Jesus was exposing his betrayer

JESUS WAS EXPOSING HIS BETRAYER
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
John 13:26 26Jesusanswered, "It is the one to whom I
will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in
the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it
to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Jesus and the Traitor
J. Jowett, M. A.
John 13:18-30
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:but that the scripture may
be fulfilled…
Considerthese words —
I. AS PREDICTINGTHE SIN OF JUDAS, which shows —

1. That Christ suffered as no other human being ever suffered. Greatas are
the sorrows ofmen, they are generallyunforeseen;more than half their
weight therefore is removed. We are supported by hope even on the brink of
misery: Jesus foresawallHis woes, andHe knew them to be unavoidable.
2. That all hearts are open to the Son of God. It was not long since Judas had
agreedwith the chief priests. He was sure not to have betrayed himself; and
the same secrecywas equally needful to his accomplices. Yethow vain all their
precautions!The traitor hears his own purpose first exposed by the very
Being whom he would betray! How then can you hope to impose on Christ
and shun the eye of God? "Canany hide himself in secretplaces that I shall
not see him?"
3. That the most wickedactions of men unintentionally promote God's secret
purposes of grace. He who foretold this crime could have prevented it. But the
act foreseenwas permitted and overruled for good. Shallwe murmur, then,
even at the most mysterious dispensation(Romans 8:28)?
II. AS DESCRIBING THE AGGRAVATIONS OF THAT SIN.
1. It was the sin of treachery — a sin of that kind which is held in abhorrence
even by fallen man. Nor is the case atall mended by urging that Judas was
moved by self-interestand not by malice. The plea only adds detestable
meanness to his character, where passionand revenge might have furnished
(what men would call) a prouder excuse. And who is the traitor? Has he no
name but Judas? Alas! his "name is Legion, for he is many."
2. It was treacheryagainstthe best of friends — "Me!" Is not the same Christ
our Friend? Yet multitudes still prefer the silver to Christ.

3. It was the treachery of a highly privileged and confidential servant. "One of
you!" For three years had the Phariseesbeenseeking forsuch an accomplice:
but the multitude would not, the officers could not. These persecutors never
dreamed of asking one of the apostles — who would? when, to their great
astonishment, he offers of his ownaccord!"Take heedlestthere be in any of
you such an evil heart of unbelief."
III. AS EXEMPLIFYING THE FEELINGS OF A HOLY MIND IN THE
CONTEMPLATION OF SIN. Jesus "was troubledin spirit." Not because
mortified by an unexpected discovery. He had known that these things would
take place at leastas long ago as when David penned the fifty-fifth Psalm
(vers. 12-14). Norbecause this treachery made His ownfate certain; it could
not be more so than His eternal purpose had already made it. No; He was
troubled —
1. At the presentdishonour done to God and the gospel. It was a triumph to
Satan, who thus "bruised His heel";to all the ungodly — "Ah, so would we
have it!" It is not passionor jealousywhich calls forth from true Christians
the reproofof sin. It is trouble of heart because Godis dishonoured.
Encourage this feeling.
2. At the approaching ruin of a sinner. He saw before him a soul which (before
even His own death should be accomplished)would be "gone to its place." He
still feels the same trouble for thee, O sinner! whosoeverthou art. His holy
children also feel the same cause for mourning — none but devils and sinners
rejoice.
(J. Jowett, M. A.)

Horror of TreacheryNatural
C. J. Brown, M. A., S. S. Tinges.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
Even in Paganstory the name of Ephialtes enjoyed a bad preeminence, and
could not be mentioned without horror, whom no love of his country, no
admiration of heroic valour, not the dear pledges of his friends, nor the
threatened tyranny of a degrading foe, could withhold from such a deed of
shame; but Persiangold, more sacredto that base mind than all of these,
bribed him to guide the enemy over the mountain path, and surprise that
devoted Spartan band. Sad indeed that in Christian annals it should have its
more than parallel.
(C. J. Brown, M. A.)
One of you shall betray Me. —
I. "YOU" WHOM I HAVE LOVED SO TENDERLY.
II. "YOU" WHOM I HAVE TAUGHT SO PATIENTLY.

III. "YOU" WHOM I HAVE SERVED SO FAITHFULLY.
(S. S. Tinges.)
The Apostacyof Judas
Baptist Noel.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
This was the last of a series of fatal victories which Judas Iscariotwonover
the different means and checks whichGod had mercifully provided. From
that time it seemedas if God would no more strive with him, either by His
Providence of love or by the suggestionsofHis Spirit within. "Let him alone."
There was no more check to his iniquity, and he proceededrapidly in that
downward course which was to issue in his irremediable destruction. Consider
that series ofthe means of grace whichJudas had resistedbefore he
triumphed over this.
I. JUDAS HAD BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THE REMARKABLE
MIRACLES THAT JESUS CHRIST HAD WROUGHT TO MANIFEST
THE TRUTH OF HIS MISSION.
II. WHAT INSTRUCTIONHAD JUDAS RECEIVED FROM HIS
MASTER?

III. THIS INSTRUCTION WAS SUSTAINED BY AN EXAMPLE OF
UNPARALLELED LOVELINESS.
IV. HE WAS FAVOURED WITH CONSTANT TOKENSOF KINDNESS.
V. Being brought in connectionwith Jesus Christ must necessarilyhave
induced him to EMPLOY HIMSELF FREQUENTLYIN THE VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS EXERCISESTHAT WOULD PROMOTEHIS CHRISTIAN
TEMPER AND CHARACTER.
VI. HE WAS CONTINUALLY ASSOCIATING WITH THE BEST PEOPLE
UPON EARTH.
VII. HE SAW THE REMARKABLE CHANGE PERFECTED BYTHE
MEANS OF GRACE AND RENDERED EFFECTUALBY GRACE ITSELF
— the joy and gratitude of the Syro-Phoenicianwoman whose strengthof
faith brought her greatblessings, the change in the heart of the publican, the
penitence of Mary Magdalene.
VIII. HE WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE FEET WASHING. IX. As the
context tells us (cf. Luke 22), HE WAS CALLED TO THE TABLE OF THE
LORD AT THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF THE SUPPER. Thus all the most
powerful means that imagination could devise failed in repressing the sin of
Judas when once it had obtained the mastery. Conclusion:Perhaps when we
are noticing the strength of sin in him, which overcame all the most powerful
means of grace, there may be some who are ready to suppose that Judas was
one selectedabove allothers to manifest the powerof depravity. Who is it that
is thus prompt to condemn Judas? Who is the person that is not as singular an

instance of depravity? Are not you now under the powerof a reigning sin, you
that thus condemn this wretchedman? "Therefore thou art inexcusable," etc.
Who are you that can say truly that you have never manifested such
obduracy? I ask you to determine the question as before God whether you
have not resistedand triumphed over means of grace as mighty as he
overcame. Consider, then —
1. That you are an inexcusable sinner.
2. That you need a Saviourand One has been provided.
3. Do not neglectto avail yourself of this provision by repentance and faith.
(Baptist Noel.)
The Conspicuousness ofApostates
C. H. Spurgeon.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…

In the long line of the portraits of the Doges in the palace atVenice, one space
is empty, and the semblance ofa black curtain remains as a melancholy
record of glory forfeited. Found guilty of treason, Marine Falieri was
beheaded, and his image, as far as possible, blotted from remembrance. As we
regardedthe singular memorial we thought of Judas and Demas, and then, as
we heard in spirit the Master's warning, "One of you shall betray Me," we
askedwithin our soulthe solemn question, "Lord, is it I?" Everyone's eye
rests longer on the one dark vacancythan upon any one of the fine portraits of
the merchant monarchs; and so the apostates ofthe Church are far more
frequently the theme of the world's talk than the thousands of good men and
true who adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Hence the more
need of care on the part of those of us whose portraits are publicly exhibited
as saints, lest we should one day be painted out of the Church's gallery, and
our persons only remembered as having been detestable hypocrites.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
ParallelVerses
KJV: I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:but that the
scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted
The History of Judas in Relation to the Divine Dealings
G. T. Keeble.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…

The history of Judas is but the record of a human life. He was a man like
ourselves, subjecttherefore to temptation and struggle, and one with the
freedom and responsibility which belong to us all. This will save us from
fatalism, and in the face of many dark problems here is our safe starting
point. Learn that —
I. MEN MAY FRUSTRATE CHRIST'S PURPOSESCONCERNING THEM.
Christ gave Judas responsible work and a noble calling, and educatedhim for
it all. But the training was worse than useless, the privileges were abused, and
the sacredtrust betrayed. Yet Christ would have had delight in Judas's
wellbeing and success. Butall was frustrated, and the bitter lament over
Jerusalemhad its reference to Judas. We all share this terrible power, and
could we see how we have used it we should live much nearerto Him for the
rest of our lives.
II. THE MERCYOR GOD WHICH WOULD SAVE US MAY RUIN US.
Judas had gifts: Christ employed them. His very position brought its dangers:
Christ trusted him. Notindeed without warning him (John 6:70, 71). And as
the besetting sin was yielded to, and the downward course became more and
more marked, where was Judas so likely to be kept from evil as in Christ's
company. Accordingly he was retainedat his post and was still trusted. Yet
the mercy which would have savedruined him. For, turning from the source
of Goodness, he said, "Evil, be thou my good." Eachofus may apply this
principle.
III. MAN'S SIN IS OVERRULED TO DISPLAY THE DIVINE GOODNESS.
Thomas doubted: We obtain an additional proof of Christ's resurrection.
Judas betrayed: Jesus died. It did not require a Judas to save the world, or the
hatred of the Sanhedrim to fulfil God's promises. Yet the sin of the world runs
up into typical acts, and in a profoundly representative sense the sin of Judas

was ours. This sin was overruled for God's glory and man's good. And
through it all Judas was free, as is every sinner, as proved from common
consent, conscience,and such words as "can," "ought," etc. Christ too is free
and maketh the wrath of man to praise Him.
IV. THE BEARING OF ALL THIS ON THE PRESENCEOF JUDAS IN
THE CHURCH. Men may know not that they are there: but Christ knows
them. Eachservice in the upper room repeated. John is there, and it may be
Judas, so is Christ. If so the love that spares is the love that would save. How
must Christ have lookedon Judas, yet he went out madly from that saving
Presence."And I saw there was a way to hell from the gate of heaven." Two
apostles sinned grossly. Judas wentout from the presence ofChrist to meet
the night; Peter, broken-hearted, to meet the dawn. Which will you follow?
(G. T. Keeble.)
The Sin and Folly of the Crime of Judas
C. Stanford, D. D.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
Once, I think, there was greatjoy in a certainhouse in Kerioth, because there
a child had just been born. I think this joy broke out in the name given to the
child. Call him "Praise," thatis, Judah. But the parents were not prophets;
and years after this, Jesus saidof him, "It had been good for that man if he

