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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_13:21-30
21When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." 22The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." 25He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" 26Jesus then answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.
Joh_13:21 "He became troubled in spirit" Judas' betrayal really upset Jesus (the same word used of Jesus in Joh_12:27). Jesus chose Judas because of his spiritual potential, but it never came to fruition (cf. Joh_13:18).
▣ "Truly, truly" See note at Joh_1:51.
Joh_13:22 This is a surprising verse. The inner-circle disciples were afraid that a predetermined plan might make them the betrayer (cf. Mar_14:19). This is the problem with determinism. God's actions do not violate human free will, but accentuates and finalizes its consequences!
Joh_13:23 "whom Jesus loved" This seems to refer to John himself (cf. Joh_13:23; Joh_13:25; Joh_19:26-27; Joh_19:34-35; Joh_20:2-5; Joh_20:8; Joh_21:7; Joh_21:20-24). Chapter 19, Joh_13:26 confirms this. John's name never appears in this Gospel. Did Jesus have favorites? Well, He did have an inner circle (Peter, James, and John) and a special family (Lazarus, Mary, Martha).
Joh_13:25 This context reflects the typical eating arrangements of the first century Palestine. The disciples would be lying at a low, horseshoe shaped table, leaning on their left elbows with their feet behind them, eating with their right hands. John was on Jesus' right, Judas on His left (the place of honor). The reason for the seating order is not given in Scripture. John leaned back and asked Jesus a question.
Joh_13:26 "the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him" This was a sign of honor (cf. Rth_2:14). Judas was reclining on Jesus' left side, which was also the place of honor. Jesus was still trying to reach Judas!
The morsel was a dish of bitter herbs and sauce (see special Topic at Joh_13:2). The Mark parallel (Joh_14:20) states "with me." This is an eyewitness detail confusion.
▣ "Iscariot" See Special Topic below and the notes at Joh_6:71; Joh_18:2.
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Joh_13:27 "Satan then entered into him" This is the only use of the term "Satan" in John's Gospel. It means "adversary" in Hebrew (cf. Luk_22:3 and Joh_13:2). See Special Topic at Joh_12:31. Is Judas not responsible because Satan entered into him? There is a tension in the Bible between the actions of the spiritual realm (God hardening Pharaoh's heart) and human responsibility in the physical realm. Humans are surely not as free in their choices as they think. All of us are historically, experientially, and genetically conditioned. Added to these physical determiners is the spiritual realm (God, Spirit, angels, Satan, and demons). This is the mystery! However, humans are not robots; we are responsible for our actions, choices, and their consequences. Judas acted! He did not act alone! But he is morally responsible for his actions. Judas' betrayal was predicted (Joh_13:18). Satan was the instigator (see hyperlink at Joh_12:31). It is tragic that Judas never fully came "to know" or trust Jesus.
Joh_13:29 "Judas had the money box" Judas was in charge of the group's money (cf. Joh_12:6). See full note at Joh_18:2.
Joh_13:30 "it was night" Is this a time element or a spiritual evaluation? John often uses these ambiguous phrases which can be understood in several ways (i.e., Nicodemus, cf. Joh_3:2; Joh_19:39).