The Bread Offering

Imagine that Jesus doesn't say anything until after he gives Judas the piece of bread.

At supper with his friends, 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." - John 13:21-32

John is writing his Gospel from the viewpoint of the Apostle John, the one lying beside Jesus, the one John says Jesus loved.

It is clear that John wants us to know that Judas betrayed Jesus.  He also makes it clear that the other apostles didn't have a clue what Judas was about to do.

If Jesus had one of you is going to betray me, they would have suspected something, right?

When you start reading with Jesus dipping the bread and giving it to Judas, the story has more intrigue.  It is more of a surprise when Judas appears with the crowd to arrest Jesus.

John's statement that after Judas received the bread Satan entered him is pure speculation and judgment on his part.

If Judas had planned to do this all along, Satan had nothing to do with it.  And if Satan only entered him when Jesus pointed him out, then Jesus invited Satan in, right?

So, I question John's version of the story.  It is a bit self-serving and biased.  But that is my opinion.

What do you think?

More to come...