I read that Gospel passage again today – the one where Jesus tells the disciples that one of them will betray him. John is asked to try to find out who he means and when John asks, Jesus replies: “it is the one to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip in the dish.” He dips a piece of bread in the dish, hands it to Judas and says “What you are going to do, do quickly.” We are told that Satan entered him at that moment.
It is a passage that confuses me. At one level it implies that Jesus knew what he was doing when he handed the piece of bread to Judas. At another, it could mean that he was letting Judas know that he knew what he was thinking and planning. Despite that, Jesus continued to number him among his friends and helpers. Maybe there was hope there for a change of heart.
Clearly Judas’ decision was regrettable and, based on his own final decision, one he deeply regretted.
Betrayal is certainly a low point in any human interaction. We see the consequences of it every day – betrayal of trust, betrayal of friends and even betrayal of family. It brings with it total devastation and damage that can prove irreparable.
LENTEN THOUGHT: What price betrayal?