Et Tu, Judas

John 18:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Judas Betrayal

A. The calling of the 12

The travels of Jesus

In the gospels we read of many men who followed Jesus and were called disciples. These people would follow Jesus to many different places. Some where at Galilee where he healed many who were sick. Some were with him at Capernaum where he healed the Centurion’s paralyzed servant. The bible says a great multitude followed him in Judea and saw him do many power miracles.

12 were chosen

No doubt many of those who followed him were great people however from that multitude — 12 were chosen by Jesus himself to be His 12 chosen men. These 12 not only saw the miracles or heard the master teach from a boat — they sat at his feet, they were given details that the multitudes that followed, were not given.

Day after day these men went every where Jesus went. Every day they listened to his words both in a public setting and in a private setting.

12 Trained to present the Gospel

Every day for 3.5 years these men were being specially trained to spread the gospel across the entire globe.

And one of these men — was named Judas.

B. Judas

Even without knowing much scripture, that name is synonymous with that of betrayal and a thief. It almost so common of a story — we can glance over it because we have heard the story of Judas and his 30 pieces of silver so many times. But lets look at his story one more time and the events leading up to his betrayal of the Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Feet washing

In John chapter 13, Jesus had begun to wash the feet of his disciples. The bible says he did this knowing that his hour had come, it was now time for him to be glorified. Him knowing all these things — he knew these next few hours were going to have a tremendous impact on his disciples.

He even knew Judas was about to betray him and he still washed the feet of Judas.

One of you will betray me

John 13:21–22 KJV 1900

21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

John 13:26 KJV 1900

26 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.

There are two things here, that if we are not careful we can glance over.

Is the disciples reaction to “one of you shall betray me”

The other is:

2. What Jesus is doing with the bread.

The disciples reaction

Jesus had said that one of them was going to betray him. Naturally the disciples began to question who it would be? So, Jesus went a step farther and said he was going to give the first bread to the one who would betray him. He then hands this bread to Judas.

The disciples still had no idea Judas was the one. John 13:27-30

John 13:27–30 KJV 1900

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 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. 30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Judas was someone they had walked with every day for the past several years. They ministered to people with this man — possibly even preformed signs and wonders along side each other. This idea that one of them would betray the relationship they all had built was unthought of.

Yet Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen and who it was going to happen to.

What was Jesus doing with the bread?

We may loose something here than many of that would understand without even thinking about it. At these meals there would be a host and that host would sit guest in places of honor.

Here it is apparent that during this feast, Judas sat on the left of Jesus. In most cases this was considered the seat of honor. If the host chose to sit you on his left it meant that he honored you infront of all the guest.

The Bread

But Jesus did not simply sit Judas in a place of honor but he also did something else. Jesus broke the bread and dipped it in the common bowl… and gave the first piece of bread to Judas Iscariot. (13:21) — another gesture of honor towards the man whom Jesus knew was about to betray him.

John 13:27 KJV 1900

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

John 13:30 KJV 1900

30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Jesu had walked with Judas for 3.5 years, he washed Judas feet, Jesus sat him at a great place of honor and also gave him the first piece of bread from the feast.

Immediately after these things, Judas went out into the night to betray him.

In The Garden

John 18:1–2 KJV 1900

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

After what we call the “last supper”, which was more of a covenant being made — much like the one with Abraham — Jesus and his now 11 disciples enter into a valley that separates the walled city of Jerusalem and the mt. of Olives called the Kidron Valley. The Valley itself being connected to suffering, heartbreak, and death in the scriptures.

Jesus passed through this valley until he came to a place where he often went — The Garden of Gethsemane located near the Mount of Olives.

The Garden Prayer Room

Its interesting that Judas knew exactly where to find him and when. Praying in his prayer room. What an amazing testimony it would be for wicked men to be searching for you and when they ask “Where could he be?!” and the reply being “He often is in a garden praying.”

If your going to have to fight an enemy… fight them in a prayer room.

Mankind fell in a garden — it was in a garden than mankind was prayed for and called back to (true vine).

Rabbi, Rabbi

Mark 14:44–45 KJV 1900

44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

The Kiss of death most of us can relate to and understand the astounding hardness of Judas heart to be able to do this to his dear friend. But we could miss the fact that here in Marks gospel, this act is multiplied with the simple words “master, master” or “Rabbi, Rabbi”.

This is a common word play in the bible to show an extreme urgency or deep emotion. Almost like a child when mom first gets home “Momma! Momma!”

Abraham and Isaac

In Gen 22:11 - The Angel of the Lord stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac by saying “Abraham, Abraham!”

Moses

In Exodus 3:4 God stopped Moses in his tracts by calling to him from a burning bush “4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.””

Martha

Luke 10:41"But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.'"

Jesus still knowing all these things that are going to take place… looks at Jesus and ask “Friend, why have you come?” Jesus never gave up on Judas. Even in your rejection — He still reaches. That is the God we serve!

It wasn’t Just Judas

Matthew 26:56 KJV 1900

56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

We never know the troubles we may face. There may come a point where we even forsake the one who loved us first. But never doubt that he is still reaching for you.

Peter vs Judas

Summary

Jesus, knowing all things, still washed the feet of Judas. He ate bread with and honored Judas. And even called him friend in the middle of Judas betraying him.

Judas had free will to chose what to do.

You have a choice in failure. Judas picked the hanging tree but Peter chose to lean on the mercy of God.