Coptic Orthodox Answers

In name of the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

Welcome to Coptic Orthodox Answers Deep Dive. We're doing together the Gospel of John chapter 13, verse 21. We saw, in the beginning of chapter 13, how Christ washed the disciples' feet, teaching them a lesson of humility and a lesson of love and for them not to seek any kind of earthly positions. At the same time, He told them that a servant is not greater than the master. Therefore, they ought to follow and we ought, all of us, to follow in Christ's footsteps. And then, Christ hinted at the idea that someone was about to betray Him. So, let us move on to verse 21.

So, verse 21 says:

'' 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ''Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'' '' (John 13:21)

As I said, Christ already had hinted at the idea of betrayal when He said he who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me, but now He says it bluntly. And we find that in verse 21, we see Christ's humanity being emphasized in the idea that at the time, at the end of the 1 st century, Gnosticism was there, not fully established until the 2 nd century, but it was there, the ideas where there. And the Gnostics would say that Christ did not have a humanity, because to them, a humanity is an evil thing.

But Christ was fully incarnate and St. John, here, the evangelist, wants to emphasize the idea that Christ had a real humanity. Therefore he says: He was troubled in spirit. Christ had a body. He also had a human soul. And therefore in that soul, He was troubled, right? He had a full-blown humanity like all of us. But at the same time, St. John emphasizes His divinity, because Christ is here. He foreknows that someone is about to betray Him. So, again, we find the beautiful unity between divinity and humanity in the one person of Jesus Christ.

Verse 22 says:

'' 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.'' (John 13:22)

So, the disciples had no idea that Judas wanted to betray Christ. Even when Christ later told him what you do, do quickly, still the disciples had no clue. And this shows how someone can really hide his inner feelings. He conceals his inner feelings. And he seems righteous to others. He seems humble to others. But it's a false sense of humility and a false sense of righteousness. And therefore we learn from this that we have to have integrity. We ought to

have integrity. And the kingdom of God is within us, so, therefore we ought, as Christians, to transform our inner beings or allow God to transform our inner being, and let that be expressed afterwards on the outside, not the other way around.

Another point worth mentioning here is the idea that the disciples did not understand that this betrayal was imminent and purposeful. In other words, they thought it was something in the distant future and they thought it was something that would happen, because one of the disciples would be stuck in a position, for example, like St. Peter, right? So, someone is stuck and out of weakness, he would betray Christ. So, they didn't realize it was about to happen. And this is, again, shown by the idea when Christ tells Judas what you do, do quickly, the disciples did not react in any way, but thought he had to go and buy some things for the poor.

Verse 23:

'' 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved [and obviously, we know this to be St. John]. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.'' (John 13:23-24)

So, I'm gonna show you a picture that shows you how a 1 st century Jewish Passover would take place. How would the people sit down at the table. And based on this, we can try to imagine or analyze what actually took place that evening. So, you find, in this picture, 13 people and we see all of them are lying down on their left side, right?, being supported by their left arm while eating with their right hand, right? And that's how they would eat the Passover in 1 st century Israel.

And on the right hand of the picture, we find 3 people. In the middle of them, that would be Christ, because this is where the head of the family would take place. In this case, it is Christ and He's also eating with His right hand, right? And most probably, the person on Christ's right is St. John, because based on Christ's position who is lying on His left side, that keeps His bosom open to the person on His right and therefore, this is most probably St. John who later leans on the bosom of Christ.

Verse 25:

'' 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, ''Lord, who is it?'' 26 Jesus answered, ''It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it...'' (John 13:25-26)

Notice how Christ is giving personally the piece of bread and therefore that means that this person must be very close to Him when it comes to sitting down, right? So, it's the person sitting down close to Christ.

'' 26 ...And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.'' (John 13:26)

Now, going back to the picture, we realize that the only person Christ can actually give the piece of bread to is the person on His left-hand side. We know it's not the right-hand side, because this is where John is and therefore it cannot be Judas. So, Judas must therefore, most probably, be on the left-hand side of Christ.

