Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

John 13:21-32 (NRSV)

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

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Reflect

Again Jesus was said to be troubled. While the leaders among the disciples—Peter and John—were plotting and devising skillful communication tactics to discover the identity of the betrayer, Jesus had been trying to bring him back all night by washing his feet and by sharing the bread with him in a special manner. Jesus did not want to lose him (c.f. 17:12), which is what troubled him the most.

According to a widespread theory, by betraying Jesus Judas was trying to force his hand so that he would seize power as the Messiah. When Judas realized that his calculation had gone wrong, he saw no way out except suicide.

There is no way to prove or dismiss that theory; however, what is most intriguing in this text is how it reveals the group’s dynamics, communication styles, and internal conflicts. Clearly, there were some who considered themselves to be part of an inner, elite circle. There were also those who observed and went with the flow, and perhaps one or two who were deemed outsiders, including Judas. This fragmentation, competition, and spiritual insensitivity in the community of disciples troubled Jesus until the end. These same kinds of actions and fragmentation still happen among Jesus’ followers, which should distress us, too.

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Pray

Holy God, protect us in your name so that we may be one. May all people know that we are your disciples because we love one another as Jesus taught us. Amen.

Go with God.