Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has lifted up his heel against me. 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 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, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Betrayal is the most terrible thing in the relationships with friends, families, teachers and students, and even God and human beings. The latter could be the worst thing of all as its result affects our eternal lives, leading to the spiritual death. I can't imagine how Jesus could have felt as Judas, the Iscariot, must have been a good-looking follower, taking charge of the money for the disciples. Moreover, he was served by Jesus, who had washed his feet with the other colleagues, showing love and patience to him. But he didn't get rid of the wicked plan or mind and went out to the darkness with embracing Satan in himself.
I also have been experiencing some kinds of betrayals from my close friends and families very often, feeling frustrated and hitting the ceiling all the times, as it happens when I have never predicted for that. I am a kind of person who trusts in everyone, so I consider them as the ones who have the same thought or feelings, or at least, thanks to me, though they do not show it, but they don't. Feeling hurt and experiencing those kinds of pain, I am trained not to be hurt, but it is not that simple or easy.
Therefore, I try to understand Jesus' thought and feeling, as He had already known of Judas' betraying plan and his destiny, commenting Psalms 41: 9-13 below,
9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
10 But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
Interestingly, He seemed to say about a human being, a close friend, Judas, in verse 9, but He was telling about an enemy whose presence may be a Satan, who could have thought it had won over Jesus, the Son of Man. However, Jesus was set in God's presence forever, having been resurrected in the third day, overcoming the physical death.
I'd better stop feeling hurt any more, but just think and pray that He may have mercy on me, and raise me up, and my enemy does not triumph over me, as I would praise my Lord forever, amen.
