The Traitor John 13:18-30 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The Pharisees wanted to destroy Jesus but had been unable to because they feared the multitude that loved Him. To be able to accomplish His destruction they would have to catch Him away from the multitude. The Pharisees were especially furious because Jesus had run the money changers out of the temple. They could not find Roman officers willing to arrest Jesus and were unsure how to apprehend Him. The Pharisees got their answer when Satan entered the heart of Judas (Luke 22:3). Judas betrayed Jesus by informing the Pharisees when and where Jesus would be away from the multitude.
This was no surprise to Jesus as He had hinted as much back during the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:70-71). Jesus needed a devil among the disciples in order to fulfill a prophetic scripture (Psalm 41:9). Jesus prophesied to the disciples about one of them being a devil so that they would know that He was God in the flesh (John 13:19-20). You see, God made a challenge to every soul in the universe (Isaiah 41:22) to match God on telling the future. Jesus Christ is the only one who could take up this challenge (Rev. 19:10, Psalm 41:22, Isaiah 41:46).
Now we need to compare the Gospel writers to piece together all of the details concerning Jesus’ betrayal.
- In John 13 Jesus tells the disciples more directly that one of them shall betray Him (John 13:21, Matt. 26:21, Mark 14:18).
- The disciples were shocked by this revelation and doubted of whom He spoke (John 13:22).
- All of the disciples, except for two of them, each ask Jesus “is it I?” (Matt. 26:22). Jesus indicates that it will be one of the 12 disciples sitting at the table with Him (Luke 22:21-22, Matt. 26:23, Mark 14:20).
- The disciples then began to enquire among themselves who this could be (Luke 22:23).
- John asks the Lord who it is instead of asking “is it I?” Jesus tells him (John 13:23, John 19:26).
- Then Judas asks, “Master, is it I?” and the Lord replies, “Thou hast said” (Matt. 26:25). Then Satan entered into Judas and Jesus sent him on his way (John 13:27).
- Later that night, Judas returns to Gethsemane with soldiers and Pharisees to capture Jesus (Matt. 26:47-50).