Commentary – تفسير

23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus.24So Simon Peter beckoned him and said, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks."25So lying thus close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who is it?"26Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.27Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.29Some thought that, because Judas had the money-box, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast", or, that he should give something to the poor.30So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.

In the midst of this turbulence, resulting from betrayal about to take place, we read a fine testimony to loving kindness. John was resting at Jesus’ side. The evangelist does not once mention his own name in this gospel, but he prominently refers to his nearness to Jesus, a sign of love. He had no greater privilege than being loved by Jesus. In this respect he omits his own name, glorifying God’s Son.
Peter was too shy to ask Jesus directly about the traitor’s identity, but was at the same time unable to hold his nerve. He gestured to John to find out who the traitor was. John bent towards Jesus and asked, "Who is it?"
Jesus answered this question quietly, not naming the traitor, but with a quiet gesture. Jesus did not wish to disclose the traitor’s name publicly at this stage. There was just the possibility that Judas might relent. Jesus broke bread of grace that united him with his disciples and dipped the morsel into the bowl and offered it to Judas. The purpose of this action was to strengthen a disciple to eternal life. But as Judas was intent on betrayal, the morsel had no effect, rather it hardened him. His heart was closed to grace, and Satan entered him. What a frightful picture! By his sovereign will Jesus hardened the hard-hearted. As Jesus was offering him the bread, Satan was toying with his thoughts. After he received the bread, evil descended on him. Jesus judgment on the betrayer deprived him of divine protection and delivered him to Satan.
Suddenly, Judas found himself exposed when taking the morsel. Then Jesus’ royal command struck him, "Do not delay to carry through your evil design, but do it at once for evil to finish its course and good may come out instead."
The disciples failed to grasp Jesus’ charge for Judas to hurry. Normally he would charge him to buy the food for the company. John never forgot that fearsome picture of Judas, passing from the light of Christ’s presence to outer darkness.