John 13:21-35
21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26Jesus 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.
27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
These are the words of God who has created us in freedom, preserved us in freedom, for freedom is the precondition of all true love. ‘’Do quickly what you are going to do’’ says the voice of love that loves so deeply and so dearly it will not impose its will, but empties itself, ready to receive whatever we choose to give. Judas turned and left. In every sense, it was night. Now it is we who sit at the favoured hand of Jesus, beloved guests at the table in whom his hopes now reside. The stewardship of God’s reign and realm, the life of God’s word reside in us. On countless occasions, in so many ways, we have received the bread from Jesus’s hand and walked away into darkness. For we, like Judas, will not trust in God. God will not force us. But with sad and troubled eyes watches in agony as we turn and walk away, clutching the bread of life. Accepting the gift and rejecting the giver.