Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
At His last Passover supper Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared that one of the disciples would betray Him, and they looked at one another in perplexed doubt because they did not know whom He meant. They were amazed, sorrowful and bewildered that one of their own could act treacherously, searching one another's faces for guilt while examining their own hearts in painful self-distrust lest they themselves be the one. Their questioning drew attention to Judas by his silence, and when the disciple leaning on Jesus' breast asked who it was, Jesus answered it was the one to whom He would give the dipped sop, gave it to Judas Iscariot, and after Satan entered him told him to do quickly what he did, so Judas went out at once into the night. Their uncertainty showed how hidden Judas's purpose was, for though numbered among the chosen apostles and regarded as a man of great capability and valuable qualifications, he was false-hearted, and no human can read the secrets of the soul as Jesus could. Jesus bore with him patiently without rebuke or exposure, washing his feet and keeping him at the table to give him a final call to repent, but Judas was only alarmed and went on with his settled decision, making the chapter an urgent warning to study Christ's will, shun self-seeking and betrayal, and live in unity and love.
Disciples' Doubt at Supper
The setting is the Passover supper, Jesus' last evening with the disciples, when after being troubled in spirit He testified that one of them would betray Him. At that word the disciples looked one on another in perplexed doubt because they did not know which of them He meant. Their uncertainty came amid contention that marred that last evening, and still left Judas with opportunity to repent.
They were amazed, sorrowful, bewildered and distressed, astonished by the announcement and unable to imagine that one of their own number could act treacherously toward Him. Troubled and unable to understand how such a thing could be, they looked at one another in uncertainty. They searched one another's faces for signs of guilt and examined their own hearts with painful self-distrust, each asking whether he himself might be the betrayer. John was deeply distressed and asked if he was the one.
Judas's silence under their questioning drew their attention to him. Their searching looks and questions show they did not suspect one of their number until his silence and Jesus' answer pointed to him. At their looking, the one lying on Jesus' breast asked, Lord, who is it. Jesus answered it was the one to whom He would give the sop after dipping it, and He gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, after which Satan entered Judas. Jesus told him to do quickly what he did, and Judas went out immediately into night.
Christ, Judas, and Warning
The doubting look exchanged at the table exposed how completely Judas had hidden his purpose, for the disciples knew nothing of what he intended while Jesus alone could read his secret fully, and human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul nor tell who is worthy and who is not. Judas stood numbered with the chosen apostles, yet he was false-hearted and about to betray Jesus, and because he neither appeared nor acted as a villainous man but was regarded as a man of great capabilities with breadth of knowledge and valuable qualifications, they had no suspicion that the warning pointed to him. Troubled and unable to understand how one of their own could do such a thing, they searched their own hearts rather than accusing him.
Jesus knew Judas would leave the table to betray Him, yet He bore with him patiently, gave him no word of rebuke and did not expose him, but granted him a final opportunity to repent through tender ministry by including him in service to the disciples, washing his feet and not refusing him a place at the table. Judas was alarmed when his guilt was exposed but did not repent and did not heed that last appeal of love, and though he understood the warning that woe would come upon the man who betrayed the Son of man and that it would have been better for him if he had not been born, he went on with the betrayal until his decision was settled. His going out to carry it into effect confirmed Jesus' foreknowledge to the disciples.
Even that exposure at the supper did not cut off mercy, for Jesus would freely have forgiven him if he had confessed even when he came with the mob, and Christ's dealing with him displays long patience with perverse human nature and a desire not to lose any soul. The chapter containing this scene is urged for careful, prayerful study as a warning against seeking a higher position and betraying the Lord as Judas did. Its instruction shows Christ's will for His people, and living it in practical life is the remedy for dissension and striving for the highest place, bringing unity and love with one another and with Christ, without which they are left weak.
Because the disciples could not tell who would betray Jesus, no man is left to decide who shall take part in the ordinance of feet-washing that comes before the Lord's supper; no one is to be counted unworthy and kept away, and no one is to stay away because an unworthy person is present. Judas stands as a warning that believers must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, and youth must live by this principle with genuine religious influence and unwavering faith in Christ as a personal Saviour so they will never betray their Master as Judas did, which is the experience all need to gain.
