And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
At the final Passover meal when the memorial of the coming sacrifice was instituted, the betrayer was pointed out by giving the dipped sop to Judas Iscariot, after which Satan entered him, he was told to carry out his deed quickly, and he went out at once into the night while the other disciples misunderstood the command. Satan's entering means the adversary himself took possession of one of Christ's own followers to lead him to hand over the Lord of life to His enemies to be crucified. That control came only after persistent resistance to divine influence, as Judas cherished covetousness, selfish ambition and revengeful passions, refused to confess and forsake wrong, rejected teaching and warnings, and let avarice poison his spiritual life until he became a channel of darkness and a representative of the enemy. Though Jesus knew his secret purpose He kept him near, washed his feet, bore with him in love, and in exposing his hidden thoughts gave a final merciful warning and call to repentance, which remained possible until he left the presence of Christ and passed the boundary beyond return. The verse therefore warns against acting the part of Judas by yielding to the enemy instead of turning to Christ in humble repentance, teaching that even one cherished departure from righteousness can open the way until selfishness overmasters the mind, yet faulty and false-hearted persons are still to be borne with in patience and are not to be barred by human judgment from the table.
Supper Setting and Command
The setting is the final Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples, at which He instituted the Lord's Supper as the memorial of His coming sacrifice. In troubled testimony He declared that one of the disciples looking on in doubt would betray Him. He identified the betrayer by dipping the sop and giving it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, and after the sop Satan entered into Judas. Jesus then directed him to carry out his deed quickly, and Judas went out immediately while it was night. The words came after Jesus had exposed Judas's purpose and offered him a final call to repent, yet Judas instead became more determined and left to complete the betrayal.
The other disciples mistook the command to Judas as an instruction to buy what was needed for the feast or to give money to the poor. As treasurer Judas had been given opportunities to serve others and develop an unselfish spirit. Instead he indulged covetousness and used small sums for himself, excusing actions that were theft.
Satan's entering means Satan himself entered one of Christ's own followers and led him on to betray Jesus into the hands of His enemies that they might crucify the Lord of life and glory. This was part of Satan's work that first blinded the eyes of the Jews so they would not receive Jesus as their Saviour. Then, through envy because of His mighty works, it moved them to desire His life. Judas had given himself over to Satan's control so that he could not resist him. The betrayal came through a kiss, even as Jesus addressed him with sorrow and received the kiss with forbearance, love, and pity.
The command to act quickly comes as the exposed Judas hurries to leave and depart to carry out the betrayal. It is not approval of his deed. The following events show he was not moved to repent.
Judas Under Satan's Control
Satan gained control of Judas only after long, persistent resistance to divine influence, as Judas cherished evil desires, covetousness, revengeful passions, dark thoughts, selfish ambition and self-seeking, refused to confess and forsake his wrongdoing, rejected teaching and warnings and means provided to change his character, and let settled habits leave him blind and deceived until Satan had full control and he became a representative of the enemy and a traitor and betrayer. Association with Christ did not make him one with Christ or cultivate sympathy for others, and his self-seeking led him outside of Christ and under temptation. Neglect of Christlike love and even one departure from righteousness opened the way to further wrongdoing until selfishness overmastered the mind.
He let himself become a channel of darkness, bracing his soul against light he knew better about, listening to the enemy's claim that Jesus was not the Son of God but a pretense, fighting away from Jesus and off the deep impressions of the Holy Spirit, trying to obliterate what he had heard, and giving up hope of temporal preferment until he became traitor and betrayer. Jesus alone knew his secret purpose, yet gave him no word of rebuke and did not expose him to the disciples. The disciples knew nothing of his purposes and saw nothing villainous in his appearance or deportment, but esteemed him a man of great capabilities, breadth of knowledge, and qualifications valuable if sanctified.
