.”

And though the Bible consistently identifies the right side as having greater honor than the left, as most people back then were right-handed, and the right was thus associated with greater strength.

It seems that in the traditional triclenium arrangement, whoever reclined to the left of the host was actually considered the guest of honor.

Probably then Jesus arranged this final Passover meal so that Judas’s scariot would have the most honored position.

An Act of Love and Honor

Second, this dipping and giving of a morsel was not simply a random signaling action. I mean, think about it today. If you’re hosting a meal or you go out to eat with someone and there’s a particularly tasty bit of food, maybe it’s the last fry or maybe it’s the best part of the cake. If you don’t keep that bit for yourself, but you instead give it to the other person, what are you saying with such an action?

Is it not some version of I love you?

You are my dear friend. You are valuable to me. I want you to have the best.

“If you give the best bit of food to the other person, what are you saying? Is it not some version of ‘I love you’?”

So it is with Jesus and Judas.

As the Passover host, Jesus would have the right to pick and give any particular morsel to his guests. And if he chose to do so, whoever received that morsel, that particularly tasty and valued bit of food, would be marked out by Jesus as a beloved and trusted friend.

This is what Jesus does for Jesus. For Judas, of course, the question then is why?

Why does Jesus go out of his way to honor and express friendly love to Judas when Jesus already knows Judas’s heart and has even begun to expose Judas?

Why does Jesus honor Judas? Is Jesus just trying to make Judas feel guilty?

Is Jesus just going through the motions so Jesus can say in the end, “Look at all that I did for you and this is how you repay me.” I don’t think it’s either of those things.

A Final Loving Appeal to Repent

I think these actions along with Jesus washing Judas’s feet and revealing but not fully exposing the evil plans of Judah’s heart, they were all loving appeals from Jesus to Judas to repent.

Jesus was giving Judas chance after chance, grace upon grace, continued expressions of undeserved friendship and love. Each one designed to turn Judas from his evil and self-destructive course.

“These actions were all loving appeals from Jesus to Judas to repent—chance after chance, grace upon grace.”

After all, isn’t this exactly the example and command that Jesus has set for us? Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

And what should all of these undeserved kindnesses in fact have moved Judas to do? It is indeed to repent. Even at this late hour, he could have repented. He could have turned aside from his course.

He could have confessed his sins and turned to fall on the mercy of the Savior he had come to know so well. He had received so much undeserved love from Jesus. The only logical response, the only appropriate response would be to repent and believe.

Once more with the giving of this mortis morsel, Jesus invites Judas to come back into or to come into a true relationship with his rabbi.

It’s like Jesus is saying, “Judas, I love you and I’m treating you as an honored friend. Will you repent and believe in me?

This is the beautiful heart of our savior.

But his action only further exposes the heart of his pretend disciple.

Even before giving the morsel, Jesus already knows what Jesus response will be.

And we see it in verse 27, beginning part.

Satan Enters Judas

After the morsel, Satan then entered into him.

This is a frightening verse because here we see clearly how sin can so harden a person as to become beyond the reach of even extravagant love.

This giving of the morsel, this honored placement at the meal, it didn’t soften Judas’s heart, it hardened it.

“Sin can so harden a person as to become beyond the reach of even extravagant love.”

Even to the point that Judas opened him itself up to be wholly used and abused by Satan himself.

In John 13:2, earlier in the chapter, we learned that Satan, in accordance with Judas’s own desires and will, had put into Judah’s heart the intention to betray Jesus.

But here in verse 27, we see that Satan wholly possesses Judas.

In one sense, again, to do exactly what Judas already wants and plans to do, but in another sense, to do exactly what Satan wants and plans to do, even if Judas is destroyed in the process.

Friends and brethren, let’s pause to note how fearful it is to rebuff the love of Jesus Christ and remain the play thing of the devil.

The Bible makes clear that everyone is a slave to one master or another. You are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness. You are a slave of Satan or you are a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who would you rather be your master?

Whose spirit would you like to control you?

For his part, Jesus knows the change that takes place in Judas. Of course, no one else can see it. It’s not like Judas grew horns or his eyes turned red or something like that. It was completely unknown change to everyone else, but Jesus knew it.

What You Do, Do Quickly

Which affects what Jesus does next. Look the rest of verse 27.

Therefore, Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Why does Jesus say these words to Judas and by extension to Satan?

Is Jesus commanding Judas to betray Jesus?

No, of course not. Jesus is merely responding to the course Judas and Satan have already chosen.

In one sense, with these words, Jesus is intreating Judas not to prolong his evil, but to mercifully finish it as soon as possible.

