Belief and Betrayal

There are a number of people in this life history remembers as traitors. For our own nation, if you stayed awake in history class, you remember the name, Benedict Arnold. In John, a dark shadow fell across the room and the dinner table as Jesus turns His attention to Judas, the traitor.

I love this Gospel. Many of the passages we’ve walked through thus far have been positive, giving us great hope, but this one ends with a note of sadness. Instead of ending on a consonant chord of beautiful melody and harmony, this ends on a dissonant chord that is not pleasant to the ear.

John wrote this Gospel so we could understand who the Messiah is. He wants you to come to the wonderful, life-changing, life-giving reality that Jesus is the promised Messiah. We see these events in the life of Jesus were not done to create a following or cause a spectacle. They were done to fulfill the promises made about the Messiah in the Old Testament.

From Genesis 3:15 to the end there is, what’s been called a “scarlet thread”, running through the entire Scripture.

Not Everyone With Jesus is Clean; what about you?

We read back in John 13:10-11

John 13:10–11 CSB

“One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Judas was with Jesus, and had been for three years, but Judas was not clean. He was not saved.

We don’t know much about Judas’ background. The Bible doesn’t say when and where Judas first met Jesus. But obviously he was one of the 12 but as time has passed, Judas, at some point, became disillusioned. He wasn’t attracted to Jesus on some kind of spiritual level, so what was it? If you follow what we know of Judas, he cared deeply about position, power, and the penny. Jesus had always stressed the spiritual dimension of His kingdom, not the physical, but Judas was anticipating that earthly political and economic kingdom to take shape.

But if you’ll remember, just a few weeks ago, when Mary anointed Jesus with the expensive nard, that agitated Judas. We began then to see his weakness. Now Jesus is going to expose him and show the 11 just who Judas was.

We need to be careful when dealing with Judas. There are Judas’s in every church. Those who are with Jesus but not clean…

Judas is the prime example of a hypocrite…he is playing the part…but on the inside…he is in darkness.

You can trust Jesus because He fulfilled messianic prophecy

Jesus had just spoken a word of blessing over the disciples…if you know these things, you are blessed if you do them...

But now His eyes turn toward Judas.

John 13:18-19

John 13:18–19 CSB

“I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.

Why did Jesus choose Judas as one of His disciples? Scripture is very clear that Jesus was not surprised by Judas’s betrayal. He knew Judas’s heart - John 6:70-71

John 6:70–71 CSB

Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.

What Prophecy? Jesus quotes from Psalm 41:9.

Psalm 41:9 CSB

Even my friend in whom I trusted, one who ate my bread, has raised his heel against me.

This is taken from a lament offered by David during a painful experience he had when being mocked by his enemies and suffering at the hands of those who’d been his friends. But what we do see in this that Jesus is not caught off guard. Remember John 13:3, “Jesus knew that the Father had given everything in His hands...”

This is God’s purpose going forward. Judas is the one who will raise his heel against Jesus by betraying Him.

The sharing of a meal was a sign of hospitality and courtesy…intimate fellowship. But as David was betrayed by a close and trusted friend, so was Jesus.

But you also need to know that even though Judas is the one chosen to fulfill this prophecy, that doesn’t let him off the hook. He is not a robot, or a puppet on a string. Judas freely chose to do what he did, and was fully accountable for his actions.

Why is Jesus telling the Disciples this now? To instill confidence in them. John 13:19

John 13:19 CSB

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he.

They were going to have enough issues and trouble understanding the death of Jesus. But here Jesus is reassuring them He is in fact, the Messiah. Look at what Jesus says in verse 19.

Some trying and difficult times are coming ahead.

I want you to know that you will believe and not stumble.

I want you, unlike the one who will betray Me, to believe that I AM. When it happens, you’ll know I Am.

But notice what Jesus says at the end of 13:19. He says, “You will believe that I AM.”

Jesus didn’t want them to believe in some insightful prophet, a good man, or a great teacher.

Rather, Jesus wanted them to believe that He is the “I AM.” That He was and is the Promised Messiah!

The “I AM” statement is nothing new in John’s Gospel. We’ve read this before...

“I am the bread of life” - “I am the Good Shepherd” - “I am the way, the truth, and the life” - “I am the resurrection and the life” —> Earlier in this Gospel, the people understood what Jesus was claiming when He said, “I am the light of the world” and they tried to stone Him.

Friend, Jesus Christ was, is, and forever will be God.

As much as Jesus wanted his disciples to trust in Him, He longs for you to Trust in Him the same way.

When this happens, and the prophecy is fulfilled, it will serve to strengthen the 11’s faith.

Obviously faith in Jesus is a must and it is what Judas lacked.

Faith must have an object. Today many define “faith” is another way of saying a person has a positive outlook or a hopeful attitude. That’s optimism, not Biblical faith. Biblical faith trusts in Jesus as the “I AM.”

It serves little to call people to faith, unless we call people to FAITH IN JESUS.

There is no way to come to God apart from genuine and authentic faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. A generic faith will sentence a soul to hell. You must trust Jesus Christ.

John 13:20 CSB

Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.”

The mission of Jesus as “SENT” from the Father, now tied to the disciples, provides HOPE in the darkness of the drama of Judas because it serves as proof that Judas’ attempt will ultimately fail.

The mission of Jesus is given great significance…by the highest authority, God Himself.

Failure to draw close with Christ Jesus is a failure to know God…the commissioning of John 20:21 is anticipated

Jesus Demonstrated His Love to Judas by offering himself, the Light of the World.

