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Darkness Within The Fellowship

John 13:21-30
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.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he means.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ 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. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 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. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. (NIVUK)

Only two people knew.  Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and Judas knew the contract he had entered: 30 pieces of silver exchanged for the body of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).  But Jesus was not the only one who had been betrayed.  The other disciples, although they knew that Judas was a thief (John 12:6), had no idea of the evil he had agreed to do (Luke 22:1-6).  So, when Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, they were very sad. Matthew records, "And while they were eating, he said, 'TruIy I tell you, one of you will betray me.'  They were very sad and began to say to Him one after the other, 'Surely not I, Lord?'" (Matthew 26:21-22).
 
John's comment in verse 30 sums it up: “It was night”.  Not just physically dark in the late evening, but morally black and spiritually wicked.  For over two and a half years, one dark heart had been so close to the Light of the World but had seen nothing.  No wonder Jesus was troubled in spirit.  Judas was so near to Him but so far away at the same time.  The greatest opportunity of all eternity had been missed.  He went out of the group because he could not stay in the light any more; and he never returned.  That same pattern has been followed by false believers in every age (1 John 2:19).  Every break in spiritual fellowship is painful, and Jesus felt it (Psalm 55:20-21).

At the time, the disciples did not realise what was happening, even though they asked.  But looking back, John fully understood the significance of Jesus’ words, the bread dipped in bitter savoury herbs and Judas’ departure.  Worse still, John realised that Judas had allowed himself to be used by Satan, who entered into him.  This was not just human greed to get thirty pieces of silver, but the devil’s cosmic hatred which was intent on destroying Jesus.  Indeed, no night could be darker.
 
The church is a wonderful group of people.  But it is possible to be in a church, even sing or serve, even preach or pray, but still be in the dark.  Although the Judas story is unique, the pattern is common.  Often, like the disciples, we do not know the identity of the dark heart.  But Jesus does.  When it becomes obvious, we all feel betrayed and sad, but none is sadder than Jesus.  And yet He longs to forgive repentant people and give them a second chance to receive His love.  Peter came back to Jesus and was repentant (John 21:15-22): Judas was only remorseful and lost everything.

Prayer 
Loving Father. Thank You for knowing my heart. Where it is dark, I ask You to shine Your light; where it is hard, soften me; and where it is self-serving, help me to submit and sacrifice my will to Yours. And I pray for those who speak about the light but hide in the dark: please may they repent while there is time. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams