Slices
Prepare
Stay still and quiet, being attentive to what rises to the surface of your mind, then bring that to God.
Bible passage
Jesus predicts his betrayal
18 ‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: “He who shared my bread has turned[a] 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.
Explore
My first question when reading this passage was: Why would Jesus choose as one of his disciples someone who would turn against him? The answer given is: to fulfil scripture and point to Jesus as the promised King (v 18; see Psalm 41:9). John continues to emphasise the importance of prophecy in confirming and understanding Jesus’ identity. Jesus looks both backwards to the psalms and forwards to the time of his betrayal (v 19).
My second question was: Why does Jesus say who is going to betray him? Why is there a quiet conversation between Jesus and a specific disciple (vs 24,25)? It surprised me that Jesus gives a direct answer as it almost sounds like gossip (v 26)! One interpretation is that this disciple functions as a literary device used by John to emphasise that Jesus knew who would betray him, as the disciples don’t seem to have heard his answer (v 28).
The nuances of the relationships between the disciples (eg vs 22,24) collide puzzlingly around the table: intimacy with Jesus is juxtaposed with Judas’ furtive actions as the ‘accuser’ (v 27). And yet, even with his own inner turmoil (v 21), Jesus knows the secrets of their hearts and is shepherding them through the unfolding events.
Respond
Bring to God any tension or confusion you might feel between the intimacy and betrayal shown in this passage.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 42,43; John 16
Pray for Scripture Union
Autumn Adventure, which starts tomorrow, is a new holiday for Faith Guide groups in Kent and East Sussex. Please pray for Mission Enabler Lisa Jones and the team who are leading, and that the Faith Guide groups who attend will take real steps forward as they explore faith together.