Covetousness corrupting his character repeatedly let Satan overcome him and find expression, even using concern for the poor and objections to waste as excuses for greed. After a more direct reproof than before in defending Mary's anointing as anticipation of death and burial, which provoked him, he opened the door through which Satan entered to control his thoughts, and cherished avarice poisoned his spiritual life. When Jesus washed his soiled feet first with His own hands and wiped them with the towel, that treatment thrilled his heart through and through with an impulse to confess then and there. He hardened his heart against repentance, resented that Jesus did a servant's work, lost hope of worldly honor and of being made king, and with anger at implied rebuke and disappointment in hopes for power let former impulses take control again, becoming more determined and leaving in anger, though Jesus continued to feel deep love and concern for him.
Though Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, He did not dismiss him from the disciples but kept him by His side so He could counteract the harmful influence Judas might otherwise exert, showing him goodness, humility, and enduring love through His whole association. In exposing that He knew his hidden thoughts and purpose and telling him to carry out his plan at once, Jesus showed wonderful longsuffering and gave a final, merciful warning and convincing evidence of divinity by reading his heart. The appeal came even after Judas had twice agreed to betray his Lord, with every appeal mercy and subduing love could make, as the last call to repentance, and that foreknowledge continued into Gethsemane without taking away opportunity to repent. Even after rejecting that light he could still have been saved and freely forgiven if he had yielded and confessed his traitor work when Jesus met him.
Until Judas acted and left the presence of Christ and his fellow disciples repentance was still possible, but by going out from the supper to complete the betrayal he made the final decision and passed the boundary line beyond repentance. After the final loving appeal was rejected his decision was settled: after receiving the sop Satan took control of his heart and mind, and by going out he came fully under Satan's control and crossed into outer darkness, so that it became night to the traitor. Although surprised and alarmed at the discovery of his guilt, he did not repent or fear or turn, but became only more determined and firmly set on his plan and went out to carry it out. He left the Passover chamber and the light of Christ's presence for the darkness of a life without hope, his departure relieved the others, and Jesus' face brightened.
Warning and Instruction Today
John 13:27 stands as a warning not to play the part of Judas and betray Christ, exposing the peril of giving in to the enemy instead of turning to Christ in humble repentance and dependence on God. To avoid his course is to work out salvation with fear and trembling, with a religious influence so genuine and a faith in Christ as a personal Saviour so unwavering that betrayal never occurs, an experience that youth especially, and all alike, need to gain. Judas had defects of character yet was accepted as a disciple and given the same opportunities and privileges as the others, so he was without excuse, and he could have become a doer of the Word and been converted rather than clinging to his defects. His association with Christ did not make him one with Christ nor cultivate sympathy for others, and his self-seeking led him outside of Christ and under Satan's temptations. The verse therefore warns that neglecting Christlike love and allowing even one departure from righteousness can open the way to further wrongdoing until selfishness overmasters the mind.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and still bore patiently with him, and that example teaches patience toward false-hearted or faulty people among His workers. Even as the betrayal advanced Jesus bore with Judas, giving an example of forbearance toward perverse human nature and of how believers should bear with false brethren. Though Jesus knew Judas would leave the supper table to act his part in betraying his Lord, yet He washed Judas's feet and did not refuse him a place at the table or the sacrament. Human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul and cannot tell who is worthy and who is not, nor distinguish the tares from the wheat, so feet-washing and the Lord's supper are not to be deferred because someone is considered unworthy, no one is to stay away because such a one is present, and it is not left to man to say who shall take part. Unseen messengers of darkness attend those who refuse the Holy Spirit, while heavenly angels are also present and witness the service, including the washing of Judas's feet.
The chapter to which John 13:27 belongs plainly expresses God's will for His people, and its instruction, read with Christ's prayer for unity, is meant to cure dissension and lead to unity with one another and with Christ. The words are echoed in the urgent call to do what must be done quickly because time is almost finished. That call urges readiness and earnest prayer for the Lord's power to be revealed without delay.