had not been born!" This saying darkly intimates that the sin of Judas was
unparalleled. "Esaufor one morselof meat soldhis birthright." But Judas
sold Christ! Fora man to sell his soulfor some passing paltry profit is enough
to make him infamous. But Judas sold Christ! John Bunyan tells us that long
after he loved Christ he was tempted for the space of a year to sell and part
with the blessedChrist for the things of this life. The tempter, he says, "would
intermix in such sort with all I did, that I could not eat my food, nor stoopto
pick up a pin, nor chop a stick, without hearing this whisper — Sell Christ —
sell Him for this — sell Him for that. SellHim! sellHim!" But Judas actually
sold Christ. You may have had some moment of spiritual delirium, when some
one sinful gratificationseemedto be so irresistible that your heart swore that
you would have it, come what might; but God's hand snatchedyou back just
in time, and His Spirit showedthe truth in its light, and made you resolve not
to buy bliss that was only for a moment, at the costof bliss everlasting. The
temptation was fearful; for it was to part with your portion in Christ. But the
sin of Judas was that he sold Christ Himself. Sometimes men treat Christ with
profanity, partly because they are steepedin ignorance;and all the while they
are sinning the Intercessor's plea for them is "Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do." Judas knew what he did. He had heard Christ say,
"Before Abraham was, I am;" "I and My Fatherare one." He had witnessed
His grand manifestations as King of the air, of the water, of the dead, of
spirits; and yet Judas sold Christ! What did he sell Him for? The old German
story reports that the astrologerFaustus soldhis soul to the evil one for
twenty-four years of earthly happiness. What was the bargain in this case?
The auctioneerhad tempting lists to show;what was it that tempted Judas?
He sold his Lord for thirty somethings. What things? Thirty years of right
over all the earth, with all the trees of the forests, all the fowls of the
mountains, and the cattle upon a thousand hills? Forthirty armies, or thirty
fleets? Thirty stars? Thirty centuries of power to reign majesticallyon hell's
burning throne? No, for thirty shillings, i.e., £3 10s.
(C. Stanford, D. D.)

Jesus and the Traitor
B. Thomas
John 13:21-30
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said,
Truly, truly, I sayto you…
I. A SEVERE TROUBLE.
1. The trouble of Jesus. He was troubled in spirit. This was no ordinary
trouble, but it was unique in its circumstances, cause, andpainfulness. He was
troubled in the highest regions of his nature.
(1) Because he was about to be betrayed. The betrayal in itself was painful. Its
personaland generalresults are not taken into accounthere, but the black
deed in itself, apart from the perpetrator.
(2) Because he was about to be betrayed by one of his disciples. "One of you
shall betray me." It is not a foe or a distant acquaintance, but one of his
nearestand dearestfriends. "One of you." This made the edge of the betrayal
all the keener, and its poison peculiarly loathsome and deadly.
(3) Because he was about to be betrayed by one whom he had done all in his
powerto reclaim. He had given him warning after warning, but gave it in
such a generalway as not to cause suspicionto point to him and cause him to
lose his self-respect. He was not exposed, and was not excluded from the

society- he was treatedwith the same kindness as the rest, and perhaps with
more. His indignant objectionto the anointing of Jesus was notexplained, but
left to pass with the remark which was addressedto all the disciples, "Let her
alone." The betraying disciple's feethad just been washedby the kindly hand
of the Master. All that affectionate andDivine love could do to avert the
calamity had been done, but to no effect.
(4) Because ofthe awful consequencesofthe deed to the betrayer himself.
Keen as Jesus felt it in his own soul, as severe as it affectedhim, we venture to
say that he felt more, after all, for the traitor himself. He who could weepfor a
wickedcity could not contemplate the self-ruin of even this wickedand
inexcusable man without experiencing groaning which could not be uttered.
He could not bear to lose anything, and the loss of eventhe "sonof perdition"
gave him a most severe pang of anguish. The betrayal, as it affectedhimself,
was not so painful to him as its terrible effects on the traitor himself.
(5) All this plunged him in the greatesttrouble. The betrayal wounded his
very spirit, and the betraying kiss was to him more agonizing than the
piercing of the sharpestnails or that of the most pointed spears. It was the
trouble of a wounded spirit, and that spirit was pure benevolence. It was the
trouble of being betrayed by a professednearfriend - the trouble of insulted,
checkered, andwounded love; trouble arising from the terrible doom of an
old disciple, a trusted official, the treasurerof the society.
2. The trouble of the disciples. (Ver. 22.) They were in doubt, perplexity, and
bewilderment. In fact, they were in trouble similar to that of Jesus, only theirs
was as a drop compared to the ocean.
(1) Theirs was the trouble of conscious innocence.

(2) The trouble of conscious weakness.
(3) The trouble of personalsympathy.
II. AN AWFUL REVELATION. The personality of the betrayer was revealed.
1. This revelationwas made in consequence ofa request. (Vers. 24, 25.)
(1) This request was direct. "Lord, who is it?" Eachhad askedbefore, "Lord,
is it I?" The charge assumeda generalform, and the inquiry was made in a
generaland indirect way. But now the question is put directly, "Who is it?"
"Who is the betrayer?"
(2) It was reasonable. The charge, as it had been severaltimes made, was
general, and it might apply to any of the twelve - to loving John, or honest
Peter, or to any of the group. Now they could stand it no longer; they request
a definite information at any cost, and it was quite reasonable. This is
admitted by the revelation of Jesus.
(3) It was timely. The disciples were ready for it. Jesus was ready. The awful
secrettroubled his spirit, and struggledfor publicity. He could scarcelykeep
it any longer. The betrayer was ready. He was ripe for revelation, and, if it
was delayed much longer, he would have revealedhimself by performing the
terrible deed.
2. The revelation was made by a sign. "He it is to whom I shall give a sop
when," etc. We can well imagine all the disciples, save one, looking at their

Lord with bated breath, and watching every look and movement of his with
beating hearts;but there was one there keeping his countenance better than
any of the rest, and more himself than one of them, and amid the silent but
stirring excitement Jesus gave the sop to Judas, the sonof Simon, etc.
(1) The traitor was revealedin a most considerate and tender manner. By a
sign, and privately. Judas could not know that anything referred to him unless
his guilty consciencemade him suspicious.
(2) He was revealedby an actof kindness. "It is he to whom I shall give the
sop," etc. The signwas an actof kindness. What was a revelation of a foul
traitor to the disciples was a deed of love to the traitor himself. One would
think that he would be pointed out in a voice of thunder and in looks of
lightning. This would be manlike; but as Jesus was God-like, Jesuswas kind
to Judas to the last. He was determined to the utmost to block up his course
with kindness, and that no actof his could furnish him with the faintest
shadow of excuse for his foul deed. This was the last kindness of Jesus to
Judas, but would not be the lastif he had the leastchance.
(3) The participation of this kindness led to a foul entrance. "After the sop
Satanentered into him." Jesus only could see this. He could see that dark
form by Judas's side, waiting for admission; he had been there a long time
fanning the temptation and ripening the dread resolve and preparing the
place. The hypocritical participation of Jesus'kindness completed the
necessarypreparations, and he enteredand took lull possession. WhatJesus
did to stop his entrance clearedthe way for him to enter. Satanentered, and
Jesus was left out, and the last sop of love was introductory to the final
possessionofthe demon of hatred and avarice.

3. The revelation was wade directly and publicly to the betrayer. "What thou
doest," etc., implies:
(1) The present actuality of the deed. It was inwardly done, therefore actually
done to Jesus, as confirmed thoughts are deeds to him. It was too late to
repent, he had gone too far to retreat;the demon of treacherywas on the
throne, Satan was in his soul, and his soul was in the bag.
(2) The mysterious utility of a speedyexecution. "Do quickly." Once an actis
a real thought and resolve, executionis an advantage. It was better for Judas,
because the soonerhe faced the inevitable the better. Where there is a
spiritual conception, birth cannotbe too soon;sin is better out than in. There
is a ventilation, and any remaining goodhas a better chance for development.
If you are going to hell, the soonerthe better you arrive. Better for Jesus.
Delayto him was painful once it was an actuality. Betterfor all concerned. To
a certain point he retarded a wickeddeed, but when that point was reachedhe
hastenedit.
(3) The readiness of Jesus. The traitor might think that he was taken
unawares and unprepared, but he was mistaken. Jesus was ready, far readier
for his fate than Judas was. So ready was he for it that he advises or
commands speed. "Do quickly." He hails it with confidence, if not with
satisfaction. The guilty deed of Judas fitted in with the eternal purposes of
God and the mission of Jesus better than he would think. Jesus cansayto
every schemerof evil, every sinning designerof harm, "That thou doest, do
quickly." He is ready wheneverthey are. There is no evil without good;the
goodwill not come till the evil is complete, for goodthe soonerthe better.
4. The relation of the traitor was not fully understood by the disciples.

III. A SAD DEPARTURE. (Ver. 30.)
1. The departure of an old disciple from the kindest of Masters andfrom his
only Savior. He could have really no cause forthis, the reasonwas entirely in
himself. In Jesus he had every reasonfor continued attachment and love, but
he went out immediately, and walkedwith feet newly washedby the hands of
that Masterhe was now deserting, and with strength invigorated by his
kindness.
2. It was the departure of an old disciple for the vilest purpose - to betray his
Master, and sell him to his foes for the meanestconsideration.
3. It was the departure of an old disciple, never to return again. It was his last
farewellto a loving Savior. He came to him again, not as a disciple, but as a
traitor. He was leaving for the last time, not to buy provisions for the feast,
but to sellhis Masterto his enemies.
4. It was the speedy departure of an old disciple immediately. Judas was now
ready for the deed; the command of Christ was timely, and it was echoedin
Judas's soul. He was ripe for the dark deed. The presence ofJesus was now
painful to him, and it was a relief to depart. Once Satangets full controlof the
reins, he is a furious driver; once the rapids of the Niagara are reached, the
velocity is increasinglyswift, and the terrible falls are soonreached.
5. It was the departure of an old disciple for a terrible doom. "He went out."
And whither? The answeris in the foul controlling spirit within; once that
spirit had full possessionof his soul, he would soonlead him to his own place.
John significantly adds, "And it was night." Night seems to be in harmony
with the dark deed. When it reachedits climax on Calvary, the day was so out

of sympathy with it that it turned into night. But it was now night. There
could scarcelybe any stars in the sky, as they had fled from the treacherous
act, and if there were, they would have welcomeda cloud as a veil. But the
darkestnight was within and before the poor traitor's soul. He left the day,
and the last ray of the Sun of Righteousness wasextinguishedbefore the
entrance of the prince of darkness. And with regard to his dark deed, his sad
condition, his precipitated departure, and his terrible doom, volumes could
not saymore than the incidental but significant sentence ofthe evangelist,
"And it was night."
LESSONS.
1. The most terrible fall is a fall from Christ, and the saddestdeparture is the
departure of an old disciple from the Savior.
2. This is a terrible possibility as instanced by Judas. Whatever he fell from,
he fell from being a disciple to be a betrayer, from being a treasurerof the
Christian societyto be the traitor of his Lord.
3. The higher the position the greateris the dangerand the greateris the
responsibility. Only an apostle could fall so terribly as Judas.
4. This case is highly calculatedto teachthe professedfollowers ofJesus
humility, watchfulness, and godly fear. - B.T.

