SO CLOSE

John 13:18-30
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

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.


This brings to mind a gospel singer who did a monologue prior to one of her songs. She talked about playing church in the backyard with her little sister. Her sister got a little too carried away in the playing and the singer went and told her Mom that her sister was playing with Jesus. Her point was that there are those of us who go to church but are just playing church.

Judas was in the group closest to Jesus. He was trusted among the group to handle the finances. He sat so close to Jesus at the Passover table that Jesus could hand him the bread. He was so close, yet so far. Judas was ‘playing church’.

Ask yourself … do you go to church on Sunday but betray Jesus in your community … your workplace … your playground … your home? Is your attitude, conversation or activity during the week the same as it is on Sunday morning? I must confess that all too often, I look more like Judas than Jesus. So close, yet so far.

By the way, the little sister who was playing with Jesus, called His name one time too many. He showed up in her play and became real in her life.