“One of you shall betray me.”

These words of Christ fell with disturbing force on His disciples’ hearts. All around that Last Supper table arose the question, “Lord, is it I?”

Every Christian should on occasion search from attic to cellar through each compartment of his heart and life. Is there anywhere the traitor’s tendencies?

We can be very sure our text, JOHN 13:18-30, is not accidentally nor incidentally included in Scripture. It’s there because we need it.

If you have confessed Christ and claimed to be a child of God, then hear this message carefully. “One of you is going to betray me,” warned Jesus. Not, one of the crowd who reject Christ, but “one of you!”

Let us study the betrayal of Christ from several standpoints. May it put us on guard!

First, what was the Lord’s reaction?

“Jesus exclaimed in deep agitation of spirit, ‘In truth, in very truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.'” (New English Bible).

What a torture this foreknowledge brought to the loving heart of Christ! He had chosen and called Judas as a disciple, only to be betrayed. Thus, having a sort of religious connection and call is no guarantee that we may not turn traitor.

Secondly, notice the instant reaction on the part of each faithful one.

“Lord, who is it?” they asked. A true follower of Christ is greatly and deeply concerned with his relationship to his Lord. Are you? Is your heart tender toward Him? Or, do you carelessly and groundlessly presume you are saved from your sin? “One of you is going to betray me,” said Jesus.

Finally, look in on that solemn scene and study the traitor himself, Judas Iscariot.

At this point he is not really concerned about the Lord’s warning. His conscience is already hardened.

Indeed, he had never surrendered his stubborn will to Christ. Secretly, he had nursed along sins in his life. Read John 12:6. Here was the entering wedge for Satan’s approach!

Look now at John 13:2. Here the devil is putting thoughts into the traitor. (The Lord always knows.) At this point, “Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.’” verse 27.

Now, it is too late to turn back. The line is crossed, and there will be no repentance! “As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” What a darkness settles upon a soul who knows the truth and yet turns from the light!

Later Judas in grief turned back the betrayal money but GOD’S BOOKS WERE CLOSED ON HIM. He was a doomed  soul….

He hanged himself….and even the rope refused to hold him….a corpse lay smashed upon the rocks below….once a disciple of Christ.

God is not concerned merely with your religious experiences or connections. How is your life right now?  The end Judas came to need not be yours!  Hear God’s invitation to you:

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.”
(Isa. 1:18)

The death of Christ was for you.