John 13:28-30 (WEL) After taking the morsel of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 None of those reclining knew why he said this to him. 29 For some thought that since Judas had the money bag, that’s why Jesus said to him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the poor. 30 Then he, who received the sop, immediately went out, and it was night.
V27 After taking the morsel of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
This was Judas’s last chance to repent and believe. He refused and continued his masquerading.
The sop, morsel of bread, is a piece of food dipped into liquid.
After taking the morsel of bread, dipped in liquid), satan entered him. Judas is now not demon possessed but satan possessed.
Jesus tells satan, thus Judas, to do his job quickly. His job is to betray Jesus.
V28 None of those reclining knew why he said this to him.
The notion that Judas Iscariot could be a traitor, or that anyone else in their company could do the same, was simply unbelievable.
The disciples’ assessment of Judas was that he was a man of impeccable character. He was the treasurer and trusted in all his actions.
Principle: A stealth person can fake the truth while plotting evil.
V29 For some thought that since Judas had the money bag, that’s why Jesus said to him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the poor.
John relates a personal note about some of the disciples who understood Jesus to be referring to some errand that the Lord Jesus had told Judas about.
Judas was the treasurer for the group.
V30 Then he, who received the morsel of bread, immediately went out, and it was night.
Judas immediately left.
It was night carries two ideas: 1) the sun has set and 2) spiritual darkness reigns.
Compare Proverbs 4:19, Proverbs 2:13, Matthew 8:12, and Matthew 6:23.
Some comments:
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) “…but far blacker night in the soul of Judas than in the sky over his head.”
(Ryrie Study Bible Notes) “The “hour” for which Christ, the light of the world, had been waiting, when the powers of darkness would engulf Him, begins in darkness.”
(Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “The absence of light. Darkness existed before the light of creation (Genesis 1:2). Since darkness was associated with the chaos that existed before the creation, it came to be associated with evil, bad luck, or affliction (Job 17:12; Job 21:17). Darkness was also equated with death. In SHEOL, the land of the dead, there is only darkness (Job 10:21–22; Job 38:17). Darkness symbolizes human ignorance of God’s will and, thus, is associated with sin (Job 24:13–17).
“Darkness also describes the condition of those who have not yet seen the light concerning Jesus (John 1:4–5; 12:35; Ephesians 5:14) and those who deliberately turn away from the light (John 3:19–20). Hating the light will bring condemnation (Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 2:17). Living in extreme darkness describes those who at the end of time have not repented (Revelation 16:10; Revelation 18:23).”
We avoid spiritual darkness by reading the words of light—the Bible. Compare Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, and Psalm 19:7-10.
We learn:
- About a warning—some people are masquerading Christians.
- Judas was devil-possessed.
- Some facts and applications about darkness.
Questions:
- Have you met someone who is a fake Christian?
- How did you handle it?
- How do you personally handle spiritual darkness?