Why Did Christ Choose Judas
W. J. Dawson.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
Christ chose him for what he was, and what he might have been, not for what
he became. Christ chooses mennot for their attainments, but for their
possibilities. Do you suppose Christ chooses menfor their ability or their
character? He choosesthem that He may give them characterand inspire new
capacities within them. He choosestwelve men, and one was a traitor; the
average oftreachery in human life is usually higher than that. Moreover, the
electionof Christ does not fetter the free will of a man. In a certainhigh and
almost inscrutable sense it is true that it all happens "that it may be fulfilled;"
for though the bad man may seem an accidenthe is not, but in some way fits
into a Divine order. The wild wind roars through the troubled heaven, but
somewhere there is a sail to catchit, so that all its fierceness is yokedto fairest
uses, and transformed into a mysterious helpfulness. There are no accidents in
the Divine order; the harvest of today is the fruitful child of the storm weather
of a century ago;it was all that it might be fulfilled. But whatevermay be the
ultimate issue of events, the will of man works freely within their
circumference. Christ has choseneveryliving soul, and calledhim; yet few
there are that shall be saved. You are as free to work evil in an apostleshipas
in a fisherman's boat. Nay more, if this man was so cursed and burdened with
evil aptitudes, was it not an actof Divinest mercy to call to him an
apostleship? There are some men who never would be Christians at all unless
they were Christian ministers. They need the constraint of solemn
responsibilities;the only chance of saving them is to setthem to save others.
And, lookedatin this light of human experience, how Divine was that
discernment which chose Judas, and gave him this unique opportunity of

making his calling and electionsure beneaththe very eyes of Jesus!For the
evils which destroyed Judas had not ripened in him when Jesus calledhim. He
came in the untainted freshness of faith, perhaps in the unbroken energy of
youth. He had more than ordinary capacity, for at once he became the
organiserof the little society, its steward, its financier, the custodian of its
means. To paint him therefore in the light of the after event, as most painters
have done, disfigured with the leer of low cunning, scowling with the
meanness of baffled craft and delayed cupidity, is altogetherfalse. He who
paints Judas must put into his face the dying light of what was once noble
enthusiasm — the shadowedeagernessofwhat was once heroic faith. He must
paint a face full of the anguish of remembrance, the traces of perished
nobility, the tragedy of overthrown ideals. In a word, we must remember
Christ calledhim, and not in vain; Christ loved him, and not without cause;
and howsoeverdreadful the end may be, there was once a bright, a brilliant,
and a beautiful beginning.
(W. J. Dawson.)
Warnings as to the Conduct of the Traitor
C. Ross., D. Thomas, D. D.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
1. And, first of all, do we not see here what a hateful, detestable thing
hypocrisy, treachery is in the sight of God. Oh see, only see, the Lord of Glory

troubled in spirit as He approaches the painful subject. And let us remember,
that hypocrisy is equally offensive to Him still.
2. Further, do we not see here that sin — that hardness of heart is a gradual, a
progressive thing? Judas did not reachthe climax of his guilt by a single leap,
but stepby step.
3. But still further, may we not learn from this narrative, that though the
hypocrite and the hardened sinner may for a long time escape detection, yetat
last he shall be disclosed. The Lord may indeed, in His long suffering, allow
him to pass unknown, just to give him space and opportunity for repentance.
4. Finally, let the Lord's true-hearted ones seek John's place — leaning on the
Master's bosom. What a contrastbetweenJohn and Judas — John leaning on
Jesus'breast, Judas proposing in his heart to betray Him!
(C. Ross.)
Jesus...was troubledin spirit and testified. —
I. CHRIST IN SADNESS (ver. 21). This was the distress —
1. Of intense holiness in the presence ofsin. The more holiness, the more
sensitiveness to sin. Sometimes the optic nerve becomes so sensitive that a
sunbeam will produce the greatestpain; and the auricular nerve so tender
that the softestsound yields agony. And in some diseasesa breath of air will

throw the whole writhing frame into anguish. And so Judas sent a quiver
through all the nerves of Christ's pure soul.
2. Of the highestbenevolence in the presence of a lostsoul. The more love a
being has, the more he feels the sufferings of others. Christ's love was
immeasurable, and He knew what a lost soul meant. We wonder not then that
He was troubled as a lostsoul stoodbefore Him.
II. THE DISCIPLES IN ANXIETY (ver. 22). Matthew and Mark tell us that
they were exceeding sorrowful, and askedeach, "Is it I?" The question
implies two things.
1. Self-suspicion. Had they been certain of their incapability they would not
have made such an appeal. None of them was confident of His impeccability.
This self-suspicionis wellfounded in all souls, and is a help to our spiritual
progress and safety. "Let him that thinketh he standeth."
2. A desire to know the worst. Cowards close their, eyes on the worst, and
delude themselves with the idea that all is right. It is to the spiritual interest of
every man to know the worsthere and now, for here and now it can be
rectified. "Searchme, O God! and know my heart," etc.
III. THE TRAITOR UNMASKED.
1. The means of his detection(ver. 26).

2. His domination by Satan(ver. 27). Before we read that Satanhad put the
wickeddeed into his heart; now he took possessionof his soul.
3. His defiance by Christ, "What thou doest," etc. "Idefy thee to do thy worst.
Do it and have done with it."
4. His lamentable doom (ver. 20).
(D. Thomas, D. D.)
The Successive Steps by Which the Traitor Reachedthe Climax of His Guilt
C. Ross.
John 13:18-30
be fulfilled…
The devil had alreadyput it into his heart to betray the Lord (ver. 2).
Wounded pride (Matthew 26:14), Satanic influence (Luke 22:3), and the love
of money — these were the greatevils that lay at the root of his conduct. And
yet, who can tell what struggles he must have gone through ere he brought
himself to carry his resolutioninto effect?

(C. Ross.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(18) I speak not of you all.—The thought of their blessednessbrings back
againthe dark thought that there is one presentwho will not do these things,
and who cannottherefore be blessed.
I know whom I have chosen.—Comp. Note onJohn 6:70. The pronoun is
strongly emphatic. “I (for My part) know whom I have chosen.” (See next
verse.)
But that the scripture may be fulfilled.—Comp. Note on John 12:38. There is
an ellipsis after “but,” which is most simply filled up by some such phrase as
“all this was done;” “but all this was done that the Scripture . . .” (Comp.
John 19:36 and Matthew 26:56.) Others would make the connectionto be,
“But I have chosenthem that the Scripture . . .”
He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heelagainstme.—Comp.
especiallyNote on the quotation in John 2:18, from Psalms 61. The present
words are a free rendering of the Greek (LXX.) of Psalm41:9; but the LXX.
follow the Hebrew more literally, and read, “hath made greathis heel.” This
is here interpreted to mean, “lifted up his heel,” which the Bible versionof the
Psalmgives, with the literal rendering magnified in the margin. The Prayer
Book versionfollows the Vulgate in reading “hath laid great waitfor Me.”
Our Lord’s quotation omits the earlierpart of the verse, “Mine own familiar
friend whom I trusted.” He knew whom He had chosen. “He knew what was
in man, and did not trust Himself to them” (John 2:24-25).
It is by no means certainthat we are justified in following the title of the
Psalm, and ascribing it to David. It is not improbable that here, as in Psalms

69, we have the words of Jeremiah, and the specialreference to the friend is
unknown. If the Psalmwas by David, then, as the king was the type of Christ,
Ahithophel is doubtless the type of Judas. In any case the basenessofthe
treacherylay in the factthat the betrayer was one who did eatbread with the
psalmist. He was, as our word expressesit, a “companion” (one who breaks
bread with), but to this the Orientals attacheda sacrednesswhicheven the
Bedouin of the desertwould honour. But there was one then professing to be
His Apostle, eating bread with Him, and yet planning to betray Him.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
13:18-30 Our Lord had often spokenof his ownsufferings and death, without
such trouble of spirit as he now discoveredwhen he spake of Judas. The sins
of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to
Judas. The prophecy of his treacherymay apply to all who partake of God's
mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the
Scriptures with a desire to do awaytheir authority and destroy their
influence; the hypocrite, who professes to believe the Scriptures, but will not
govern himself by them; and the apostate, who turns aside from Christ for a
thing of naught. Thus mankind, supported by God's providence, after eating
bread with Him, lift up the heel againstHim! Judas went out as one weary of
Jesus and his apostles.Those whosedeeds are evil, love darkness rather than
light.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
I speak not of you all - That is, in addressing you as clean, I do not mean to
say that you all possess this character.
I know whom I have chosen - He here means evidently to saythat he had not
chosenthem all, implying that Judas had not been chosen. As, however, this
word is applied to Judas in one place John 6:70, "Have not I chosenyou
twelve, and one of you is a devil?" it must have a different meaning here from
that which it has there. There it evidently refers to the apostleship. Jesus had
chosenhim to be an apostle, and had treated him as such. Here it refers to

purity of heart, and Jesus implies that, though Judas had been chosento the
office of apostleship, yet he had not been chosento purity of heart and life.
The remaining eleven had been, and would be saved. It was not, however, the
fault of Jesus that Judas was not saved, for he was admitted to the same
teaching, the same familiarity, and the same office; but his execrable love of
gold gained the ascendency, andrendered vain all the means used for his
conversion.
But that the scripture ... - These things have occurredin order that the
prophecies may receive their completion. It does not mean that Judas was
compelled to this course in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, but that
this was foretold, and that by this the prophecy did receive a completion. "The
scripture." This is written in Psalm 41:9. It is commonly understood of
Ahithophel, and of the enemies of David who had been admitted to his
friendship, and who had now proved ungrateful to him.
May be fulfilled - See the notes at Matthew 1:22. It is difficult to tell whether
this prophecy had a primary reference to Judas, or whether it be meant that it
receiveda more complete fulfillment in his case than in the time of David. The
caseswere similar; the same words would describe both events, for there was
an exhibition of similar ingratitude and basenessin both cases, so that the
same words would fitly describe both events.
He that eateth bread with me - To eatwith one was a proof of friendship. See
2 Samuel 9:11; Matthew 9:11; Genesis 43:32. This means that Judas had been
admitted to all the privileges of friendship, and had partakenof the usual
evidences of affection. It was this which greatlyaggravatedhis offence. It was
base ingratitude as well as murder.
Hath lifted up his heel - Suidas says that this figure is takenfrom those who
are running in a race, when one attempts to trip the other up and make him
fall. It was a base and ungrateful return for kindness to which the Lord Jesus
referred, and it means that he who had been admitted to the intimacies of
friendship had ungratefully and maliciously injured him. Some suppose the
expressionmeans to lay snares for one others, to kick or injure a man after he
is castdown (Calvin on Psalm 41:9). It is clearthat it denotes greatinjury,