If you’re going to do it, then spare yourself or everyone else and just get it over with. Do it quickly.

In another sense, though, Jesus is affirming his control over everything, even Judas satanic betrayal.

“Jesus is affirming his control over everything, even Judas’s satanic betrayal.”

For consider, it is Jesus revealing of the betrayer by Jesus word and by this giving of the morsel that inspires Satan to act. After all, Judas is about to be found out. Satan better act now before it’s too late.

Jesus is forcing the moment to its crisis. In effect, Jesus is sovereignly forcing Satan and Judas to begin the betrayal now and not delay any longer. It’s interesting. We read in the other passage in Matthew earlier in the service that the Sanhedrin, those who are co-conspiring with Judas, they do not intend to kill Jesus during the feast. They say not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people.

But God’s plan is different. He’s going to make the death happen during the feast because God’s the one who’s in control.

Jesus, even by these words, is confirming this fact of Jesus ultimate control even over his own death. He says, “What you do, do quickly. You’re going to have to do it now. Now is the time for the betrayal to begin according to God’s good and sovereign plan.” And in Satan, according to his own evil plan, cannot help but comply.

Jesus Is in Total Control

To come back and reiterate the main point.

By the end of verse 27, Jesus has clearly revealed to John before it happens who Jesus betrayer is. Thus proving to John and to John’s original readers and to us today that Jesus is not a helpless victim of betrayal, but he is in fact the son of God and Messiah in total control and determined to save his people through the cross.

“Jesus is not a helpless victim of betrayal but the Son of God and Messiah in total control, determined to save his people.”

Amen. We can believe in Jesus with full confidence.

How did the other disciples react to Jesus revelation and sudden words to Judas?

Point 4: The Disciples Still Don’t Understand

We come now to part four of our text in verses 28 and 29. Number four, the disciples still don’t understand.

The disciples still don’t understand.

Let’s reread those two verses. Verses 28 and 29.

Now, no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose he had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast, or else that he should give something to the poor.” We see here once again that even with Jesus new words to Judas in the context of a discussion about betrayal the disciples still don’t suspect Judas of any evil intent or recognize him as a traitor.

Of course, to keep God’s plan on track, Jesus intentionally speaks words to Judas that remain ambiguous to the other disciples. Jesus doesn’t say, “Okay, go ahead and betray me now. Go ahead and arrange for my death.” He just says what you do do quickly.

“Even with Jesus’ new words to Judas, the disciples still don’t suspect Judas of any evil intent.”

That is necessary for God’s plan to move forward. The disciples who do manage to form a conclusion about Jesus words to Judas suppose only that Jesus is just commanding the group’s treasurer to buy food for the remaining days of the feast, the feast of unleaven bread. Or alternatively, that Jesus is asking Judas to distribute some alms to the poor, which Jews sometimes did during the Passover.

John, however, has just been brought into the know about Judas. So why doesn’t John say or do anything?

The answer is we don’t know. But probably John is just too stunned to say or do anything.

Perhaps also John still doesn’t really know what Judas betrayal means, when it’s going to take place, or why Jesus himself isn’t stopping Judas.

Point 5: The Betrayer Leaves in Darkness

John just observes ultimately no one stops Judas. Thus we arrive to verse 30, the end of our section and the last part of the passage number five. Number five, the betrayer leaves in darkness. The betrayer leaves in darkness. Verse 30 says, “So after receiving the morsel, he went out immediately and it was night.

Every part of this final verse is tragic.

Notice in the beginning of verse 30 that Judas receives the morsel. He doesn’t deny it. He doesn’t find some excuse. He receives the morsel of honor and friendship that Jesus offers.

To the end, Judas pretends to be Jesus loyal and devoted friend.

You may remember that when Judas does identify Jesus for the crowd of soldiers in the garden, what’s Judas signal?

A kiss to the end.

He was false and a hypocrite.

The middle of verse 30 says that Judas went out immediately.

Can’t stick around. Moved and empowered by Satan, Judas can’t stick around and risk any more exposure. He can no longer remain in the upper room in the blessed fellowship of Jesus and his disciples.

Time to act and betray is now. All gratitude and loyalty must be left behind.

And then the end of verse 30 says simply, “And it was night.” Certainly, this is a literal and historical time detail noted by our eyewitness author. By the time Judas the Scariot leaves the upper room banquet, the evening is already over and it is night.

“And it was night—certainly a literal and historical time detail noted by our eyewitness author.”

Though the full Passover moon is assuredly shining, the physical world is otherwise dark.