But there is a beautify meaning here. When the Jewish family would sit at the Passover, the person on the left hand of the head of the table would be the person in the first rank after the head of the table. So, there was a ranking system, in a sense, and the first person after the head is on the left-hand side of the head of the table and the second person would be on the right-hand side of the head of the table.

So, even at the time of the Passover, Christ was bringing up Judas. Christ was trying to work with Judas. Christ truly loved his own to the end. His love was unconditional. His love was patient to the point that He put Judas on His left-hand side. However, unfortunately, Judas still rejected that love and that had major ramifications, as we know.

Another point worth mentioning is how the Passover would take place at the time. So, it would start... the evening would start with the first cup of wine and afterwards, before the meal, they would wash their hands and this is when Christ took the water and washed the feet of the disciples. After doing that, the host would take better herbs, right?, which were mainly green herbs, and he would dip them and distribute them. And during that time, they would recount the story of Exodus, because these herbs are reminiscent of the Israelites' suffering in Egypt. And they would chant Psalms 113 and 114.

And then, the second cup of wine would be given and they would take bread and they would bless it, break it and distribute it. And this is when Christ instituted the Eucharist, right?, which is at the time of the meal and when the lamb is being offered. Afterwards, at the end of the meal, they would have a third cup of wine and at the end of the evening altogether, they would have a fourth cup of wine and they would chant Psalms 115 to 118.

Now, it is unclear if this bread given by Christ to Judas was part of the main meal, and therefore the Eucharist, or it was eating bread prior to the institution of the Eucharist. Both opinions are there, and personally, when I looked into it, I could not come to any conclusion, so, simply from my own opinion, we cannot tell if this was the Eucharist or not.

Now, prior to reading verses 27 to 30, I want to remind you that earlier, St. John had mentioned how we ought to watch, lest darkness overtakes us or overpowers us, right? And based on this, we can read what is about to happen to Judas here. So, it says:

'' 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ''What you do, do quickly.'' 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, ''Buy those things we need for the feast,'' or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.'' (John 13:27-30)

So, prior to Satan entering Judas, Judas still had a chance. But the problem is that this last act of unconditional and patient love that Christ was offering Judas ultimately led to Satan entering him. Obviously, we do not know if this is literal or not. Does it mean that truly, literally, Satan entered him or it means that now, at this point, his sin is complete, there's no going back, he has given himself fully over to the devil and therefore he goes out and he betrays?

And he even betrays when Christ tells him what you do, do quickly. He even betrays when the disciples are shook and shocked by the fact that someone would betray Christ. But none of these things moved him, because it settled in him bit by bit, day after day for about three years now, and to the point that his sin became complete. And of course, this does not happen only to Judas. This could happen to all of us. St. Cyril says the following:

''When a skilled general lays siege to a city, he spares no effort to quickly attack the weakest parts of the wall with his battering rams, knowing that in such areas the capture will be easy. I believe that Satan employs an identical strategy when laying siege to the human heart, attacking at its weakest point...'' (St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John)

So, Satan, obviously, attacks the weakest point in the human being. And potentially, here, the idea was that Judas loved this world, loved money, was responsible for the money box. But he was a thief and therefore, Satan, bit by bit, on a daily basis, he was working on this point. Then St. Cyril continues:

''...thinking that he will easily bring it into subjection especially when he sees it unfortified by those reinforcements that would likely repel the attack of the passions such as emotions that are under control, bold courage, a devotional heart, and most importantly, the mystical Eucharist, for this is the most effective antidote to the murderous poison of the devil.'' (St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John)

So, he says that the devil will obviously continue attacking us at our weakest point when we are not fighting back, when we don't have this bold courage, when we don't have our emotions under control, a devotional heart, and obviously, the participation in the Eucharist.

And unfortunately, what happened to Judas can happen to everybody, right? And truly, the devil is cunning. I mean, one of the biggest and most powerful lies I find he tells people is the idea that you can sin. And since you have sinned, you're gonna go confess. And since you're gonna go confess, in the meantime, you can do whatever you want. Or, another way of putting it is: well, Christ died for you. You are saved and therefore, in the meantime, you can do whatever you want.

But the reality of this is that we find ourselves developing passions, developing really bad habits. This... the roots of sin is really growing within us bit by bit, transforming us into corrupted human beings. And every time we actually do commit the sin, it's as if we're like hitting the ground with a shovel and we are deepening the hole that we are already in. And for me to be healed from all these things, I have to be rescued. I have to be saved. I have to go up from that hole I am in, right?, climb it up and be saved and be rescued, right? And this, part of it is by God's grace, part of it is through my own works, if you wills, 'cause we work in synergy with God.

But when the devil lies to the people and tells them, you know, you're gonna confess later anyways, your sins are gonna be forgiven anyways, do whatever you want for now, what he doesn't tell them is that you or I am digging a deeper hole under myself. And that means destruction. That means not experiencing the kingdom of God within. And that ultimately means that my sin becomes complete, like what happened to Judas, and therefore, we ought to be extremely careful when the devil lies to us in this way.

Also, that gradual degradation can be seen in C. S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, where a senior devil is mentoring a junior devil on how to fight or spiritually fight Christians. And the senior devil says the following:

''The only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [who is] (GOD). It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one─the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.'' (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)

But going back to verse 29 for a second. It says:

'' 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, ''Buy those things we need for the feast,''...'' (John 13:29)

What feast is He talking about? So, the next day, there was another feast, another meal that was part of the Passover festivities, right?, and therefore, some thought that maybe Judas is buying some food for that meal on the next day.

'' 29 ...or that he should give something to the poor.'' (John 13:29)

It was also common on Passover night for the poor to go to the temple where they would receive alms from others, and therefore, this is also mentioned. At this point, it is worth mentioning that St. Peter and St. John knew that Judas was the betrayer. However, again, they did not understand that the betrayal was so imminent, right? So, they let things go, in a sense.

Now, verse 31:

'' 31 So, when he had gone out [who is Judas], Jesus said, ''Now the Son of Man is glorified [so, the cross is the glory of the Son of Man, of the Son], and God is glorified in Him [so, the Father is glorified in the Son through, obviously, the cross and through the resurrection, because there is salvation, there is recreation for humanity. So, there's glory for the Holy Trinity]. 32 If God is glorified in Him [so, if the Father is glorified in the Son], God will also glorify Him in Himself [so, the Father will also glorify the son in Himself, how?], and glorify Him immediately.'' (John 13:31-32)

That immediately... This, here, is speaking about the resurrection and the immediately is not literal, but it's after 3 days or 36 hours and it's speaking of the resurrection. So, the glory, here, is in the cross and the resurrection and this is proclaimed as soon as Judas came out. So, this is not something that is shameful, but it is glorious. It is unconditional love. It is patient love for the sake of recreating the human condition.

Verse 33:

'' 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.'' (John 13:33)

In other words, whatever he had told the Jews earlier that they cannot follow Him where He is going, now He's telling His disciples, because He's about to die, resurrect and ascend.

'' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.'' (John 13:34)

So, we all know that loving our neighbour is an old commandment. Here, however, Christ is raising that level of love to His own, which is the unconditional, patient love that He had... that He has loved humanity with, including Judas himself.

'' 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.'' (John 13:35)

So, we will be Christ's disciples, Christ's followers when we love in that way. This is the gauge by which we know if we are true Christians or not.

Verse 36:

'' 36 Simon Peter said to Him, ''Lord, where are You going?'' Jesus answered him, ''Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.'' 37 Peter said to Him, ''Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.'' (John 13:36-37)

So, what's happening here is that St. Peter thinks that Christ was about to embark on a normal journey, like a normal travel. And he's telling Him: there's no journey that is dangerous enough to separate me from You, right?, therefore take me with You. He does not understand the concept of cross-resurrection-ascension.

38 Jesus answered him, ''Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.'' (John 13:38)

And glory be to God forever and ever. Amen.

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