and injury aggravatedby the fact of professedfriendship. It was not merely
the common people, the open enemies, the Jewishnation that did it, but one
who had receivedall the usual proofs of kindness. It was this which greatly
aggravatedour Saviour's sufferings.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
18, 19. I speak not of you all—the "happy are ye," of Joh 13:17, being on no
supposition applicable to Judas.
I know whom I have chosen—inthe higher sense.
But that the scripture may be fulfilled—that is, one has been added to your
number, by no accidentor mistake, who is none of Mine, but just that he
might fulfil his predicted destiny.
He that eateth bread with me—"did eatof my bread" (Ps 41:9), as one of My
family; admitted to the nearestfamiliarity of discipleship and of sociallife.
hath lifted up his heel againstme—turned upon Me, adding insult to injury.
(Compare Heb 10:29). In the Psalm the immediate reference is to
Ahithophel's treachery againstDavid (2Sa 17:1-23), one of those scenesin
which the parallel of his story with that of His great Antitype is exceedingly
striking. "The eating bread derives a fearful meaning from the participation
in the sacramentalsupper, a meaning which must be applied for ever to all
unworthy communicants, as well as to all betrayers of Christ who eat the
bread of His Church" (Stier, with whom, and others, we agree in thinking
that Judas partook of the Lord's Supper).
Matthew Poole's Commentary
I am about to tell you what will make your ears tingle; but be of goodcomfort,
what I shall now tell you doth not concernall of you, it concernethbut one
man amongstyou.
I know whom I have chosento the work of the apostleship;so some interpret
it, as John 6:70, Have not I chosenyou twelve, and one of you is a devil? But

the generalityof the best interpreters understand the choosing here
mentioned, of a choosing to eternal life, and perseverancein the way of God as
a means in order to it, as Ephesians 1:4; and so understood, here is a greater
argument in this text to prove the Godhead of Christ, as the Author of eternal
election:Though one of you be a devil, a traitor, yet I have chosenthe restof
you to eternal life: and this is no more than was prophesiedof me, and
fulfilled in David as a type of me: the Scripture must have its accomplishment;
that Scripture is now fulfilled in me.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
I speak not of you all. What he had before said on the one hand, "ye are not
all clean", John 13:11, for one of them was not; and on the other hand, when
he put an "if" upon, or seemedto doubt of their knowing and doing these
things, John 13:17; or what he was about to sayconcerning his being
betrayed, this he did not speak of them all:
I know whom I have chosen;not to apostleship, for they were all chosento
that, Judas as well as the rest, but to grace and glory, to everlasting salvation
and happiness; of these he was well assured, that they were all clean, pure,
and spotless, in the sight of God; were truly regeneratedby the Spirit of God,
and had an experimental and practicalknowledge ofthe things he
recommended by his example, and would be the happy persons he spake of;
but he observes, so it is, and will come to pass, that there is one of you which
will betray me:
that the Scripture may be fulfilled: Psalm 41:9, as it literally (b) was in
Judas's betraying Christ. The passageis by many interpreted either of
Ahithophel, or of some other counsellorof Absalom's, or of Absalom himself;
and is applied to their conduct, with respectto David, at the time of their
rebellion againsthim; and which is thought to be typical of the treatment
Christ met with from an apostle of his: but we do not find that, at the time of
that rebellion, David was sick, or had any disease upon him, from whence they
might hope for his death; it does not seem, as though it could be literally
understood of David at all, and of the behaviour of any of his servants;but
most properly of David's son, the Messiah, Jesus, with whom everything in the

psalm agrees;and particularly this verse, which so plainly describes Judas,
and expresseshis base ingratitude, hypocrisy, and malice: the former part of
the text is not cited, "yea, mine ownfamiliar friend", or "the man of my
peace, in whom I trusted"; though it fully agreeswith him, he being admitted
to greatfamiliarity with Christ, and lived peaceablywith him; and who was
intrusted by him with the bag, into which the money was put, which was
ministered, either for the sustenance ofhim and his apostles, orfor the use of
the poor: but our Lord thought fit to cite no more of it than what follows, that
being sufficiently descriptive of him; and especiallyat this present time, when
he was at table with his Lord.
He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heelagainstme; he sat down
with him at table frequently, and ate bread with him; and was doing so, when
Satanput it into his heart to betray him; which is strongly expressed, by
"lifting up" his "heelagainsthim"; and sets forth the ingratitude, wickedness,
and cruelty of him; who, like an unruly horse, that has thrown his rider,
spurns at him, to destroyhim; and also the insidious manner in which he did
it; he supplanted, he tripped him, as wrestlers do, in order to casthim down to
the ground, and then trample upon him, and triumph over him: he first "laid
snares for him", as Jarchi explains the phrase used in the "psalm", and then
"he magnified his heel", he behaved proudly and haughtily to him.
(b) See my Book ofthe Prophecies ofthe Messiah, &c. p. 168, &c.
Geneva Study Bible
{2} I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:but that the scripture
may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heelagainst
me.
(2) The betraying of Christ was not accidental, ora thing that happened by
chance, but it was the Father who ordained the cause ofour salvation, to
reconcile us unto himself in his Son, and the Son willingly and voluntarily
obeyed the Father.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary

John 13:18-19. Οὐ περὶ πάντ. ὑμῶν λέγω] Namely, this that ye μακάριοι ἐστε,
κ.τ.λ. “Estinter vos, qui non erit beatus neque facietea,” Augustine.
Unnecessarilyand inappropriately, Tholuck refers back to John 13:10.
ἐγώ] I for my part, opposedto the divine determination (ἀλλʼ ἵνα, κ.τ.λ.),
according to which, however, the selectionofapostles must take place in such
a way that the traitor entered into the number of the chosen. In a very
arbitrary manner Tholuck gives the pregnant meaning to ἐξελεξ.: whom I
peculiarly have chosen.
οἶδα]I know of what characterthey are, so that I do not therefore deceive
myself, if I do not say of you all, etc.
ἀλλʼ] is ordinarily takenas the antithesis of οὐ περὶ π. ὑμ. λ., and is
supplemented by τοῦτο γέγονεν(namely, that I cannot affirm, John 13:17, of
you all); whilst others connectit with ὁ τρώγων, κ.τ.λ., and ἵνα ἡ γρ. κλ. is
takenas an intermediate sentence (Semler, Kuinoel; admitted also by Lücke).
The former view has no justification in the context, which suggests a τοῦτο
γέγονεν just as little as in 1 Corinthians 2:9; the latter does not correspondto
the importance which this very sentence ofpurpose has in the connection. The
only supplement in accordancewith the text is (comp. John 9:3, John 1:8):
ἐξελεξάμην αὐτούς:But I made the choice in obedience to the divine destiny,
in accordancewith which the Scripture (that which stands written, comp.
John 19:37; Mark 12:10;Luke 14:21)could not but be fulfilled, etc. Comp.
John 6:70-71. The passage,freelycited from the original, is Psalm41:13,
where the theocratic sufferer(who is unknown; not David, whom the
superscription names) utters a saying which, according to divine
determination, was to find its Messianichistoricalfulfilment in the treasonof
Judas.

ὁ τρώγ. μετʼ ἐμοῦ τ. ἄρτ.] Deviating from the original (‫א‬ ‫ֹו‬‫כ‬ ֵ‫ל‬‫ל‬ ‫,)יִמְל‬ and from
the LXX., yet without substantial alteration of the sense (intimacy of table-
companionship, which, according to Hellenic views also, aggravatedthe
detestable characterofthe crime; see Pflugk, ad Eur. Hec. 793), and
involuntarily suggesting itself, since Judas actually ate with Jesus (τρώγ., John
6:56-58).
ἐπῇρεν] has lifted up. Note the preterite; Judas, so near to an actof treason, is
like him who has already lifted up his heel, in order to administer a kick to
another. To explain the figure from the tripping of the foot in wrestling
(πτερνίζειν), in the sense of overreaching, is less appropriate both to the words
and to the facts (Jesus was notoverreached).
John 13:19. ἀπʼ ἄρτι]not now, but as always in the N. T. (John 1:51, John
14:7; Matthew 23:39; Matthew 26:29; Matthew 26:64;Revelation14:13):
from this time forward. Previously, He has not yet definitely disclosedit.
πιστεύσητε, κ.τ.λ.]Ye believe that I am He (the Messiah), and that no other is
to be expected;see on John 8:24. How easilymight the disciples have come to
vacillate in their faith through the successofthe treasonof Judas, if He had
not foreseenandforetold it as lying in the connectionof the divine destiny!
Comp. John 14:29. But by means of this predictive declaration, what might
have become ground of doubt becomes ground for faith.
Expositor's Greek Testament
John 13:18. This blessedness, He knew, could not attachto all of them: οὐ περὶ
πάντων ὑμῶν ὑμῶν λέγω, “I speak not of you all,” I do not expectall of you to
fulfil the condition of blessedness,ἐγὼ οἶδα οὓς ἐξελεξάμην, “I for my part (in
contrastto the disciples who were in ignorance)know the men whom I have
chosenas Apostles,” and am therefore not taken by surprise by the treachery
of one of them. For the choice of Judas see John 6:70, where the same word

ἐξελεξάμην is used. ἀλλʼ ἵνα … The simplest construction is: “but I chose
Judas in order that,” etc. This may not, however, involve that Jesus
consciouslychose Judas forthis purpose. That is not said, and canscarcelybe
conceived. The Scripture which waitedfor fulfilment is Psalm 40:9, ὁ ἐσθίων
ἄρτους μου ἐμεγάλυνεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ πτερνισμόν. Eating bread togetheris in all
countries a sign, and in some a covenantor pledge of friendship. Cf. Kypke on
ὁμοτράπεζοςand Trumbull’s BloodCovenant, p. 313, and Oriental Life, p.
361. Here the fact of Judas’ eating bread with Jesus is introduced as
aggravating his crime. “To lift the heel” is to kick, whether originally used of
a horse or not; and expresses violence andcontempt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
18. I speak not of you all] There is one who knows these things, and does not
do them, and is the very reverse of blessed.
I know whom I have chosen]The first ‘I’ is emphatic: ‘I know the character
of the Twelve whom I chose;the treacheryof one has been foretold; it is no
surprise to Me.’ Comp. John 6:70.
but that] This elliptical use of ‘but that’ (= ‘but this was done in order that’) is
frequent in S. John: John 1:8; John 9:3; John 14:31; John 15:25;1 John 2:19.
Here another way of filling up the ellipsis is possible;‘But I chose them in
order that.’
may be fulfilled] See on John 12:38. The quotation is taken, but with freedom,
from the Hebrew of Psalm41:9; for ‘lifted up his heel’ both the Hebrew and
the LXX. have ‘magnified his heel.’(See on John 6:45.) The metaphor here is
of one raising his foot before kicking, but the blow is not yet given. This was
the attitude of Judas at this moment. It has been remarkedthat Christ omits
the words ‘Mine own familiar friend whom I trusted:’ He had not trusted

