The Last Supper

Journey to the Cross- Station 5

Displayed on the wall the scripture read:

21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled,* and he exclaimed, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!" 22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean.23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.*24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, "Who's he talking about?"25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl." And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you're going to do."28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant.29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor.30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.- John 13: 21-30

Have you ever thought about what it means to be a true believer? Think of all the miracles which took place before the eyes of Judas. He witnessed the casting out of demons, the giving of sight to the blind (even a man born blind—John 9), and the raising of the dead ( John 11). He was there when Jesus stilled the storm (see Luke 8:22-25) and when He walked on the sea (John 6:19-21). He took part in the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14) and then of the 4,000 (Matthew 15:29-39). Each of the other disciples grew in their faith at each new manifestation of our Lord’s power, love, mercy, and holiness. Not so with Judas. You would think that after everything that he had witnessed he would believe.

In studying more about this passage, Jesus tells his disciples what is going to happen ahead of time, so that when these things take place they will remember He told them beforehand and believe him as the Messiah. While Jeus is indirectly exposing Judas as an unbeliever here, His emphasis is on believing, believing in Him. Although these words seem to be directed to his believing disciples I can't help but wonder if this is not atleast one last appeal to Judas to believe. Think of the heart break he must have been feeling at the betrayal of one of his own disciples. He knew his disciples would soon face confusion and fear. Think about his sorrow and compassion for them.