When all seems lost, we can still choose hope – John 13:17-38, Part 3

Jesus has just shocked his disciples with the news that one of them will betray him. Understandably, they want to know which of them could do such a thing. That leads a deeply dark moment in this story.  Look at verses 26-30,

“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 Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. ‘What you are about to do, do quickly,’ Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.”

Jesus looks at Judas. Is Judas able to look Jesus in the eye?  Or is Judas looking down?  The emotion is crackling between them. Jesus is troubled in spirit.  He loves Judas, investing in him for three years.  Though Jesus now boldly calls Judas out, it would be just like Jesus to also be reaching out to Judas one last time.  We already saw Jesus refer to Psalm 41 that talks about the friend who shares bread but is a betrayer (see post here).  Now Jesus says the betrayer “is the one to whom I give this bread.”  

Is Jesus dooming Judas? Is Jesus sealing Judas’ fate?

I think Judas still has a choice at this moment.  Judas can refuse the bread and call off the plan to betray Jesus.  There is always a choice. There is always hope.

But no, Judas seems to have been thinking for some time that Jesus has been making bad choices.  Remember Judas’ reaction when Mary dumped out perfume on Jesus?  (See post here.) It was perfume that was worth $70,000 in 2023 US dollars, and Judas was not happy about what he perceived as utter waste. Yet, Jesus rebuked him! In that same story, found in John chapter 12, we also learned that Judas carried the ministry money bag and helped himself to it from time to time. 

So it doesn’t seem that Judas was ever all-in, that he was ever a true follower of Jesus.  Jesus, however, seems to still be reaching out to him.  I wonder if there’s a bit of a hopeful question in Jesus’ words, “Are you going to take the bread, Judas?  Are you really going to follow through with the plan to betray me?  You don’t have to.” Judas might have a sliver of desire to give his life to Jesus.

Too often, though, we allow ourselves to be carried away by the strong current of our selfishness.  Believing that the corners we’re cutting, the bridges we’re burning, the little cheats here and there aren’t that bad, and they will help us get ahead in the long run. Or maybe we’re feeling a strong current of despair, thinking that there’s no hope for us.  Believing we’re too far gone.  Or maybe it’s the strong current of fear, believing that we have to abandon a friendship for another one that seems more promising.  

My point is that we shouldn’t caricature Judas as some horribly evil person that is totally unlike us.  As if we would never betray Jesus.  We just might.  Some of us have over the years in ways big and small betrayed Jesus.  Judas’ humanity doesn’t let Judas off the hook.  Nor does our humanity let us off the hook.  Instead I hope it helps us get real about the temptations and pressures we all face, about the amazing reality that just as Jesus loved Judas, he loves us, reaches out to us.  Jesus always has hope for us.  When we think we are too far gone, he still offers us forgiveness. Think about it. Just a few minutes before this interaction, Jesus washed Judas’ feet.

Sadly, Judas chooses self-loathing, self-harm, selfishness, and what will ultimately mean self-destruction.  He takes the bread.  And as he does, Satan enters Judas, and he leaves. 

There is, however, another way. Choose life, choose hope, choose the way of Jesus.

Photo by Hillie Chan on Unsplash