Uncomfortable S2 - Day 4

John 13: 18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant.29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor.30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

This story comes to us amid the Lord’s Supper narrative, right after Jesus had washed everyone’s feet. So there must have been a sense of solemnity around the room. All who were there would have recognized the gravity of what they were experiencing, probably knowing things were due for a change, and quickly. So Jesus does something he was actually pretty good at doing. He calls out his betrayer.

This scene is indelibly etched into my mind from watching the musical GODSPELL in the ’70s. At that time, there wasn’t much that we could watch on television, and indeed, not much we could watch on Sabbath. We had a VHS tape of some nature documentary, a series on the life of Paul with Sir Anthony Hopkins–I still think Paul looks like Hannibal Lecter with a beard–and a pirated version of Godspell (I think my parents may have liked the music).

But they were sitting around the table, saying, “is it me Lord?” in a very staccato pacing. When it comes to Judas, Jesus says, “Do what you must,” and Judas runs off. For some reason, I will never forget that. It must have been awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. Especially as Jesus had just taken a “bowl and a basin and redefined greatness.” (The Celebration of Disciplines, Foster)

This discomfort can be seen in the gospel accounts, almost a foreshadowing of the fateful kiss that he gave to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. To have been in the room must have been a masterclass in what it means to feel uncomfortable for someone. Yet Jesus did not banish Judas but allowed him to do what he had planned to do.

Why is that? I have always wondered why Jesus didn’t just stop him from his nefarious machinations and then Jesus could have continued his ministry for a bit longer. For some reason, Jesus seemed resigned to letting this scenario play out how it would. It is easy for us to remind ourselves that Jesus knew what would happen, and had almost ordained it to happen, but the “what if’s” still bug me.

JOURNAL

1. Have you ever called out someone you knew was in the midst of betraying you? 
2. Did you let them get away with it? Or did you call them off? 
3. What does betrayal look like in today’s world? 
4. How would you deal with it if it had to do with church?