Day 30th - March 30th 2022
READ John 13:18-30
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “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. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
V30: 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Even in the betrayal of Jesus, the Scriptures are being fulfilled. We tend to think that God has a plan for the good things in our lives, but what about the terrible things? Does God still reach to control those events that threaten us, terrify us, or undermine us?
Some people think that God looks the other way when evil occurs, and that they need to hold to this view of God in order to protect his reputation as being fully good. But look! Here is the greatest evil ever done, and not only is God in control of those events of betrayal, but they are what was predicted by the Old Testament and they must take place!
It is at our darkest moments, the moments of betrayal, that God is working out his plan of salvation. No cross, no crown. Still, this does not make such evil pleasant, or a good thing itself. Even Jesus is “troubled” about the betrayal (13:21).
It is no help to us, or to others, to plaster on a fake smile and pretend that we feel things that we do not feel, or that we are not hurt when we have been hurt. If we are troubled, then we are troubled—our emotional state does not prevent God’s good plan, but it is a reality that needs to be recognized so that it can be addressed and transformed in God’s good time.
Jesus’ friends now go into action. The disciples want to know who it is that is going to betray Jesus. They are coming alongside, acting like a team, being “there for him.”
How important is that! We, in our humanity, require companionship, comradeship, colleagues, a team of friends with whom we can “do life together.” Do you have that? A small group perhaps? An adult community? If not, would you ask God to provide you a few true godly friends to go through life together?
Judas does what he must do. “And,” John records in his masterful way, “it was night” (13:30). Sometimes it is night. Sometimes it is dark. Sometimes there is evil. Sometimes there is horror. Sometimes we are troubled, and sometimes we are betrayed. If it happened to Christ, it will happen to us. If it happened to the Master, then surely the servant will also experience such “night” moments.
But, look, none of this is a surprise to God. It is His will. Strange thought, but oh, so comforting. For, no cross, no crown. Lean in to your friends and family. Stay close to those who love you in Christ’s name. And be assured that it is darkest before the dawn.