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Author: Stephen Weller
636 words, 3 minutes read time

His Name is Judas

Scripture: Matthew 26:25; John 13:26-32

In the previous lesson the disciple who would betray Jesus was identified by Jesus handing him a morsel of dipped bread. In this lesson we will learn that this disciple is Judas, who receives instruction from Jesus.

^{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.”

For reference I included two verses that were covered in the previous lesson. Verse 26 is made up of two sentences. Between those two sentences Mark 14:21 and Matthew 26:25 were added in an attempt to add detail, but in the process maybe some confusion. To see how this single-line narrative is formed follow this link using a PC, not a phone.

^{Mt 26:25} Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Matthew inserts Judas asking Jesus a question to see if he knows that it is he, and Jesus confirms that it is.

^{Jn 13:26} So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Finally, we come to the last half of John 13:26 in which Jesus takes the morsel of dipped bread and gives it to Judas to identify him as the betrayer. He was identified as the son of Simon Iscariot to distinguish him from Judas, the son of James.

^{Jn 13:27} Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹ Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

In John 13:2, we learned that the devil had already come to Judas by putting desire in his heart to betray Jesus. Now Satan enters Judas to ensure the work he wants done gets done. Jesus gives instructions to them both to go and do what you are going to do quickly.

As this instruction was being given, the disciples did not know what was happening. Some thought that Jesus had just sent Judas to buy some things for the feast or give something to the poor. They did not yet connect Judas as the betrayer of Jesus.

Judas takes the morsel of bread and immediately went to inform those who would arrest Jesus. When Judas went out, John points out that it was night, and according to our diagram it would be Nisan 14 or our Wednesday evening.

^{Jn 13:31} When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³² If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.

Again, we see that the glorification of Jesus is tied to his death. Jesus doesn’t go to the grave to stay but rises from the dead and ascends back to the Father to receive again his glory.

Conclusion

The devil is at work setting up the betrayal thinking that he will have victory, but God is simply using him to help in the process of purchasing our salvation. With Satan and Judas on their way to do their evil, we can return to the meal.