For Jesus remaining disciples, there will be yet many more words of comfort and instruction in that lit upper room and then by the torch light on the way to Gethsemane.

But Judas will miss all these things as he hurries through the dark to execute his handing over.

Light and Darkness in John’s Gospel

Now, while it was night is literally true, the phrase is also figuratively true, as our author surely intends for us to note.

After all, the theme of light and darkness is one of the most prominent in the Gospel of John. More than once, Jesus has proclaimed himself to be the light of the world, even the light that gives eternal life to all who believe in him. But Jesus has also warned that this light will not remain forever. People must believe while they can.

“Jesus has proclaimed himself to be the light of the world—the light that gives eternal life to all who believe.”

Judas has or Jesus has thus been alluding to his own coming betrayal, death, and departure. And in verse 30, that darkness, that falling night that Jesus was warning about, it’s here.

Because of Judas’s, because of Satan’s, because of the Sanhedrin’s conspiracy, Jesus light will soon go out.

Of course, Jesus light will not stay out.

As he told and will tell his disciples again, his light will be back because Jesus will rise again.

Thus, for Jesus disciples and for Jesus himself, this hopeshattering spiritual night is only temporary.

The power of darkness will be Satan’s and his servants for a time, but holy joy and victory will dawn in just a few days.

Temporary Darkness for God’s People

And by the way, that is a timeless truth for God’s people.

Whatever kind of spiritual night you face in your life, whether it is the night of trial, of persecution, of temptation, or death itself, that darkness can only be temporary. And why is that? Because Jesus, your Lord, has faced the greater darkness on your behalf. He suffered the wrath of God in darkness due your sin on the cross.

And having sufficiently dealt with that once and for all.

And because you by faith are now in Jesus, you are forever beloved, safe, clothed in Jesus own righteousness.

“Whatever spiritual night you face, that darkness can only be temporary, because Jesus faced the greater darkness on your behalf.”

Whatever happens to you in your life will only be temporary darkness. You are guaranteed to see God’s light again. And you will one day dwell with the light incarnate in his kingdom.

This is a beautiful truth, but it is not for everyone.

Eternal Darkness for the Unrepentant

Probably the most tragic part of verse 30 is how the final words apply to Judas and to all those who follow Judas pattern of stubborn unbelief and ultimate betrayal of the son of God.

For Judas, who departed into the night to do the deeds of night, there would be no dawn of joy or life again.

After betraying Jesus for a mere 30 pieces of silver and seeing Jesus condemned and led away to die, Judas is overcome with guilt. The guilt of betraying the holy and innocent son of God. He therefore throws the blood money back into the temple and then goes and kills himself.

In choosing the path of darkness for vaporous pleasure for temporary gain, Judas life became darkness and then so did his death and his eternity.

Let us remember that one of the most frequent descriptions of hell in the New Testament is of a place of darkness with constant weeping and nashing of teeth.

Judas exchanged only the one darkness of his life for the greater darkness of eternal torment.

“In choosing the path of darkness for temporary gain, Judas exchanged the darkness of his life for the greater darkness of eternal torment.”

So friends and brethren, let that sober us.

Do not let and it was night be the final words of your life and eternity.

Listen to the word of Jesus this morning so that you might believe and have eternal life and not betray betray Jesus and suffer eternal death. Let us remember, I’ve said this to you before, but Judas was one of the 12.

Today’s equivalent would probably be a seminary student. He was, to borrow our descriptions, he was in the church. He was a longtime Christian. He was involved in much ministry.

He was learning from Jesus himself. And yet the whole time he was a devil.

He was walking in darkness. He was on his way to darkness. And that’s where he ended up.

I fear that that could be the case for any of you.

The Gospel Call: Repent and Believe

Do you believe the gospel?

Have you come to be placed into the Lord of Light and life by faith?

Do the gospel?

God exists. He is your holy creator. He has the right to demand from you complete obedience and worship. That is not only God’s due. That is what is good for you. But that is not the way outside of Christ. That is not the way that you have lived. You have lived for yourself.

You have broken God’s law. You have fallen short of the glory of God. You have not loved your neighbor like yourself. And you have not loved the Lord your God with all your heart. Not every day, not every moment, not in every way of your life.

So what is the penalty? It’s what God proclaims in his word. It is death. You say, “But I haven’t betrayed anyone to death like Judas.” You have in your heart. As the Lord says in James 2:10, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at one point, he will be considered what?”

Guilty of all. Therefore, you are to be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect. But you have not done that. I have not done that. So the penalty is death. The penalty of a holy and just God is death.