Judas, and had not been deceived, as the Psalmisthad been: ‘He knew what
was in man’ (John 2:25).
He that eateth bread with me] Or, He that eateth the bread with Me. The
more probable reading gives, My bread for ‘the bread with Me.’The
variations from the LXX. are remarkable. (1) The word for ‘eat’ is changed
from the common verb (ἐσθίω) used in Psalm 41:10 to the much less common
verb (τρώγω) used of eating Christ’s Flesh and the Breadfrom Heaven (John
6:54; John 6:56-58, where see notes), and nowhere else in the N.T., excepting
Matthew 24:38. (2) ‘Bread’or ‘loaves’(ἄρτους)has been altered to ‘the
bread’ (τὸν ἄρτον). (3) ‘My’ has possibly been strengthened to ‘with Me:’ to
eat bread with a man is more than to eat his bread, which a servant might do.
These changes canscarcelybe accidental, and seemto point to the factthat
the treacheryof Judas in violating the bond of hospitality, so universally held
sacredin the East, was aggravatedby his having partakenof the Eucharist.
That Judas did partake of the Eucharistseems to follow from Luke 22:19-21,
but the point is one about which there is much controversy.
S. John omits the institution of the Eucharist for the same reasonthat he
omits so much,—because itwas so wellknown to every instructed Christian;
and for such he writes.
Bengel's Gnomen
John 13:18. Λέγω, I speak of) when I speak of you as happy [John 13:17].—
ἐγώ) I the Lord; although ye know not, especiallyeachof you [cannotknow]
concerning the rest.—ἐπʼ ἐμέ, above [Engl. Vers. ‘against’]Me) So far is he
from washing the feetof his brethren.—τὴν πτέρναν, the heel) This word is in
happy consonancewiththe washing of the feet; and with the ancient custom of
reclining [when of course the foot and heelwould be lifted up] for the act of
eating bread. Comp. ‫,בקע‬ Genesis 3:15, “It shall bruise thy head, and thou
shalt bruise his heel.”
Pulpit Commentary

Verses 18-30. -2. The exclusionof the faithless disciple. This paragraph draws
the circle of his cleansedones, ofthose who accepthim as Masterand Lord in
the fullest sense, more closely(at) out him. But the proceeding is tragic in the
extreme; one of the twelve chosenas apostles is a traitor in disguise. The foot-
washing has been an awful insufficiency in his case. He must depart before the
greatestdepth of the Master's love and truth can be revealed. Verse 18. - I
speak net concerning you all. There is one who, though he knows these things,
will not do them, is now indisposedto see any Divineness in the act and spirit
of love which I am laying down as a fundamental law of my kingdom. I know
whom (or, the individuals whom) I chose forapostles - (in John 6. the same
statementis made with less definiteness, "Have I not chosenyou twelve, and
one of you," etc.?)Judas among them - but. It is difficult to follow this
construction, and to decide on the antithesis to this disjunctive.
(1) We may add, this has happened (τοῦτο γέγονεν) - i.e. this choice has been
overruled, and so in its issues correspondedwith the Divine purpose (ἵνα) - so
that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread or, bread with
me, hath lifted his heel againstme;
(2) we may take the ἵνα πληρωθῇ as a parenthesis, and link the ἀλλ with the
quotation, "He that eateth," etc.;or
(3) we may, with Meyer, suppose that ἐξελεξάμην αὐτοῦς, "Ichose them," is
mentally involved here: "I chose them, and Judas among them (ἵνα), in order
that the Scripture," etc. This connectionwould suggesta destiny and purpose
which Christ knowingly correspondedwith, harmonizing his plan with the
Divine and prophetic program. Emphasis must be laid upon the ἐκλέγεσθαι. It
refers to Christ's choice ofapostles, notto the eternal electionto salvation.
This interpretation corresponds more closelywith the text, though it savors of
a fatalism foreign to the Scripture. There is, however, a true sense in which
the evil-disposedman is so placed that, if he will sin, he must sin along certain

well-defined lines. The forty-first psalm, from which the quotation is made, is
not strictly Messianic;it is descriptive of the ideal Sufferer, the holy but
outragedman, whose melancholycondition is sure to be characterizedby
treacheryamong his familiar friends. Christ implies that, if he were to fulfill
this portraiture, then this bitter dreg would be put into his cup; and so he
humanly made this choice, i.e. he took steps which in their tenderness of love
might have saved Judas from the worst, but which were really part of a Divine
plan which would vindicate his own foresightand the method of Divine
government. A full understanding of the formula in Matthew and John, ἵνα ἡ
γραφὴ πληρωθ῀ι, will save us from putting into these words a hopeless
fatalism. Notice that the LXX. reads this passagedifferently, and is not so
closelyallied to the Hebrew: "He that eateth my leaves hath magnified against
me his surreptitious despite, his tricky antagonism." Greatbeauty is given to
the passage by the R.T. you instead of μετ ἐμοῦ, for it suggests the idea that
Christ was the real Host of the twelve, the Father and Provider of his family.
Christ must be regardedas the Father and Host of the entire group of guests,
and the treacherous treatment of a host throughout the Eastis regardedas a
sign of peculiar obduracy.
Vincent's Word Studies
I have chosen(ἐξελεξάμην)
Aorist tense, I chose. Notelectedto salvation, but chose as an apostle.
That the scripture, etc. (ἵνα)
Elliptical. We must supply this choice was made in order that, etc.
Eateth (τρώγων)
With the exceptionof Matthew 24:38, the word occurs only in John. See on
John 6:54. Originally it means to gnaw or crunch; to chew raw vegetables or
fruits, and hence often used of animals feeding, as Homer ("Odyssey," vi., 90),
of mules feeding. Of course it has lostits original sense in the New Testament,
as it did to some extent in classicalGreek,though, as applied to men, it more
commonly referred to eating vegetables orfruit, as Aristophanes ("Peace,"
1325)τρώγειν, to eatfigs. The entire divorce in the New Testamentfrom its

primitive sense is shownin its application to the flesh of Christ (John 6:54). It
is used by John only in connectionwith Christ.
Breadwith me (μετ' ἐμοῦ τὸν ἄρτον)
Some editors read, μοῦ τὸν ἄρτον, my bread.
Heel (πτέρναν)
Only here in the New Testament. The metaphor is of one administering a kick.
Thus Plutarch, describing the robber Sciron, who was accustomed"outof
insolence and wantonness to stretch forth his feetto strangers, commanding
them to washthem, and then, when they did it, with a kick to send them down
the rock into the sea" ("Theseus"). Some have explained the metaphor by the
tripping up of one's feet in wrestling;but, as Meyerjustly says, "Jesuswas not
overreached." The quotationis from the Hebrew, not the Septuagint of Psalm
41:9 (Sept. 40). The Septuagint reads, "Forthe man of my peace in whom I
hoped, who eatethmy bread, magnified his cunning (πτερνισμόν, literally,
tripping up) againstme."
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BRIAN BELL
John 13:18-38 8-2-09 “Ettu, Judas?”
I. INTRO:A. Memorials:Richie’s sisterLeah’s memorial is Monday 6:30pm
at Packing House in Redlands. - Stephany Vit’s brother Steve died cancer;
service will be Tuesday10am. B. Congrats to Dominic & Keri Lee - Baby
finally came!

C. Leonardo da Vinci’s timeless masterpiece LastSupper, captures the
dramatic moment when Jesus announce, “one ofyou will betray me” in
vs.21,22(inspired by these 2 vs.) 1. The Last Supper specificallyportrays the
reactiongiven by eachapostle whenJesus said one of them would betray him.
All the participants are aghastw/ shock, expressing amazementto one
another….exceptJudas. Left to right: 2. Bartholomew, James(sonof
Alphaeus) & Andrew form a group of 3 - all are surprised. 3. Judas Iscariot,
Peter& John form anothergroup of 3. Judas is in shadow, looking rather
withdrawn & takenaback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He’s clutching
his betrayal fee. He’s the only person to have his elbow on the table. Da Vinci
depicted him knocking overa salt shaker(1 chosento be the saltof the world
is the very one to rub salt into the Saviors wounds). Peteris holding a knife,
perhaps foreshadowing his violent reactionin Gethsemane. John, appears to
swoon. 4. Jesus - center. 5. Thomas, James(the greater)Philip are the next
group of 3. Thomas is clearly upset; James stunned w/his arms in the air.
Philip appears to be requesting some explanation 6. Matthew, Jude &
Simon(zealot) are the final group of 3. Both Jude & Matthew turned toward
Simon, perhaps to find out if he has any answers.
D. Judas not only clutches the 30 pieces ofsilver; he holds tightly a secretonly
he & Jesus share atthe table: he is the betrayer!
II. Et tu, JUDAS? A. BETRAY! (18-30)B. Oreo Cookie Outline: Betray! -
Love! - Deny! C. (18) See Ps.41:9 - Heel = ‫ב‬ְ‫בֵק‬ (Aqev) 1. Only here in the NT.
The metaphor is of one administering a kick. Or tripping with the heellike a
wrestler. Or a horse raising its hoof & kicking.
1
2. On the ground & vulnerable, your own confidant, who should use his knee
to protect you, instead choosesto lift his own foot/healagainstyou with a
blow.1 a) David & Ahithophel (1 Sam15-17;Ahithophel David’s rt hand man
till Absalom took over; Ahithophel became a traitor; David sends Hushai to
give counselagainstAhitophel’s; Ahithophel commits suicide) b) See
Gen.3:15. c) We’ve all been backstabbed, betrayed, double crossed. D. No
treacheryis worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar

knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinatedthe Roman
leaderon the Ides (15) of March 44bc was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesarnot
only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son. According to Roman
historians, Caesarfirst resistedthe onslaught of the assassins. Butwhen he
saw Brutus among them with his daggerdrawn, Caesarceasedto struggle
and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, askedthe famous question,
“Et tu Brute” (You too, Brutus?) [Latin phrase used as an epitome of
betrayal]
E. (19) Clearerin NASB, 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. 1. Betrayalis
bad enough, but to do so after sharing a meal makes it more heinous. 2. Jesus
had to be betrayed, but Judas did not have to be that betrayer.
F. (26) During the Passovermeal, the father of the householdwould offer to
the guests pieces ofbread dipped in a sauce offruit, representing the fruits of
the Promise Land. 1. It was the signof specialattention, & it was one more
appeal to the conscienceofJudas. 2. Jesus washedthe very heels that were
raisedagainstHim…& fed a morsel to the very lips that would kiss His cheek
to identify Him to His captures.
G. (26,27)If the giving of the morsel to him in vs.26 was Jesus’lastappealof
love, what state of heart does vs.27a indicate? 1. Leonardo’s seating
arrangementwasn’t exactly right(& they didn’t sit as trad. tables) 2. Judas
obviously receivedthe place on the left hand, the seatof highest honor, kept
for the most intimate friend. (John on his right; leanedon Jesus;rt hand free
to eat) a) Judas, come sit by me tonight; I want to talk to you. (again the very
seatwas an appeal)
H. (27) Realizing the powerof Jesus’love to softeneven the most mercenary
of traitors, Satansteps in to make sure that nothing foils his assassinationplot.
2
1 Rabbi Yosef Hilbrandt phone conversation.
I. Q: How do you respond when a heel of betrayal comes crushing down on
you? 1. “Forgivenessis the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has

