To whom I shall give a sop

John 13:26-27 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

The customs of the Orient are much different than those here. During a meal like the Passover, there would likely be one dish of gravy or olive oil on the table. Each person would tear off pieces of bread and dip into this liquid during the meal. The meal was eaten with the hands and each person was reclining on a cushion on the floor. To show special favor and to give a blessing the host would pick a choice piece of bread and dip it and then feed it to a person at the meal. This 'sop' was given to show special friendship.

Jesus went to great lengths to show his friendship to Judas. What a tragedy! How sad! Judas was not ill-treated by the Lord. The Lord was trying to show his love to him. Judas would not receive it. The betrayal of Judas was something that was prophesied a thousand years before Jesus came.

John 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was something he knew would happen. It must still have been very hard for Jesus in his humanity. In fact, just as he had shown special favor to Judas at the Passover meal, Judas used a sign of friendship to betray him!

Matthew 26:48-50 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

When Judas kissed Jesus it should have meant that he was a friend and was loyal to him. Instead it was the sign he used to betray him in the dark. How sad! The lesson we learn from Judas is that you can be so close to Jesus and yet not know him. He shows his love and friendship to some who never receive him. Don't let that be you! Receive Jesus, he is the Friend of Sinners!

In Christ,
Rody