“What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he.” —John 13:18–19
Jesus is referring here to the prophecy given in Psalm 41:
“Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.” —Psalm 41:9
Jesus’ selection of Judas as a disciple had been no accident or kink in God’s plans. Our Lord had known Judas’ heart from the beginning and took one into His family whom He knew would be a traitor. This was to fulfill Scripture. Jesus had spoken of this to the disciples earlier in John:
“‘Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? and yet one of you is a devil!’ (Now he said this about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.)” —John 6:70–71
“The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, ‘Not every one of you is clean.’)” —John 13:10–11
Judas was an apostle who experienced the highest privilege of spending time with Jesus, not to mention being an eyewitness to His great miracles and teachings. Wherever Jesus went, Judas was welcome; sitting at the table with Jesus and His disciples, eating the miraculous bread when the loaves and fishes were multiplied, sharing the Passover meal with those closest to Jesus. And yet, Judas was guilty of terrible treachery. He despised Jesus as his enemy for the love of money.
However, Jesus appears to treat Judas no differently than his other disciples. Jesus loved him to the end—showing compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience. The other disciples had no idea who would be the one to betray Him.
As Jesus’ followers, we are called to the same high road of love and compassion through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us in Colossians:
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.” —Colossians 3:12–14
There is a message for us as well on how we are to treat our enemies in Paul letter to the Romans:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Consider what is good for all people. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” —Romans 12:17–21
We can only control our own actions and reactions. We are to be good, noble, and honorable in our interactions—living in harmony whenever possible. We must leave the poor behavior of others in God’s hands. We are accountable before God for our own
Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He was who He said He was: the Messiah, the “I AM.”
Become More
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8
Further Reflection
“But there’s a decision that I find God is asking us to make: whether we are going to choose to interpret our circumstances based on what we hold to be true about God, or whether we’re going to judge what we hold to be true about God based on our circumstances. People ask how we’re doing, and I like to say: ‘We have a faithful God.’ Every promise he’s kept, every need he’s met.” —Laura Story