John 13:21-32

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples–the one whom Jesus loved–was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

This is the assigned gospel reading from the daily lectionary according to the Revised Common Lectionary. At Parkview, we typically follow the lectionary in our preaching. In doing so, we are joined together with churches around the world in our reading of scripture.

You probably know by know that we are in the midst of Holy Week, the traditional time in the church between Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his glorious resurrection on Easter. Holy Week remembers some dark times in Jesus’ life. The Wednesday of Holy Week commemorates the betrayal of Jesus by his disciple, Judas. Judas was willing to give Jesus up for the price of a slave, handing him over to be crucified. Judas, of course, met a tragic end, taking his own life out of guilt. The story of Judas reveals the complicated nature of betrayal. Our human sin hurts others, wounds the very heart of God, and can even lead to our own demise.

Fortunately for us, God loves us even to the point of death. God’s love is greater than any sin, and yes, even death. This Spy Wednesday, may we turn from the things in our lives that wound us and others and return to the Lord our God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Amen.