Reading
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Comment
For the third time in the Gospel of John emerges the whole humanity of Jesus, the "passability" of the Son of God: after the upset before the tomb of Lazarus and after that at the announcement of his imminent death, Jesus is troubled in spirit (v. 21) declaring that one of the disciples is going to betray him.
The disciple seated close to his chest occupies what traditionally was the place of honor. Since the meal was taken lying down resting on the left arm, whoever was reclining to the right of Jesus, leaning towards him, had his head close to his chest. The disciple is probably John, who because of his humility never mentions himself in his Gospel.
It was common for those organizing a banquet to offer a bite of a delicious meal to an important guest. Jesus' gesture towards Judas shows to the end his love for him, despite his impending betrayal. The temporal notation - "it was night" (v. 30) has a strong symbolic value. It is always night when we turn away from Christ, the light of the world.
In his farewell speech, Jesus speaks of his glorification; his gaze is already stretched out beyond the cross and beyond the darkness of the tomb, toward the resurrection. Peter would like to give his life for Jesus (v. 37) but it will be Jesus who will give it for him and for humanity.
Betrayal by a friend or loved one is certainly one of the most painful experiences we can undergo in life. Jesus experienced and shared this pain with us and in the way, he responded to the one who betrayed him he shows us the uphill path of perfect charity.
God leaves us free to deny him, out of malice (like Judas) or out of fear (like Peter) but he continues to believe in his relationship with us, leaving the door to reconciliation open. Peter will be the one who will allow himself to be reconciled, weeping for his infidelity, but building his own testimony to Christ on the rubble, up to the gift of life.
Prayer
Confirm us in your love, Lord; so that we can bear witness to your Word with courage, waiting for the day without end. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
