John 13:18–30

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

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.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 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.

Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

This all seems clear enough, and familiar enough to most Christians, except for one sentence. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. The timing is troubling. Why then?

It helps to get one thing straight. While most of the conversations in this passage are public, one is not. When the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) leaned back and asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?”, that’s private. That’s why the text includes the note that John leaned back to ask the question. Jesus’s answer is private too.

But someone else can hear it—Satan. That may explain everything, since that could mean that he just learned that Jesus knows all about Judas. Satan doesn’t understand the higher purposes of what’s going on, but he now knows that Jesus knows about his “inside man.” His secret plot isn’t so secret.

That would explain his sudden actions. It sure looks like he was hit with a sense of urgency.

This isn’t the only possible explanation. I wouldn’t want to underestimate Satan; he’s more dangerous than we know. It’s possible that he understood some of these things before—though he obviously never understood the purpose of Jesus going to the cross. If he had, he would have aborted his plan.

Instead, he kicked it into high gear immediately after Jesus showed John who His betrayer would be.

That doesn’t feel like a coincidence.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.