And no, no good works, no rituals, no baptism is going to save you from that. Remember the words of Isaiah.

Isaiah 64:6, talking about his own people, Israel, supposedly a holy people. He says, “Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before God, and our iniquities like the wind carry us away.” There is no hope in any sort of selfmade religion, self-righteous efforts to get salvation from God.

But there is hope in the one remedy that God has provided, his son Jesus Christ. He is holy God and holy man. He came down to this earth for our salvation. He lived the perfect life that you were supposed to live.

He loved his neighbor as himself. He loved the Lord God his God with all his heart, mind, and strength, as you should have done, but didn’t. He did that. And then he died to death that sinners like you deserve on the cross.

Not merely suffering an agony of the nails and the thorns and all that, but suffering the unexplainable, the unquantifiable wrath of God in those three hours of darkness. Seeing and feeling the anger of God against God, the holy wrath and judgment of God against the son of God so that he could pay off once and for all the sins of those who believe in him.

Jesus died in the place of sinners, but he rose again and he is alive today.

What he offers by his life and death is to accomplish for you what you could never accomplish. He gives you his perfect life in exchange for your imperfect life. He suffered once and for all for your imperfect life, your sinful life, your on the way to hell life.

He suffered that debt totally on the cross so that it is totally paid. And he gives you his own righteousness. And he says, “By my righteousness, by what I have already accomplished, you are made right to God.”

But how do you gain that? How do you get an interest? How you are you placed into Jesus Christ and him placed into you? It is as Jesus said, by faith and repentance. You must repent and believe and you will be saved.

What does it mean to repent? It means to turn from all that dishonors God. The way you think, the way you speak, the way you act. You give all that up. You give up lordship of your own life. You give up all efforts to earn and maintain your own salvation.

“You must repent and believe and you will be saved. Turn from all that dishonors God and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”

And you instead believe. You believe in Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, the only one who can save you and did save you and the one whom you will now serve as you ought with the rest of your life.

That is it. That is the message of salvation. That is how someone moves from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light.

Is that the gospel that you have believed?

Is that the gospel that you continue to rest in and even proclaim on the Lord’s behalf?

If it is, then take comfort because as I said, any darkness you experience in your life can only be temporary.

But if it is not, you must repent and believe today.

Again, Jesus could expose you at any time.

In your heart, you are just as bad a betrayer of Jesus as Judas is, and your fate will be the same unless you repent and believe. Do not follow the consumate hypocrite in his path of self-destruction.

Rather, follow his disciples, believe in the Lord Jesus, persevere in him, and be saved. Let me close in a word of prayer.

Closing Prayer

Lord God, the reality of hell is one that is very hard for us to get a grasp on.

We prefer not to think of it.

We sometimes don’t remember it.

But it is real.

And from what else is revealed in your scripture about your own holiness and justice, it is necessary.

For how could a holy God ever wink at or just forget about sin?

For not the judge of all should not the judge of all the world do right?

Far be it from you to treat the workers of iniquity as if they were not.

Oh Lord, I pray that the reality of hell, of the darkness that does not end, of that lonesome, regretfilled torment would imprint its in our hearts today so that we might gain the appropriate kind of fear.

Not a fear that remains in terror, but a fear that takes seriously your word and that runs to your salvation.

God, you are not a God who delights in condemnation. You had no delight in the betrayal of Judas.

Jesus, you testify, you have testified throughout this gospel. The Old Testament testifies also that you have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather you will wish, you desire that they would turn and be saved.

So God, as I preach the word this morning and you speak through me, I I cannot help believe that but believe that it is your desire for all the listeners today, Lord, that they would turn, that they would indeed repent and believe for real, no longer maintain any secret rebellion, any hidden life of sin, any wellthoughtout hypocrisy.

I pray they they would give all that up so that they may gain you. Oh Lord, how delightful it is to walk in your light.

How delightful it is to be saved and safe in you. I want that. I I pray God that that would be the experience bubbling up even more for all of your people.

Thank you, God, that you’ve also specifically promised to protect us from the evil one. Oh Lord, we are not his play things. We in Christ are not in danger of possession by him or of control by him. No, for we have your Holy Spirit.

And he who ties up the strong man is stronger.

We have no need to fear demons and devils, though we should beware of the temptations that they sometimes dangle before us.

Lord, help us not to believe the lies of the flesh, the world, and Satan. Your way is always best.

Help us to flee from the darkness and into your light and enjoy the joy that you always meant from us, meant for us in you from the beginning in Jesus name.

Amen.

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