crushed it.” 2. No one relishes being stepped on, any more than a violet does.
But when it happens, let Jesus example be your response. a)Let His fragrance
exude in you a potent forgiveness, reaching the nostrils of the one whose heel
has hurt you. (Swindoll)
J. (28,29)Jesusdid not reveal Judas’s secret;in fact, he treated him just like
the others & they didn’t detectanything wrong. 1. Wow, 1stto even invite him
to the meal; then to washhis feet; then to give him the seatof highest honor;
then to share His bread with him; then to show he could read hearts (How did
Jesus know, Judas?). 2. Jesus w/the towel is the perfectexample of humility;
Judas w/the bread is a perfect example of hypocrisy & treachery.2
K. What sorrow must have constantly weighedon our Savior’s heart, in
knowing that all his love & care would be resistedby Judas, as a rock in your
flowergarden refuses to respond to the friendly influences of spring.3 1. The
very presence ofJesus Himself for 3 years did nothing to change Judas. L.
(30) Watchthis...connectverse 30 with 12:35,36 :( 1. Like Pharaoh,
unbending & unchanged, Judas’heart remains hardened. And so he ventures
out into the cold, dark, alleyways of betrayal - far from the Light that loved
him & offered him warmth!4
M. LOVE! (31-35)N. What a relief the traitor now gone. The Lord could now
freely speak of His love & of His approaching glory. O. (31,32)Glory - His
glory & His Fathers glory, was the supreme end of all Christ came to be & do.
P. This is truly the heart of the whole passage. “Love”!(3 x’s) 1. The mark of
the Christian is the love which he or she exercises toward others. 2. A love not
centerupon one’s own interestbut rather upon the welfare of others 3. It’s the
kind of love God extends to us. Thus, a reciprocallove is expected.
3
2 Warren Wiersbe;With The Word; John 13 3 F.B.Meyer;Jn.13;adapted. 4
Chuck Swindoll; John 6-14;pg.81
4. What are the characteristicsoflove? [1 Cor.13 msg Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t
have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’thave a swelledhead, Doesn’tforce itself on

others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’tfly off the handle, Doesn’tkeepscore
of the sins of others, Doesn’trevel when others grovel, Takespleasure in the
flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks
for the best, Neverlooks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies] 5.
What makes Christian love unique? [Powerbehind it; where it comes from
(i.e. above;poured out into our hearts)]
Q. DENY! (36-38)R. Oh how little we know ourselves!S. Peterrelied upon his
strong resolve to keephim faithful to His Master. 1. We have done this many-
a-time. It was the Holiness movement that the Wesleybrothers & George
Whitefield joined. “We will read, study, memorize scripture faithfully. We
will not fall to temptations. We will…” 2. Do not boastin self-confidence what
you will or won’t do, but seek the strength from the Living Lord. 3. Fine line
betweena commitment to holiness & pure self-confidence. 4. Peterjust slid
down a dark ravine into the shadows of self-confidence & didn’t even know it
yet. T. (37) I will lay down my life for Your sake - Well, yes he eventually
would...but after the indwelling of the H.S. & after Pentecost. 1. Read
Jn.21:18. And Petersaid in his epistle knowing that shortly I must put off my
tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showedme. 1 Pet.1:14 U. The difference
betweenJudas & Peterwas, one of whom betrayed Jesus & the other who
denied Him - is that Peter soughtforgiveness, but Judas did not. 1. What
could accountfor so greata defectionfrom such a dedicated disciple? a)
Simon, Simon! Satanhas askedfor you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Lk22:31 b) Satan wants to thresh his faith & beatit into the ground until the
husk breaks open. Then he’ll show the world what’s really inside Peter’s
heart.5 (1) Then the backbone of the revolution will be as goodas crushed! V.
(38) Somewhere in the night a roosterstretches its neck, shakes its feathers, &
will crow an indictment againstPeter. 1. But remember, it was Satan, not
Jesus who did the sifting. Jesus was the friend praying! :) But I have prayed
for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me,
strengthen your brethren. Lk.22:32
4
5 Ken Gire; Intimate Moments with the Savior; pg.98

W. Communion! X. Ushers will pass out cups; please hold, we’ll partake
together. 1. 1st Song - Prepare Hearts for repentance time! 2. We all have
denied & betrayed the Lord. Y. Hold the bread & allow me to walk us
through things to confess before the Lord: Z. When I’m too busy to pray - I
deny that you are the centerof my life. When I neglectYour Word - I deny
that you are competent to guide me. When I worry - I deny that you are the
Lord of my circumstances. WhenI turn my head from the hungry & the
homeless - I deny that you are a God of mercy who has put me here to be your
hands & your feet. When I stealfrom another person to enrich or enhance my
life - whether that be something material or some credit that is rightly do
another which I have claimed for myself - I deny that you are the source of all
blessings. Forgive me Jesus for all those quiet ways, knownonly to you, in
which I have denied you Forgive me Jesus for eachtime this week I didn’t
have love for my brother/sister/neighbor. Forgive me Jesus for every time I
didn’t wash the heel that was raisedup againstme.
AA.2nd Song - Prepare Hearts for Thanksgiving time! BB.Hold the cup &
allow me to walk us through things to Thank Jesus for: CC.Thank you for all
the times You have prayed for me that my faith might not fail. Thank you for
every time You rescuedme from Satan’s siftings, that I didn’t even know
Thank you for being a faithful Friend no matter how terribly I have failed
You! Thank you for all the times you have prayed for me that my faith might
not fail. DD.LastSong -
STEVEN COLE
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Lesson73:From the Light into the Night (John 13:21-30)

November 23, 2014
I’m not a country music fan, but sometimes whenI’m driving for long
distances, it’s the only thing on the radio, so I’ll listen for a short time.
Invariably, you’ll hear a song around the theme, “I loved her but she didn’t
love me; now I’m as sad as I can be.” We may chuckle at the songs, but if it’s
ever happened to you, you know that it’s really painful to love someone but
not to have your love returned; or, even worse, for the one you love
deliberately to hurt you.
That’s true not only for romantic relationships, but also for friends of the
same sex. If you’ve ever had a trusted friend turn on you and attack you, it
hurts! It’s surely one of life’s most emotionally painful experiences.
To relate to that emotionalpain is to understand, in part, why Jesus became
troubled in spirit as He thought about Judas in the Upper Room on the night
of the betrayal (John 13:21). There were other things, besides Judas’calloused
heart, which troubled Jesus that evening. (We’ll consider those things later.)
But Jesus was troubled not only with the personalpain of Judas’ betrayal, but
also because He knew that Judas was leaving the Light of the world and
stepping into the darkness of hell. When John states (John 13:30), “and it was
night,” he means more than the factthat it was dark outside. It is always night
when a person rejects God’s love and goes into the darkness ofeternity
without God. It was especially“night” when the “sonof perdition” betrayed
the spotless SonofGod into the hands of evil men.

To understand our text, you need to realize that Leonardo da Vinci’s famous
painting of the Last Supper, where the men are seatednext to one another on
the same side of a long table, is historicallyincorrect. Rather, the men were
reclining at a low U-shaped table. They leaned on their left elbow with their
feet going out from the table so that they could eatwith their right hand. Jesus
was at the bottom of the U. John was to His right, so that it would have been
easyfor him to lean back on Jesus’chest and whisper in His ear (John 13:25),
“Lord, who is it?” Peterwas sitting across from John so that he could gesture
to him to find out who the betrayer was.
Judas was probably at Jesus’left, in the seatof honor, as one last gesture of
love from Jesus towardJudas. After Jesus announcedthat one of the twelve
would betray Him, Judas asked(Matt. 26:25), “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus replied, “You have said it yourself.” That conversationhad to be
whispered in private as Jesus leanedback towardJudas. Otherwise, the other
disciples would have knownthat Judas was the betrayer and they would not
have thought (as John 13:28-29 reports)that Judas went out either to buy
food for the feastor to give some funds to the poor.
If Judas was reclining immediately to Jesus’left, He easilycould have handed
Judas the morsel of bread that was dipped in a sauce and handed to the guest
of honor as a gesture of love and friendship. So Jesus was reaching out to
Judas right up till the end. There is a mystery here in that Judas was
betraying Jesus in fulfillment of Scripture (John 13:18;cf. Ps. 41:9). In that
sense, Judas’sin was foreordained. And yet, Judas was fully responsible for
his sin. He couldn’t blame God for predetermining it. He couldn’t blame
Satan, who entered into his heart immediately after he receivedthe morsel
from Jesus (John 13:27). Although SatanempoweredJudas to carry out the
betrayal, Judas was responsible for doing it. After Satanentered Judas, Jesus
ratified the evil choice that Judas had made by saying (John 13:27), “What
you do, do quickly.”
Two themes emerge from John’s portrayal of these events:the light of Jesus’
glory and the awful darkness ofhuman sin:

Judas’ betrayal of Jesus gives us deeperunderstanding of Christ’s glory and
also of the depths of human sin.
Judas’ betrayal is like the black velvet againstwhich the diamond of Christ’s
glory shines all the brighter.
1. Judas’betrayal of Jesus gives us deeper understanding of Christ’s glory.
There are at leastfive sides of Jesus’ glory that shine through in this story:
A. We see Jesus’glory in His inscrutable wisdom in choosing a man like Judas
to be one of His apostles.
In the aftermath of Judas’treachery, the other disciples must have wondered,
“Why did Jesus chooseJudas to be an apostle?” DidHe not know the corrupt
heart and the characterflaws that would cause Judas to do such a thing? If
He didn’t know, it would seemto undermine His credentials as the Messiah.
But if He did know, then why would He pick such a despicable character?
We know that before Jesus chose the twelve, He spent the night in prayer
(Luke 6:12). Knowing fully the Father’s plan for the cross, whichHe came to
fulfill, He picked Judas as one of the twelve. Also, we saw in John 6:70-71 that
Jesus knew all along that Judas would betray Him: “Jesus answeredthem,
‘Did I Myselfnot choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?’ Now
He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going
to betray Him.” In John 13:18, Jesus indicates that Judas’ betrayal was so
that the Scripture may be fulfilled, “He who eats My bread has lifted up his
heel againstMe.”
As we’ve seenthroughout John’s Gospel, the Father sent Jesus to earth to do
His will. At the centerof that will was our salvation, where Jesus would offer
Himself as the sacrifice forour sins. So Jesus’choice ofJudas as an apostle,
knowing full well that he would betray Him, shows Jesus’full obedience to do
the will of the Father, even when that will led to the cross.
None of the disciples understood the necessityof the cross until after Jesus’
resurrection. So they couldn’t understand at the time why He would have
chosenJudas, who played a key part in the events leading toward the cross.