13:21-30

John says that Jesus was “troubled in His spirit and testified, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’” 13:21

“troubled” is an interesting word here. It’s the same description we are given in John 11 when Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus. In John 12:27, John wrote that Jesus was “troubled” because of the approaching time at the cross.

This is a remarkable moment of insight into the heart of Jesus. His anguish was visible and caught the attention of the Disciples.

Think about it…surely this Jesus, who calmed the seas, healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry could overcome a little attempt at backstabbing. Right?

Why is He troubled?

ταράσσω - tarasso

Verb - to be or become characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need.

On the eve of the cross, just a few hours before Jesus would be crucified, His heart was in distress, troubled. Certainly the weight of the cross is weighing on him, but in this moment I believe He is troubled for another — Judas, the one who will hand him over and betray him with the greeting of a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He’s troubled…and his words must have come as a shock to the Disciples.

John 13:22 - They all look around as if to say, “who me?” - They have no clue who it will be? Jesus has said it was coming, but no one knew who it would be.

Yet sitting next to Jesus, is the one who will betray Him acting calm, cool, and collected it seems.

Mark records that the Disciples were grieved at this news and began to say, “surely not I”…even Judas. Calm cool collected and playing the part.

But even with Judas the traitor sitting right there, Jesus was reaching out to Judas. There was no rejection here...

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, He washed Judas’ feet. 13:10 - But there He said, “and you are clean, though not every one of you.”

Judas old buddy, you’re not clean. He’s trying to reach Judas on some level.

Judas, I’ve got your number, why don’t you turn around and let it go.

Here comes Peter —> He can hardly stand not knowing, and so he asks John…ask Jesus won’t you?

So John leans over and asks.

Jesus replies, “The one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.”

Now in that time, to take a morsel from the table, dip it int the common dish, and offer it to someone else was a gesture of special friendship. In the book of Ruth 2:14, we read of Boaz inviting Ruth to come and fellowship with him and have some bread and dip it into the wine vinegar...

This is an act of friendship and even perhaps a shot at restoration… “Judas, all you have to do is take...” But the door is shut. We read in John 13:27 - Satan entered him...

The final gesture of affection and friendship before the final surrender of Judas to the power of darkness.

The light shines in the darkness cannot understand it or overcome it. It is important to remember that Satan, the adversary, opposes Christ and those who belong to Christ.

He is not far removed, even from the church…you need to remember the darkness is still present and active today. Thus, we MUST ABIDE IN THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST.

There is another element to this, the fact that Satan entered Judas.

This should really be no surprise that the adversary is acting behind the scenes. It’s been that way from Genesis 2 -3 and in the Garden. This is a battle waged since the beginning of civilization.

All the good things God created would be cursed by sin. But Adam and Eve weren’t the only beings cursed that day…the serpent was cursed as well, but that curse was extended to Satan in Genesis 3:15.

God promised a deliverer that would liberate all humanity from the rule of sin and darkness. When that Redeemer arrives and executes God’s plan, the enemy’s head would be crushed.

This promise of Genesis 3:15 is about to take place in the upper room....the Cross. They are squaring off once again.

How do we know who will come out on top? John 13:3! God has given everything into the hands of Jesus.

The Light of the World is illuminating everything and everyone including Judas. Jesus is the path to victory, and He is trying to reach Judas one more time.

Well, the disciples are still speculating as to what is happening

The disciples are still befuddled and some thought Jesus was just telling him to go and prepare for the festival or that he should give some money to the poor.

For Judas, It was Night, and he chose to walk away.

John 13:30 says that Judas left immediately, and “it was night.” John has ended this passage with a loaded phrase. “And it was night.”

DA Carson notes, “Even though the paschal moon was shining at the full, Judas was swallowed up by the most awful dakrness.”

It was the night that never again know morning again. Judas chose to walk away from the Light of the World, and embrace the darkness. I wonder, if on the way out the door, if he paused for just a moment, took one last look at the Light of the World. He was alone now…how great was his loss.

Conclusion

We need to be careful to think this moment with Judas is an isolated incident. But rather we need to be aware that it can be a common experience, especially in the church.

Scripture teaches the Gospel is a stumbling block and foolishness to a world caught up in darkness. But as bothersome as that sounds, there is something concerning in person of Judas.

Judas doesn’t represent a disbelief among those outside of faith and actively opposed to Christ Jesus, but rather disbelief among the followers and those on the inside.

On any given day, someone who is close to Jesus can just turn away, turn off the light and walk out, stumbling into the darkness. Judas lacked perseverance, endurance.

Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Matthew 10:22

Matthew 10:22 CSB

You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Oh how I pray this is not you. “And it was night...” Friend, Jesus Christ is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, and He comes to you today, extending His invitation to you…come into His marvelous light.

Jesus said, “Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Judas walked away from that offer, and when he closed the door behind him, he walked away from the Light of the World. As the door closes, his fate is sealed.

He’s turned His back on the only source light and life that could change that hard heart of stone. This will be the undoing of Judas. What a sad story. He chose darkness over light, chose death over life.

Thus I leave you with this question this morning…AS YOU LEAVE FROM THE TABLE THIS MORNING, WILL YOU EMBRACE THE LIGHT, OR WILL YOU WALK INTO THE NIGHT?

May the Spirit of God protect you from such a flight into the night.

Christian, hold firm, hold fast to the anchor, because in Christ, we have a sure and steadfast hope…an anchor for the soul.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and surrender to You as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do Your will. Amen