The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 13:21,
"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.'"
This comes from the account of the Last Supper when Jesus told his followers that one of them would betray him into the hands of the Jews who wanted to kill him. At Peter's prompting, John asked Jesus who it was that was going to commit this act of treachery. Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Verse 26.
Jesus gave the piece of bread to Judas Iscariot. The Pulpit Commentary describes Judas, "Matthew (Matthew 26:14-16) shows that at this very moment Judas had so far given way to his avarice, impatience, disappointment, and innate pride and selfishness, as to be simply seeking his opportunity to betray his Master in the absence of the multitude. He had his price; he was meditating treachery."
We read in John 13:26-27, "Then, dipping the piece of bread, he [Jesus] gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him." I may be reading a bit into the text, but it appears to me the action of Jesus giving the bread to Judas was a handing over of Judas to Satan to carry out his treachery. I am reminded of Jesus' prayer to the Father, "While I was with them [his disciples], I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." John 17:12.
While it is often thought that Jesus was troubled because of Judas' contemplation of treachery, I have another possible thought. Without, hopefully, going too far afield, it appears to me the statement that "Jesus was troubled in spirit" was due to his handing over of Judas to Satan. Jesus knew all about Judas' avarice, theft, and those other qualities as mentioned by the Pulpit Commentary, and yet I can see he might have been troubled at the prospect of turning Judas over to Satan.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our Savior, his purpose is to save us. He loved us so much he died on that cross to pay our penalty. All he asks is that we embrace him in faith. Judas has not been the only sinner who did horrible things. We are all sinners. I have to think it was, in a way, antithetical to his purposes to give anyone up.
Judas, culpable for his own sins, including treachery against Jesus Christ, was part of the plan that led to Jesus Christ sacrificing himself for us. I have to think the handing over of Judas to Satan (if that is the way it played out) was a difficult, yet necessary part of Jesus' accomplishments in bringing about the atonement for our sins.
I have often thought that judgment day for all mankind, when those who reject Jesus Christ are thrown into that fiery lake of burning sulfur (see Revelation 20:11-15), will be both a joyful vindication of the justice of God as well as a sorrowful event for our God who, "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17.
"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.'"
This comes from the account of the Last Supper when Jesus told his followers that one of them would betray him into the hands of the Jews who wanted to kill him. At Peter's prompting, John asked Jesus who it was that was going to commit this act of treachery. Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Verse 26.
Jesus gave the piece of bread to Judas Iscariot. The Pulpit Commentary describes Judas, "Matthew (Matthew 26:14-16) shows that at this very moment Judas had so far given way to his avarice, impatience, disappointment, and innate pride and selfishness, as to be simply seeking his opportunity to betray his Master in the absence of the multitude. He had his price; he was meditating treachery."
We read in John 13:26-27, "Then, dipping the piece of bread, he [Jesus] gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him." I may be reading a bit into the text, but it appears to me the action of Jesus giving the bread to Judas was a handing over of Judas to Satan to carry out his treachery. I am reminded of Jesus' prayer to the Father, "While I was with them [his disciples], I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." John 17:12.
While it is often thought that Jesus was troubled because of Judas' contemplation of treachery, I have another possible thought. Without, hopefully, going too far afield, it appears to me the statement that "Jesus was troubled in spirit" was due to his handing over of Judas to Satan. Jesus knew all about Judas' avarice, theft, and those other qualities as mentioned by the Pulpit Commentary, and yet I can see he might have been troubled at the prospect of turning Judas over to Satan.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our Savior, his purpose is to save us. He loved us so much he died on that cross to pay our penalty. All he asks is that we embrace him in faith. Judas has not been the only sinner who did horrible things. We are all sinners. I have to think it was, in a way, antithetical to his purposes to give anyone up.
Judas, culpable for his own sins, including treachery against Jesus Christ, was part of the plan that led to Jesus Christ sacrificing himself for us. I have to think the handing over of Judas to Satan (if that is the way it played out) was a difficult, yet necessary part of Jesus' accomplishments in bringing about the atonement for our sins.
I have often thought that judgment day for all mankind, when those who reject Jesus Christ are thrown into that fiery lake of burning sulfur (see Revelation 20:11-15), will be both a joyful vindication of the justice of God as well as a sorrowful event for our God who, "so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17.
Such is the wonderful heart of our Lord!
Judas was the perfect candidate to play the part intended for him, yet it does not preclude the love of Jesus Christ for sinners, including Judas. Afterall, Jesus paid the penalty for any number of people who oppose him and seek to undo his plan of redemption for us all.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Judas was the perfect candidate to play the part intended for him, yet it does not preclude the love of Jesus Christ for sinners, including Judas. Afterall, Jesus paid the penalty for any number of people who oppose him and seek to undo his plan of redemption for us all.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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