John 13:18-30 | 1 John 2:9-11
You may be tired of the reminder at this point, but John does things differently than the other gospels. Buckle up because it gets stranger from this point on.
Judas, for one. John really doesn’t like Judas Iscariot. Judas is a difficult character in John. And that’s on top of betraying the Son of God.
The image of day/night, light/darkness comes through strong here. Remember that Nicodemus, in his ignorance, came to Jesus at night. And here, the confusion and ultimately deception of Maundy Thursday is at night.
Judas, having begun his journey of betrayal, walks into the night.
Maybe you’ve never sinned before, but for many, they know that night & darkness does seem to be more conducive to sinfulness. Things can hide so much easier in the dark.
This is the beginning of a dark night for Jesus & the disciples.
John 13:18-30
I’m not speaking about all of you. I know those whom I’ve chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, The one who eats my bread has turned against me.
“I’m telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I Am. I assure you that whoever receives someone I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, “I assure you, one of you will betray me.”
His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at Jesus’ side. Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped into the bowl.” Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. Some thought that, since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, “Go, buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately. And it was night.
1 John 2:9-11
The one who claims to be in the light while hating a brother or sister is in the darkness even now. The person loving a brother and sister stays in the light, and there is nothing in the light that causes a person to stumble. But the person who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and lives in the darkness, and doesn’t know where to go because the darkness blinds the eyes.
Prayer
God,
Help me maximize the light in my life. We’re in that sad time of year when each day has less and less light. In a few days, I’ll set back the couple of manual clocks that still exist in my life and seemingly lose even more light.
But you created light and you called it good. I’ve learned of late that this is not just a cute way of beginning the creation story. As I get older, I know it’s truth. Light is good. And it is separate from darkness.
So help me to live into your light.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.