At the final Passover meal when the memorial of the coming sacrifice was instituted, the betrayer was pointed out by giving the dipped sop to Judas Iscariot, after which Satan entered him, he was told to carry out his deed quickly, and he went out at once into the night while the other disciples misunderstood the command. Satan's entering means the adversary himself took possession of one of Christ's own followers to lead him to hand over the Lord of life to His enemies to be crucified. That control came only after persistent resistance to divine influence, as Judas cherished covetousness, selfish ambition and revengeful passions, refused to confess and forsake wrong, rejected teaching and warnings, and let avarice poison his spiritual life until he became a channel of darkness and a representative of the enemy. Though Jesus knew his secret purpose He kept him near, washed his feet, bore with him in love, and in exposing his hidden thoughts gave a final merciful warning and call to repentance, which remained possible until he left the presence of Christ and passed the boundary beyond return. The verse therefore warns against acting the part of Judas by yielding to the enemy instead of turning to Christ in humble repentance, teaching that even one cherished departure from righteousness can open the way until selfishness overmasters the mind, yet faulty and false-hearted persons are still to be borne with in patience and are not to be barred by human judgment from the table.
Supper Setting and Command
The setting is the final Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples, at which He instituted the Lord's Supper as the memorial of His coming sacrifice. In troubled testimony He declared that one of the disciples looking on in doubt would betray Him. He identified the betrayer by dipping the sop and giving it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, and after the sop Satan entered into Judas. Jesus then directed him to carry out his deed quickly, and Judas went out immediately while it was night. The words came after Jesus had exposed Judas's purpose and offered him a final call to repent, yet Judas instead became more determined and left to complete the betrayal.
The other disciples mistook the command to Judas as an instruction to buy what was needed for the feast or to give money to the poor. As treasurer Judas had been given opportunities to serve others and develop an unselfish spirit. Instead he indulged covetousness and used small sums for himself, excusing actions that were theft.
Satan's entering means Satan himself entered one of Christ's own followers and led him on to betray Jesus into the hands of His enemies that they might crucify the Lord of life and glory. This was part of Satan's work that first blinded the eyes of the Jews so they would not receive Jesus as their Saviour. Then, through envy because of His mighty works, it moved them to desire His life. Judas had given himself over to Satan's control so that he could not resist him. The betrayal came through a kiss, even as Jesus addressed him with sorrow and received the kiss with forbearance, love, and pity.
The command to act quickly comes as the exposed Judas hurries to leave and depart to carry out the betrayal. It is not approval of his deed. The following events show he was not moved to repent.
Judas Under Satan's Control
Satan gained control of Judas only after long, persistent resistance to divine influence, as Judas cherished evil desires, covetousness, revengeful passions, dark thoughts, selfish ambition and self-seeking, refused to confess and forsake his wrongdoing, rejected teaching and warnings and means provided to change his character, and let settled habits leave him blind and deceived until Satan had full control and he became a representative of the enemy and a traitor and betrayer. Association with Christ did not make him one with Christ or cultivate sympathy for others, and his self-seeking led him outside of Christ and under temptation. Neglect of Christlike love and even one departure from righteousness opened the way to further wrongdoing until selfishness overmastered the mind.
He let himself become a channel of darkness, bracing his soul against light he knew better about, listening to the enemy's claim that Jesus was not the Son of God but a pretense, fighting away from Jesus and off the deep impressions of the Holy Spirit, trying to obliterate what he had heard, and giving up hope of temporal preferment until he became traitor and betrayer. Jesus alone knew his secret purpose, yet gave him no word of rebuke and did not expose him to the disciples. The disciples knew nothing of his purposes and saw nothing villainous in his appearance or deportment, but esteemed him a man of great capabilities, breadth of knowledge, and qualifications valuable if sanctified.
