John 13:18-38

18-20 "I'm not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I've selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture:

The one who ate bread at my table

Turned on his heel against me.
"I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me."

21 After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me."

22-25 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?"

26-27 Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

"What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with."

28-29 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor.

30 Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.

31-32 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!

33 "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.'

34-35 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

36 Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?"

Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later."

37 "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!"

38 "Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."

As I read this passage I'm impressed that God sees time differently than we do. He has a master plan and is above it all watching to ensure His plans happen, yet He is also with us - Jesus was here on earth living the plan and He gave us His spirit that lives in us. Jesus suffered betrayal, few things are worse than the pain of betrayal by one you love. My ex-husband cheated on me and I can't remember a deeper pain in my life than the shock of that betrayal. Then, not too long after this passage, Jesus suffered the enormous pain of the crucifixion. So we certainly do have a high priest Who can relate to our feelings.

But in this passage it strikes me that in one perspective things aren't going well - Judas is there among the beloved and he's betraying Jesus. Jesus lets Judas go and then what does He tell His disciples to do? Love.

I see this as the fact that God has a sovereign plan that we don't always understand and in the midst of it all it can get confusing so what do we do? Love.

Oh Father, I'm so selfish that I'm not even capable of love. You know me and how much I tend toward being all about me. Please work in me and change me and empower me to love in my life today. Every chance I get, help me to see real and practical ways to love the people that You bring into my life today. Thank You for Your love. Thank You Jesus for coming to earth for me. Thank You for showing me victory over the flesh, Thank You for dieing on the cross for me - Thank You Jesus. Thank You that You are my high priest and that you intercede with God on my behalf and that I can come to You and that You understand my feelings. Thank You Jesus.