Jesus’choosing Judas to be an apostle underscores the truth of Isaiah55:8,
that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.
There is an application here for us: Many times we do not understand why
God does what He does or allows certaintrials into our lives, but we have to
trust Him. Maybe a close friend or even your mate has betrayed you. Perhaps
part of the reasonGodallowedit was so that you could enter more deeply into
understanding the sufferings of Christ. Jesus’choice of Judas displayed Jesus’
glory, even though the other apostles may not have understood it at first.
B. We see Jesus’glory in Judas’later testimony to Jesus’innocence.
Judas’ defectionlater provided an impartial witness to Christ’s moral purity
(some of these points are from A. W. Pink, Exposition of John [on
monergism.com], on John 6:60-71). Judas later testified in his remorse (Matt.
27:4), “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Judas had known Jesus
closelyfor three years, and yet he couldn’t come up with a single reasonto
justify his own treacheryagainstHim. As Jesus rhetoricallyaskedHis
enemies (John 8:46), “Which one of you convicts Me of sin?” No one could
because Jesuswas without sin.
C. We see Jesus’glory in His deity and humanity juxtaposed.
We see Jesus’deity in that He was in sovereigncontrolover all the events
surrounding His death. As He said regarding laying down His ownlife (John
10:18), “No one has taken it awayfrom Me, but I lay it down on My own
initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up
again. This commandment I receivedfrom My Father.” He was in control
over the Jews, who didn’t want to crucify Him at the Passoverbecause oftheir
fear of the crowd. But it was God’s will for His PassoverLamb to be
sacrificedduring the Passover. And He was in control of when Judas would
betray Him, as seenin His words (John 13:27), “What you do, do quickly.”
But we also see Jesus’humanity in that Judas’ defectiondeeply troubled Jesus
(John 13:21). Even though He was sovereignoverall these events, Jesus
wasn’t a stoic actor, just playing a role but detached from the real emotions of
what was happening. As Hebrews 5:7 says, Jesus “offeredup both prayers

and supplications with loud crying and tears ….” He was fully God and fully
man.
C. We see Jesus’glory in the trouble He went through for our souls.
John MacArthur (sermon, “Jesus andJudas,” on gty.org)lists many reasons
that Jesus was troubled in spirit on this occasion:
He was troubled because of the unrequited love of Judas; He was troubled
because ofthe ingratitude in Judas'heart; He was troubled because He had a
deep hatred of sin and it was sitting right next to Him, sin incarnate;He was
troubled because He was shrinking about from contactwith the one about to
betray Him; He was troubled because He knew of the eternal destiny in Hell;
He was troubled because He could see with His omnipotent eye Satanmoving
around Judas;He was troubled because He had a knowledge ofthe sin of the
betrayer and the terrors of his eternal punishment; He was troubled because
He sensedall that sin and death meant; He was troubled because He had an
inner awarenessthat Judas was a classic illustrationof the wretchedness of
sin, sin which He would have to bear in His own body on the next day, sin for
which He would be made responsible, and would die for.
To make it personal, Jesus endured all of that trouble and more to secure
your salvation.
D. We see Jesus’glory in His patience and love toward Judas right to the end.
Even though Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, He did not
remove him from the apostolic circle. As I said, it’s likely that here at the Last
Supper, Judas was seatedin the place of honor, where Jesus honoredhim by
giving him the morsel. Jesus didn’t revealwhat He knew of Judas’ evil heart
to the other disciples to try to get them to take actionagainsthim. He treated
Judas with the same patience and grace as He treated the other disciples, since
none of them suspectedthat Judas was the betrayer. Again, there is a divine
mystery that we cannot comprehend, how Jesus knew that Judas was
predetermined to be the betrayer (Matt. 26:24), and yet He genuinely loved
Judas and held out to him the offer of salvationright to the end.

We see Jesus’gloryin the same way today. He endures the hostility of sinners
againstHim (Heb. 12:3) with amazing patience and love. When I see the
wickednessofthis world, especiallythe blasphemies that are brazenly spoken
againstJesus, I want to cry out, “Lord, just blast these evildoers off the
planet!” That day will come. As Peterpoints out (2 Pet. 3:10), “But the day of
the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass awaywith a
roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and
its works will be burned up.” But to back up one verse, Peterexplains why
that day is delayed (2 Pet. 3:9): “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as
some count slowness, but is patient towardyou, not wishing for any to perish
but for all to come to repentance.” If you have not yet repented of your sins
and trusted in Christ, He is patiently, lovingly entreating you to come to Him
for eternallife while you still can.
So as we see Jesus and Judas we should grow deeper in seeing the glory of our
Savior. But there is another side to the story:
2. Judas’betrayal of Jesus shouldgive us deeperunderstanding of the terrible
depths of human sin.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Darkness andLight [Baker], p. 52) observed,
It is people who have the deepestunderstanding of sin and what it means who
have the greatestunderstanding and appreciation of the love and the grace
and the mercy and the kindness of God. A superficial view of sin leads to a
superficial view of salvation, and to a superficial view of everything else.
In a similar vein, he wrote elsewhere (God’s Wayof Reconciliation[Baker], p.
201),
In order to measure the love of Godyou have first to go down before you can
go up. You do not start on the level and go up. We have to be brought up from
a dungeon, from a horrible pit; and unless you know something of the
measure of that depth you will only be measuring half the love of God.
So let’s “go down” by learning five lessons fromJudas’ sin so that these
lessons willgive us a greaterunderstanding of God’s love and grace:

A. Judas shows us the awful nature of sin.
Before we start throwing stones at Judas and saying, “How could he do such a
thing?” we need to realize that apart from God’s grace, we’re alljust like he
was. We all had the seeds ofbetraying Christ in our hearts before God
graciouslysavedus.
Think of what Judas had witnessedin his three years of close associationwith
Jesus!He had heard Jesus’teaching, both in public and in private. He had
witnessedmost of Jesus’miracles. He had seenJesus’grace and love toward
the ungrateful and unlovely. He had never seenany hint of sin in Jesus,
whether in public or in private. And yet he betrayed Jesus to the Jewish
leaders for a few lousy pieces of silver!
James Boice (The Gospelof John [Zondervan], 1-vol. ed., p. 894)points out
that Judas teaches us that sinners need more than a goodexample to be saved.
Judas had the best example who has ever lived, but he was still dead in his
trespassesandsins (Eph. 2:1). Unless the Holy Spirit imparts new life, sinners
are not capable of repenting of sin, believing in Christ, and reforming their
lives. That is why Jesus told the religious Nicodemus (John 3:7), “Do not be
amazed that I saidto you, ‘You must be born again.’”
B. Judas shows us that Jesus supplies religious sinners with a solemn warning.
Judas is one of many warnings in the Bible that especiallyapply to religious
people. Religious people are often blind to their need for the new birth. They
grew up in the church. They know all the religious jargon. They canquote
Scripture. They have served in various ministries. Perhaps they even have
theologicaltraining. But, like Judas, they have never repented of their sins.
The apostle Paulwas like that before his conversion. He took greatpride in
his religious heritage. He was more zealous than many of his contemporaries
in persecuting the church, which he consideredto be apostate from the Jewish
faith. But God had to strike Paul down on the Damascus Roadand bring him
to see that all of his religious self-righteousnesswas garbage comparedto the
surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:1-11).

So if you grew up in the church (as I did) and are familiar with religious
matters, the warning is for you: You need the new birth just as much as Judas
did. You need to repent of your self-righteousnessand come to God as a guilty
sinner to receive the mercy that is offered at the cross.
C. Judas shows us that we can expectto find hypocrites among the followers
of Jesus.
Often skeptics will say that they don’t believe in Jesus because ofall the
hypocrites in the church. You should answerthem, “Yes, and there are
hypocrites in the world, too. There was a hypocrite among the original
disciples. But that doesn’t invalidate who Jesus was. The keyissue is who
Jesus is, not whether some of His professedfollowers are hypocrites. Just
make sure that you’re not a hypocrite!”
Keep in mind that Judas didn’t look like a villain in a dark coat, gloating over
how he was going to profit at Jesus’expense. WhenJesus announced that one
of the twelve would betray Him, the other elevendidn’t all turn toward Judas
and cry out, “There’s the dirty rat!” Rather, eachone was deeply grieved and
said (Matt. 26:22), “Surely not I, Lord?” Even when Judas left the room to do
his dirty deed, the others did not suspecthim. John, who had just found out,
was probably too shockedto sayanything. If Peterunderstood that it was
Judas, he was too stunned to say anything. The rest thought that Judas was
just going out to buy more food or to give alms to the poor. Judas had played
his role beautifully!
Hypocrites canfool other people, but they never fool God, who looks onthe
heart. We shouldn’t be shocked, althoughwe often are, when a respected
church leaderturns away from the faith. It doesn’t shock the Lord, who
knows and keeps all who are truly His. He warns the disciples in advance so
that Judas’defection will not shake their faith. Keep your focus on Jesus, not
on those who fall away.
D. Judas gives us a warning about our inner motives.
Why did Judas become a disciple of Jesus? Probablyhe thought that Jesus
would set up a political kingdom and Judas would be in line for a top job in

the new administration. Even James and John had aspirations about sitting at
Jesus’right and left in the kingdom (Matt. 20:20-23). But things weren’t going
quite as Judas had hoped. Jesus was talking more and more about His death.
The religious leaders weren’t lining up behind Him to support His claims to
be the Messiah. And so in disappointment, Judas bailed out by betraying
Jesus for a few pieces of silver.
The application is, “Why do you follow Jesus?” Mostofus would have to
admit that we came to Jesus for selfishreasons. We had some needs or desires
and we hoped that Jesus wouldmeet those needs. But what do you do when
things don’t go as smoothly as you had expected? What do you do when
rather than more blessings, youhave more trials? What do you do when you
discoverthat the path Jesus has called you to walk leads to a cross before it
leads to a crown? Do you still follow Him and seek to glorify Him? Or, at such
times do you turn back in disappointment or, even worse, turn againstJesus?
E. Judas shows us that we should never walk awayfrom the opportunity to
receive the love of Christ.
Jesus lovedJudas. He washedJudas’feet. He offered Judas the opportunity to
repent right up to the end. But Judas walkedawayfrom the love of Jesus.
Later, like Esauwho could not find repentance though he sought for it with
tears (Heb. 12:17), Judas felt remorse, but not repentance. He threw down his
betrayal money in the temple, went away, and hanged himself.
Don’t reject the love of Christ! No matter how badly you may have sinned, the
Lord Jesus graciouslyreachesoutto you, even right now through this
message, with His love. He invites all thirsty sinners to come and take the
waterof life without cost(Rev. 22:17). Let Judas teachyou the bitter end of
those who walk awayfrom the love of Jesus. Come to Him now and you will
be satisfiedwith His grace.
Conclusion
Alexander Whyte was a greatScottishpreacher(1836-1921)who magnified
the awfulness ofsin and the graciousnessofChrist in his sermons. But He was
always more aware ofhis own sins than those of others. An evangelistonce

went to Edinburgh and criticized the ministers. A friend told Whyte, “The
evangelistsaidlast night that Dr. Hood Wilson was not a convertedman.”
Whyte jumped from his chair. “The rascal,” he cried. “Dr. Wilson not a
convertedman!”
Then the friend reported that the evangelistalso saidthat Dr. Whyte was not
converted. At that, Whyte stopped short, sat down, put his face in his hands,
and was silent for a long time. Then he said to the visitor, “Leave me, friend
leave me! I must examine my heart!” (In Warren Wiersbe, Walking with the
Giants [Baker], p. 92.)
That’s the effectthat the story of Judas should have on us. We should soberly
examine our own hearts before God.
Application Questions
When you encounter a difficult trial, what are some ways that you canmore
deeply see Christ’s glory in the trial? How does Satan seek to tempt you to
doubt Christ’s glory (1 Pet. 5:6-11)?
Has the failure of a spiritual leader ever causedyour faith to waver? What
lessons canbe learned from such tragedies?
What is the difference between moralistic religion and the new birth? How
would you counsela person who wantedbe sure that he has been born again?
We’re all prone to be hypocrites by saving face and by trying to please people.
What are some practicalways to fight this?
Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2014,All Rights Reserved.
JUDAS
Dr. W. A. Criswell