Covetousness corrupting his character repeatedly let Satan overcome him and find expression, even using concern for the poor and objections to waste as excuses for greed. After a more direct reproof than before in defending Mary's anointing as anticipation of death and burial, which provoked him, he opened the door through which Satan entered to control his thoughts, and cherished avarice poisoned his spiritual life. When Jesus washed his soiled feet first with His own hands and wiped them with the towel, that treatment thrilled his heart through and through with an impulse to confess then and there. He hardened his heart against repentance, resented that Jesus did a servant's work, lost hope of worldly honor and of being made king, and with anger at implied rebuke and disappointment in hopes for power let former impulses take control again, becoming more determined and leaving in anger, though Jesus continued to feel deep love and concern for him.
Though Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, He did not dismiss him from the disciples but kept him by His side so He could counteract the harmful influence Judas might otherwise exert, showing him goodness, humility, and enduring love through His whole association. In exposing that He knew his hidden thoughts and purpose and telling him to carry out his plan at once, Jesus showed wonderful longsuffering and gave a final, merciful warning and convincing evidence of divinity by reading his heart. The appeal came even after Judas had twice agreed to betray his Lord, with every appeal mercy and subduing love could make, as the last call to repentance, and that foreknowledge continued into Gethsemane without taking away opportunity to repent. Even after rejecting that light he could still have been saved and freely forgiven if he had yielded and confessed his traitor work when Jesus met him.
Until Judas acted and left the presence of Christ and his fellow disciples repentance was still possible, but by going out from the supper to complete the betrayal he made the final decision and passed the boundary line beyond repentance. After the final loving appeal was rejected his decision was settled: after receiving the sop Satan took control of his heart and mind, and by going out he came fully under Satan's control and crossed into outer darkness, so that it became night to the traitor. Although surprised and alarmed at the discovery of his guilt, he did not repent or fear or turn, but became only more determined and firmly set on his plan and went out to carry it out. He left the Passover chamber and the light of Christ's presence for the darkness of a life without hope, his departure relieved the others, and Jesus' face brightened.
Warning and Instruction Today
John 13:27 stands as a warning not to play the part of Judas and betray Christ, exposing the peril of giving in to the enemy instead of turning to Christ in humble repentance and dependence on God. To avoid his course is to work out salvation with fear and trembling, with a religious influence so genuine and a faith in Christ as a personal Saviour so unwavering that betrayal never occurs, an experience that youth especially, and all alike, need to gain. Judas had defects of character yet was accepted as a disciple and given the same opportunities and privileges as the others, so he was without excuse, and he could have become a doer of the Word and been converted rather than clinging to his defects. His association with Christ did not make him one with Christ nor cultivate sympathy for others, and his self-seeking led him outside of Christ and under Satan's temptations. The verse therefore warns that neglecting Christlike love and allowing even one departure from righteousness can open the way to further wrongdoing until selfishness overmasters the mind.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and still bore patiently with him, and that example teaches patience toward false-hearted or faulty people among His workers. Even as the betrayal advanced Jesus bore with Judas, giving an example of forbearance toward perverse human nature and of how believers should bear with false brethren. Though Jesus knew Judas would leave the supper table to act his part in betraying his Lord, yet He washed Judas's feet and did not refuse him a place at the table or the sacrament. Human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul and cannot tell who is worthy and who is not, nor distinguish the tares from the wheat, so feet-washing and the Lord's supper are not to be deferred because someone is considered unworthy, no one is to stay away because such a one is present, and it is not left to man to say who shall take part. Unseen messengers of darkness attend those who refuse the Holy Spirit, while heavenly angels are also present and witness the service, including the washing of Judas's feet.
The chapter to which John 13:27 belongs plainly expresses God's will for His people, and its instruction, read with Christ's prayer for unity, is meant to cure dissension and lead to unity with one another and with Christ. The words are echoed in the urgent call to do what must be done quickly because time is almost finished. That call urges readiness and earnest prayer for the Lord's power to be revealed without delay.