At His last Passover supper Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared that one of the disciples would betray Him, and they looked at one another in perplexed doubt because they did not know whom He meant. They were amazed, sorrowful and bewildered that one of their own could act treacherously, searching one another's faces for guilt while examining their own hearts in painful self-distrust lest they themselves be the one. Their questioning drew attention to Judas by his silence, and when the disciple leaning on Jesus' breast asked who it was, Jesus answered it was the one to whom He would give the dipped sop, gave it to Judas Iscariot, and after Satan entered him told him to do quickly what he did, so Judas went out at once into the night. Their uncertainty showed how hidden Judas's purpose was, for though numbered among the chosen apostles and regarded as a man of great capability and valuable qualifications, he was false-hearted, and no human can read the secrets of the soul as Jesus could. Jesus bore with him patiently without rebuke or exposure, washing his feet and keeping him at the table to give him a final call to repent, but Judas was only alarmed and went on with his settled decision, making the chapter an urgent warning to study Christ's will, shun self-seeking and betrayal, and live in unity and love.
Disciples' Doubt at Supper
The setting is the Passover supper, Jesus' last evening with the disciples, when after being troubled in spirit He testified that one of them would betray Him. At that word the disciples looked one on another in perplexed doubt because they did not know which of them He meant. Their uncertainty came amid contention that marred that last evening, and still left Judas with opportunity to repent.
They were amazed, sorrowful, bewildered and distressed, astonished by the announcement and unable to imagine that one of their own number could act treacherously toward Him. Troubled and unable to understand how such a thing could be, they looked at one another in uncertainty. They searched one another's faces for signs of guilt and examined their own hearts with painful self-distrust, each asking whether he himself might be the betrayer. John was deeply distressed and asked if he was the one.
Judas's silence under their questioning drew their attention to him. Their searching looks and questions show they did not suspect one of their number until his silence and Jesus' answer pointed to him. At their looking, the one lying on Jesus' breast asked, Lord, who is it. Jesus answered it was the one to whom He would give the sop after dipping it, and He gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, after which Satan entered Judas. Jesus told him to do quickly what he did, and Judas went out immediately into night.
Christ, Judas, and Warning
The doubting look exchanged at the table exposed how completely Judas had hidden his purpose, for the disciples knew nothing of what he intended while Jesus alone could read his secret fully, and human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul nor tell who is worthy and who is not. Judas stood numbered with the chosen apostles, yet he was false-hearted and about to betray Jesus, and because he neither appeared nor acted as a villainous man but was regarded as a man of great capabilities with breadth of knowledge and valuable qualifications, they had no suspicion that the warning pointed to him. Troubled and unable to understand how one of their own could do such a thing, they searched their own hearts rather than accusing him.
Jesus knew Judas would leave the table to betray Him, yet He bore with him patiently, gave him no word of rebuke and did not expose him, but granted him a final opportunity to repent through tender ministry by including him in service to the disciples, washing his feet and not refusing him a place at the table. Judas was alarmed when his guilt was exposed but did not repent and did not heed that last appeal of love, and though he understood the warning that woe would come upon the man who betrayed the Son of man and that it would have been better for him if he had not been born, he went on with the betrayal until his decision was settled. His going out to carry it into effect confirmed Jesus' foreknowledge to the disciples.
Even that exposure at the supper did not cut off mercy, for Jesus would freely have forgiven him if he had confessed even when he came with the mob, and Christ's dealing with him displays long patience with perverse human nature and a desire not to lose any soul. The chapter containing this scene is urged for careful, prayerful study as a warning against seeking a higher position and betraying the Lord as Judas did. Its instruction shows Christ's will for His people, and living it in practical life is the remedy for dissension and striving for the highest place, bringing unity and love with one another and with Christ, without which they are left weak.
Because the disciples could not tell who would betray Jesus, no man is left to decide who shall take part in the ordinance of feet-washing that comes before the Lord's supper; no one is to be counted unworthy and kept away, and no one is to stay away because an unworthy person is present. Judas stands as a warning that believers must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, and youth must live by this principle with genuine religious influence and unwavering faith in Christ as a personal Saviour so they will never betray their Master as Judas did, which is the experience all need to gain.