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Author: Stephen Weller
716 words, 4 minutes read time

The Betrayer Is Identified

Scripture: Matthew 26:22; Mark 14:18, 20-21; Luke 22:21, 23; John 13:21-26

In the previous lesson we learned that Jesus knows that one of his disciples is unclean and will deceive him. In this lesson we find Jesus troubled in his spirit and the disciples being very sorrowful.

^{Jn 13:21} After saying these things, ^{Mk 14:18} And as they were reclining at table and eating, ^{Jn 13:21} Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^{Lk 22:21} the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.

“These things” refers back to his comments about one of them betraying him. Jesus knows that in just a few hours he will be arrested which will lead to incredible suffering and finally death on a cross. Thinking about this, Jesus becomes troubled in spirit.

David was one who was at times troubled in spirit and wrote in Psalm 31:9 – 10 ESV: ⁹ Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. ¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” I believe this also describes how Jesus must be feeling.

Part of why he is troubled is because one of his disciples who is with him at the table, who has lived with him for several years, does not believe in him or his mission and is willing to deliver him over to the Pharisees for thirty pieces of silver. That was the value of Jesus to Judas; just 30 pieces of silver! What is the value of Jesus to you?

^{Mt 26:22} And they were very sorrowful J^{n 13:22} The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. ^{Lk 22:23} And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. ^{Mt 26:22} and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

When Jesus said, “the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table,” the disciples became very sorrowful and “looked at one another” wondering who he spoke of. Not sure who this might be they each began to ask Jesus, “Is it I, Lord?” I wonder if Judas also asked to see if Jesus suspected him.

^{Jn 13:23} One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, ²⁴ so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. ²⁵ So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”

The disciple whom Jesus loved, is understood to be John, was reclining next to Jesus. Peter gets his attention and motions to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. John leans back against Jesus and asks who the betrayer was.

^{Mk 14:20} He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. ^{Jn 13:26} “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” ^{Mk 14:21} For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

To the question of who the betrayer was is answered a little differently by Mark and John. Mark does not identify him specifically but says it is one of the twelve who is dipping bread in the dish. John clarifies who it is by identifying him as the one Jesus gives the morsel of bread to. As Jesus does this he indicates that he would go to the cross as a result and that his betrayer would suffer greatly for his betrayal.

Conclusion

The betrayer was identified by Jesus by giving to him the morsel of dipped bread, and as he does he indicates that his betrayal would take him to the cross and his betrayer to very great suffering. This drama continues to grow in the next lesson.