Hypocrisy: Jesus & Judas (13:18–35) - part 1 of 2

Hypocrisy: Jesus & Judas (13:18–35)—part 1 of 2

Now a dark shadow came over the scene as Jesus confronted the traitor Judas. It is noteworthy that Judas was no true believer but a hypocrite. He never believed in Jesus (John 6:64–71), he had not been washed all over (John 13:10–11), and he was not one of the elect whom the Father gave to the Son (John 13:18; 17:12). How near to salvation a man may stand and yet be forever lost! Judas was also the group’s treasurer (John 12:6) and was certainly highly regarded by his fellow disciples.

At this hour, Jesus had two great concerns: to fulfill the Word of God (John 13:18-30) and to magnify the glory of God (John 13:31-35).

It was a quotation from scripture, the 41st Psalm, the ninth verse: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." When David wrote the psalm, he was probably thinking of his counselor Ahithophel, who became a traitor and joined Absalom’s rebellion (see 2 Sam. 15—17). Both Judas and Ahithophel commit suicide by hanging themselves (2 Sam. 17:23; Matt. 27:3–10; Acts 1:18), which is significant. But Judas did not kill himself to fulfill prophecy, because such an act would make God the author of his sin. Judas made his own choices, and those choices brought to pass the Word of God.

Jesus was worried that Judas' betrayal would not shake the faith of His disciples. This is why He linked it to the Word of God: When the disciples saw all of these events fulfilled, it would build their faith (see John 8:28). Judas had been disloyal, but Jesus expected them to be loyal to Him and His cause. He was, after all, God the Son, sent by God the Father. They were ambassadors in the name of Christ, and to receive them was to receive the Father and the Son. What a privilege to be ambassadors for the King!

The amazing thing is that the others at the table with Jesus did not know Judas was a traitor and an unbeliever. The Savior whom He betrayed guarded Judas until the last moment of that treachery. Had Jesus revealed what He knew about Judas in public, the men would have probably turned on him. Think what Peter did to Malchus when the soldiers came to take away Jesus (Jn. 18:10)!

Jesus knew from the beginning what Judas would do (John 6:64), but He didn’t make him do it. Judas had the same spiritual privileges as the other disciples, but they helped him little. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. Our Lord said a lot about money, and He gave a lot of warning about covetousness, but Judas continued to be a thief and steal from the treasury. Despite all our Lord’s warning about unbelief, Judas went on rejecting. Jesus even washed Judas’ feet! But his unyielding heart would not change.

Earlier Jesus had mentioned a betrayer (John 6:70), but the disciples did not pay attention. Now when He spoke openly about it at the table, His disciples were perplexed.

Peter looked at John, who was closest to Jesus at the table, and asked him to ask who the traitor was. The Lord’s answer to John was certainly not heard by all the men; indeed they were talking among themselves about who might be the traitor (Luke 22:23). When Jesus broke the bread and offered it to Judas, people considered it a gesture of love and honor. Indeed, Judas sat in the place of honor so that our Lord's actions were viewed in that light. He was giving Judas a special honor. No wonder, after Judas had gone out of the room, the disciples argued over who was the greatest (Luke 22:24–30).

This was no small shock to John, but before he could say or do anything, Jesus sent Judas on his way. Judas had Satan in him, but it was Jesus who was in charge. He lived by the Father's timetable and wanted to do what was written in the Word. As Judas was the treasurer, it was natural for the disciples to conclude that the Lord had sent him on a special errand. Judas had hypocritically feigned concern for the poor (John 12:4–6), so he may have been on an errand of mercy to help the poor.

Remember Judas knew what he was doing, and he did it on purpose.  He had already met with the Jewish religious leaders and come to an agreement to lead them to Jesus in such a way as to cause no public disturbance (Luke 21:37-22:6). He heard the Lord say, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matt. 26:24). But he continued in his treachery and unbelief.