John 13:21-30
7-24-73 VacationBible School
I askedMillie lastevening, I said, “What are you studying about in Vacation
Schoolthis year?” And she replied, “We are studying about the twelve
apostles, eachone of them.” So as I talkedto her, we thought that it might be
blessedof God if I would talk to you about Judas, and make an appeal to our
hearts concerning his life in its disastrous choice and what God can do for us
to save us from it.
Now I am going to read out of the Bible:
When Jesus saidthis, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Truly,
truly, I sayunto you, that one of you shall betray Me.
Then the disciples lookedone on another, doubting of whom He spake.
Now there was leaning on Jesus’bosomone of His disciples, whom He loved.
Simon Petertherefore beckonedto him, that he should ask who it should be of
whom He spake.
He then lying on Jesus’breastsaith 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—
took a piece of bread and dipped it in the gravy of the paschallamb—
He gave it to Judas Iscariot. . .

And after the sopSatan enteredinto him. Then said Jesus unto him, That
that thou doest, do quickly.
[John 13:21-27]
That is, he had already made arrangements to betray the Lord, to sell Him for
thirty pieces of silver [Matthew 26:14-16].
And he having receivedthe sopwent immediately out: and it was night.
[John 13:30]
It was dark. It was night. Why? Our answeris found in the choice that
Judas made.
Do you realize that of all of the apostles there was only one of them that was
cultured and distinguished? All elevenof those disciples came from the poor
ranks of the peasantry, the plebes in Galilee. Butthere was one of them, just
one that came from the affluent and cultural district of Palestine. He came
from Judah. His name was Judah; the most distinguished name in the history
of the family of God, Judah. It was out of Judah that David was born
[Matthew 1:2-6]. It was out of Judah that the Messiahwas promised[Genesis
49:10]. It was out of Judah that the King of Israelis to reign over God’s
universe forever. You have his name translatedhere “Judas”;it’s the same
name as is translated“Jude,” who wrote the little book, the half-brother of
our Lord [Jude 1:1-25]. In the original language it is “Judah.” His name was
Judah [John 13:26]. He had a distinguished name.
Now, in the secondpart that you callhim, “Iscariot” [John13:26], you have
the town that he comes from. “Iscariot” as it comes out in our English
language, Ish, ish is the Hebrew word for “man”; and Kerioth was a
distinguished village in Judah; and Judah, the man Judah, Judas, was a
distinguished man from Kerioth , from the Roman province of Judah. To

show you his eminence among the twelve: he was electedtreasurer[John
13:29]. The British would callhim the chancellorof the exchequer. We
would say the secretaryofthe treasury. He was the only one that we know in
the twelve apostles who was electedto office. And so distinguished was this
man, and so gifted, that the apostles chose him to be their contactwith the
world. If there was an accountto be settledor something to be done, they
lookedto Judas, the distinguished citizen of Kerioth, to do it, Judas Iscariot.
Now look at the marvelous privilege that this man had. Our Lord said,
“There are many eyes that would like to see whatyou see, and there are many
ears that would love to hear what you hear” [Luke 10:23-24]. Wouldn’t you
have loved to have been there when Jesus preachedthe Sermon on the Mount,
the greatestsermoneverdelivered from the lips of a man? [Matthew 5:1-
7:29]. But Judas was there; he heard it. Wouldn’t you have loved to have
been there when Jesus fed the five thousand with a few loaves, a few fish, the
lunch of a little junior boy? [John 6:8-13]. Wouldn’t you have loved to have
eatenbread that day from the hands of our Lord Himself and have eatenfish
that day that He had multiplied? Wouldn’t you have loved to have been
there? Judas was there: he ate of that bread and he partook of that broken
fish. Think of raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead four
days, and in that hot country without embalming, his body had corrupted and
decayed. And Jesus stoodat the tomb and called Lazarus by name, and
Lazarus came forth alive! [John 11:39-44]. Wouldn’t you have loved to have
been there that day? Judas was there. He saw it with his own eyes.
Look. Canyou imagine following the Lord for three full years? Sitting at the
table with Him, kneeling with Him in prayer, singing the psalms with Him,
walking with Him as He peripatetically, as He taught, walking. Wouldn’t you
have loved to have been there? Judas did that. For three years he was
intimately associatedas one of the electeddisciples of our Lord. Look at this
man.
The most precious of invitations that have ever been made to the human
family have come to us from Jesus. Do you remember this one? “Come unto
Me, come unto Me, all ye that are wearyand heavy laden. Take My yoke
upon you, and learn of Me. I will give you rest” [Matthew 11:28-29]. Judas

heard that. And when the Lord said, “Come unto Me,” Simon Petersaid, “I’ll
go.” Johnsaid, “I’ll go.” Matthew said, “I’ll go.” But when Jesus said,
“Come unto Me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” Judas said, “I will not
go.”
The Lord said, “Whosoevershallconfess Me before men, him will I confess
before My Father which is in heaven. Stand up for Me,” the Lord said,
“confessyour faith in Me,” the Lord said[Matthew 10:32]. Simon Petersaid,
“Lord, I will.” John said, “Lord, I will.” James said, “I will.” Matthew said,
“I will.” Philip said, “I will.” Nathanaelsaid, “I will.” Judas said, “I will not!
I will not.”
And the Lord said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men
unto Me” [John 12:32]. And Simon Petersaid, “Lord, I feel that spirit of
appeal in my heart, and I respond.” John said, “Lord, I’m coming.” James
and Matthew and Philip and Nathanaeland Simon and all the restof them
said, “Lord, I feelit in my heart and I am coming.” Judas said, “I may feel it
in my heart, but I will not come.” And Judas died without God, without
Christ, without hope, without a Savior—andit was night [Matthew 27:3-5]. It
is always night awayfrom God. But it is light, and life, and right in our
Savior.
And that’s the appealthat He makes to your heart this solemn morning hour:
to give your heart and your life in faith and in trust to the blessedJesus
[Romans 10:9-10;Ephesians 2:8]. And when you do it, everything is right.
It’s not night, it’s light; it’s not death, it’s life, when Jesus says, “Come unto
Me” [Matthew 11:28].
Now with the pastor may we all deeply bow our heads?
BOB DEFFINBAUGH

Judas (John 13:18-30)
61 Because Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he
said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? 62 Then what if you see the
Son of Man ascending where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives
life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spokento you are
spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For
Jesus had already knownfrom the beginning who those were who did not
believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 So Jesus added, “Because
of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed
him to come.” 66 After this many of his disciples quit following him and did
not accompanyhim any longer. 67 So Jesus saidto the twelve, “You don’t
want to go awaytoo, do you?” 68 Simon Peteransweredhim, “Lord, to whom
will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and
to know that you are the Holy One of God!” 70 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I choose
you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?” 71 (Now he said this about
Judas son of Simon Iscariot;for Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray
him.) (John 6:61-71)
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus
lived, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 So they prepared a dinner for
Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the
table with him. 3 Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of perfumed oil
made of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feetdry
with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance ofthe perfumed
oil.) 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray
him) said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfumed oil sold for three hundred silver coins
and the money given to the poor?” 6 (Now Judas said this not because he was
concernedabout the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeperof the money
box he used to take what was put into it.) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
She has kept it for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with
you, but you don’t always have me” (John 12:1-7).
Introduction

This past week my parents called from WashingtonState to inform us about a
most unusual telephone callthey had receivedfrom the city of Shelton (my
home town in WashingtonState). The city was digging a ditch for a new,
largersewersystem. In the course of their excavation, they unearthed a
headstone for a grave. By law, they had to ceaseallwork until they were
assuredthat they were not disturbing a grave site. The name on that
headstone was Timothy A. Deffinbaugh. That is the name of our son, who died
and was buried in Shelton, over 30 years ago. The dates on the headstone also
matched the date of Timmy’s birth and death (at the age of 3 months).
Someone from the city calleda relative (whose name was also “Deffinbaugh”),
and she put the city official in touch with my parents. My folks were very
puzzled by what they heard, and immediately went up to the cemeterywhere
Timothy’s body is buried. The grave site was there, undisturbed, along with
the headstone. We have no idea where this secondheadstone came from, or
how it would come to be buried in downtown Shelton, a mile or so away. My
parents calledus to let us know what had happened, and we found the whole
matter difficult to believe and impossible to explain.
I am telling you this strange story to make a point. In this life there are a good
many things that are very difficult to understand or to explain. In our text, the
disciples found it extremely difficult to comprehend what Jesus was saying
when He told them that one of them was about to betray Him. When we read
John’s accountof this event in John chapter 13, we find it hard to understand
why the disciples didn’t quickly graspwhat Jesus was telling them. When we
marvel at the “dullness” of the disciples, we forget that we read through
John’s Gospelsomewhatlike I watch one of my favorite movies—“What’s Up,
Doc?” Iknow that movie so well I start laughing a full minute before one of
my favorite funny scenes occurs onscreen. Forexample, I love the chase scene
down the hills of San Francisco,especiallythe one in which the plate glass
window is finally broken, after a number of near misses. And so, when that
part gets close, Istart warming up for it, laughing at what seems to be nothing
at all. (Those of you who know me, and have been with me when I’ve played
this movie, know exactly what I mean.)
We are tempted to read the Gospels like I watchmy favorite movies. We know
the entire story, from beginning to end. And thus, when we read any one text,

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