The betrayal is all the more horrendous coming after the foot-washing in which the depth of Jesus’ divine love is being revealed. Perhaps it is even the foot-washing (itself) that really truly sets things into motion.
Once again we see Jesus deeply agitated as he bears witness – “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” Yikes!
It has to be worse, when you see it coming. It is bad enough when it catches you completely by surprise.
There is only “one time” that Satan is mentioned in the Gospel of John, and this would be “it.” This would be the time. The moment is right…dependent upon “how you look at it.”
We know that the author of John’s gospel was a master theologian and poet. He chose his words cautiously, carefully and wisely. And we have to assume that is the case, here, as well.
So when John uses the word “Satan” for the first time, we have to stop and take notice. He really-truly is saying something-here.
Satan enters into Judas, he somehow unduly influences him. Perhaps it wasn’t that hard! Things are running through Judas’ mind and at the same time – in his heart. He cannot stop them. The thoughts, they keep on coming and are continuous. They build and build and build some more. It is night. The mind wanders and roams, and yet, he is very much awake. It all runs through his mind over and over again. It is almost becoming an obsession.
More talk of love, blah, blah, blah. Another commandment, blah, blah, blah…just look how the rest hang on to his every word – fools that they are.
He has no doubt been playing over various scenarios in his mind for days now. None of them end well.
Just what should he do? Should he act or should he not? This is not easy stuff.
Betrayal never is…
Going behind someone’s back… is to be devious and sly, clandestine.
No one really likes disloyalty. Pretense is one thing…but out-and-out disloyalty is another. Being deceitful and devious fits some people better than it does others. Some of them, you may know.
Most of us would never go there.
It will involve on some level, collusion, scheming, conniving, trickery, subterfuge and illicit dealings…
Most people make a “big thing” out of the fact that it was “night.” “Night time” conceals and hides many sins.
Jesus apparently “could not” or “would not” be “who” Judas wanted Him to be.
Stubborn, obstinate or maybe he just didn’t have it in him.
But as a matter of fact, Jesus words could make you think he meant one thing, when he really meant another.
His words were many times, confusing and hard to hear, harder to understand..
Judas wandered with Jesus for a good three years now and ultimately came to the conclusion that a poor, itinerant rabbi who refused to take “political power” was not of any significant value to him. He would end this relationship.
As a revolutionary, Jesus was useless. He kept failing to take the next step. There was too much talk of love and forgiveness…blah, blah, blah.
What was needed was talk of revenge and taking back what is ours…
Judas used Jesus throughout the three years and he used him again in the end. He pretty much went along for the ride. Jesus was popular-immensely popular and Judas was able to make some good connections along the way. Political connections…
When Judas “realized” what the Sanhedrin, scribes and priests had had in mind for Jesus, Judas regretted his selfishness…kind of…
But he still couldn’t accept Jesus as being a “political messiah.” Nor could he see Jesus uniting all Jews together as one. If anything, he was dividing the Jews in half. Jesus would never raise the sword.
Using the old fishing adage, “sometimes you have to cut bait and run.” It was time.
Jesus would never take on Rome…he just did not have it in him.
As it turned out…Judas was not the only person in Jesus’ life who would use him.
Jesus was used by many people…Judas was just another one of them. No worse, no better.
He got what he wanted and what he needed…and now it was time for action…and that meant walking away.
Judas would simply offer his services…the rest would be on others. And it was night. And the door closed behind him.