April 5, 1987
Fooling others about our spiritual condition is relatively easy if we know how to speak and act so we appear to be faithful. The same was true for Judas Iscariot. Though he appeared to love the Lord, his actions revealed he had not experienced an internal work of grace. In this message from John 13, Alistair Begg cautions us to turn away from a superficial and hypocritical spirit, which can only lead us into darkness.
18pI am not speaking of all of you; I know qwhom I have chosen. But rthe Scripture will be fulfilled,4 s‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19tI am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20Truly, truly, I say to you, uwhoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
21After saying these things, vJesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, w“Truly, truly, I say to you, xone of you will betray me.” 22yThe disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23zOne of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table aat Jesus' side,5 24so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus6 of whom he was speaking. 25bSo that disciple, cleaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, d“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread ewhen I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, fhe gave it to Judas, gthe son of Simon Iscariot. 27Then after he had taken the morsel, hSatan entered into him. Jesus said to him, i“What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, jbecause Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need kfor the feast,” or that he should lgive something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. mAnd it was night.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.