Belief and Betrayal

Jesus didn’t want them to believe he was merely an insightful prophet, a good man, or an excellent teacher. Jesus said they were to believe that “I am he” (v. 19). The word he is not in the original manuscript; the translators supplied it. Jesus said they were to believe (in the Greek) “ego eimi” or “I AM.” Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus has called on them to believe that he is “I AM.” Ego eimi is the Greek equivalent of the name given by God to Moses at the burning bush (Exod 3:14). Earlier in the Gospel of John, Jesus claimed this title, and the people understood exactly what he was saying. In fact, many of them attempted to stone him for what they considered blasphemy (8:58). Jesus is saying their faith would be strengthened by believing that Jesus is “I AM”—that Jesus was, is, and forever will be God.

Faith must have an object. By definition faith is not faith if there is no one in whom we place it. These days the word faith has become just another way to say that a person has a positive outlook or a hopeful attitude; that’s not how the Bible discusses faith. Biblical faith must have Jesus Christ as its object. Biblical faith must embrace certain truths about the person and work of Jesus Christ. When we hear about someone’s “faith,” we need to listen with discernment. We do no one a favor by quietly and tacitly endorsing self-centered, humanistic thinking clothed in religious language. When we talk to a friend or neighbor, we must not call him merely to faith but to faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

There’s no way to come to God apart from a right belief in Jesus. Generic faith in God does nothing but damn a person’s soul to hell. Right belief in Jesus (v. 20—through the testimony of those whom he has sent) will reconcile us wicked, vile sinners with the Holy God. Faith apart from Jesus is futile and hopeless, but faith in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah will bring reconciliation with God. When we receive Jesus, we receive the one who sent him.

John 13:20-30

The backdrop of the events in John 13 is a battle. Not an isolated skirmish in some backwater village, but a cosmic battle that has been raging for thousands of years. Verse 1 relates Jesus’s march to the cross. He is the Lamb of God making his way into the city to be sacrificed for the sins of man. He knew “his hour”—a phrase used throughout the book to speak of his death—had come. Verse 1 overviews one side of the conflict. Verse 2 spells out the enemy’s plan. This is where we discover Judas is only a bit player. He’s the puppet, and someone more powerful is pulling his strings: the devil is behind this betrayal.

This battle has a long history. It goes back to the beginning of civilization. God made a garden and placed man and woman in the middle. They were created to live in peace and harmony. Their responsibility was to serve God, enjoy his fellowship, and obey his word. He had given them one command: “Enjoy everything I’ve created for your benefit, but don’t eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.” The devil showed up disguised as a serpent and tricked the woman into eating from the tree. Adam followed her example. Soon God arrived and delivered a punishment for their disobedience. All the good things he had created would be cursed by sin. Instead of the ground serving man, man would serve the ground. Instead of marriage and children being a simple pleasure and perfect joy for the woman, these relationships would be plagued by sin.

They weren’t the only ones who were cursed that day. The serpent was cursed as well. Earthly serpents were cursed above all animals, but the curse was extended to Satan (Gen 3:15). With that pronouncement the great serpent’s fate was sealed. God promised a deliverer would come and liberate mankind from the oppressive rule of sin. When that deliverance came, the devil would be defeated, and his head would be crushed.

This promise is nearing its fulfillment in the upper room. Jesus and Satan are squaring off for the final battle, but the battle had been decided long before. Jesus is not surprised by the devil’s move. He’s not startled by Judas’s treachery. Jesus is sovereign over everything that has happened and will happen, including his own betrayal. If you ever doubt the sovereign power of Jesus Christ, memorize verse 3. What had God given Jesus? “Everything.” That’s a word in Greek (panta) that means “all, every, the whole.” Everything is in Jesus’s hands. As the old spiritual says, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”

Few truths can engage our affections, calm our hearts, and influence our decisions like the reality of the sovereign power of Jesus.

I’ve heard people say, “You don’t want to show up for a gunfight carrying a knife.” I like to think Satan showed up for a nuclear war carrying a spoon. He is powerless. Jesus’s life is not being taken from him. Satan can’t defeat him. Jesus lays down his life willingly. After Satan enters into Judas, Jesus demonstrates his authority by telling Satan to leave and do what he’s going to do quickly (v. 27). Even at this moment, he’s in control. Jesus is not a powerless pawn in the struggle between Israel and Rome. He’s not a tragic figure, shockingly betrayed by his old friend. He was and is the Son of God who marches to the cross in complete control of every event and circumstance. His journey to the cross is why we can say, “Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55). On that cross Jesus crushes the serpent’s head. The cosmic battle culminates. Satan’s prophesied defeat becomes a reality. Jesus triumphs over the serpent.

We understand the human drama of a friend betraying another friend, but the significance of this story extends far beyond a single traitorous act. The story of Judas should not bring despair and sadness, but it should remind us of the great power of Jesus Christ. In this circumstance, which seems like a great failure, Jesus wins a great victory. Against the backdrop of human wickedness, his character and his control are revealed in vivid and stunning detail.

Acts records Judas’s tragic end, but John makes a powerful point about Judas. He concludes the account of betrayal with the phrase, “And it was night” (v. 30). Throughout this Gospel, John has recorded the words of Jesus about light and darkness. He calls Jesus the true light, who entered this world of darkness to bring light. We hear Jesus cry out, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (8:12). When Judas walks out of the candlelit room into the dark street, he’s walking away from the light of the world. As the door shuts behind him, his fate is sealed. He’s turned his back on the only source of life. This is the end of Judas. He chose darkness over light. He chose death over life. And with his example comes a question: Will I embrace the light, or will I walk into the night?