John 13: 21-30

 John 13: 21-30

In this passage we see a man passed the tipping point, the point of no return. Judas had begun moving against Jesus. In verse two we see Judas had begun to plan to betray Jesus. Judas for reasons of his own made a deal with the devil but even at this late moment grace is a possibility. Jesus has washed his feet and Judas appears to be resting at Jesus's left side, the place of honor at a Jewish dinner. Jesus gives Judas a morsel of bread, a customary way to honor a person at a Jewish meal. The word morsel that is used to describe the bread Jesus gave Judas is the same word that was often used to describe the bread of communion.

In response to Judas’ betrayal Jesus offers grace, honor, kindness, and love. Judas’ response to grace goes deeper into the darkness. It is in receiving the bread that Satan entered into Judas. In John 13:2 Satan made a suggestion, in John 13:27 Judas surrendered himself to Satan, the dark lord moved in.

There is a test for our heart that we see here. How do you respond to the grace when we are wrong? When we have behaved badly and those who love us extend kindness towards us do we respond in pride and anger, do we react with coldness? If that is the case we have a hardening heart, it is a heart marked by unbelief. We are then in the greatest of dangers. How do we respond to the loving conviction and Judgment of the Holy Spirit? If Jesus’ love for us causes in us a reaction of rejection we are in danger of Satan's entrance into our heart

“Lord, grant that my heart will always respond in love to Your calling. AMEN”