Day 33 – Secrets revealed

John 13:18-38

I am not speaking about all of you. I know who I have chosen, but this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘The one eating bread with me has lifted up his heel to trick and trip me.’ From now on, I am telling you before it happens, so when it happens, you may believe and trust that I am who I am. Truly, truly I tell you, whoever receives someone I send, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives the one who sent me.”

When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

The disciples started looked at one another, at a loss to know who he was talking about. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the table right next to Jesus. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus was talking about.

Leaning into Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is the one I will give this piece of bread to when I have dipped it.” When he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After he took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.

Then Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Now nobody else at the table knew why he said this to him. Judas had the money box, so some thought that Jesus told him to buy what they needed for the feast or give something to the poor. After receiving that piece of bread, Judas went out immediately. It was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, I tell you now, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have selfless, unconditional love for one another.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”

Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly I tell you, the rooster will not crow before you have disowned me three times.”

For reflection

We can’t always tell from appearances what is going on inside people, but lots of hidden things get revealed in this passage. Consider how Jesus tells his disciples how people can know who they really are.