Friday 21st November
Read John 13:22-26
“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.” (NIVUK)
When you read the other gospels, it seems like Jesus publicly identified Judas when they all asked who it was who would betray Him. John gives us an earwitness description of the intimate, whispered conversation between the nearest disciple and Jesus. Jesus told him that it was the one to whom He gives bread. That night, only three people knew.
Augustine draws our attention to the means chosen by Jesus to indicate His betrayer. Jesus gives him bread. A good and gracious gift, steeped in significance given the events surrounding the meal, when received by Judas results in evil. A final act of love, rejected. There is a warning for all of us in this intimate picture.
