he table reclining in Jesus' bosom one
of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth
to him, and saith unto him, Tell us who it is of whom He speaketh.
He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast saith unto Him, Lord,
who is it? Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip
the sop, and give it to him. So when He had dipped the sop, He
taketh and giveth it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after
the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto
him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for
what intent He spake this unto him. For some thought, because Judas
had the bag, that Jesus said unto him, Buy what things we have need
of for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He
then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was
night."--JOHN xiii. 18-30.

When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, apparently in dead silence
save for the interruption of Peter, He resumed those parts of His dress
He had laid aside, and reclined at the table already spread for the
supper. As the meal began, and while He was explaining the meaning of
His act and the lesson He desired them to draw from it, John, who lay
next Him at table, saw that His face did not wear the expression of
festal joy, nor even of untroubled composure, but was clouded with deep
concern and grief. The reason of this was immediately apparent: already,
while washing Peter's feet, He had awakened the attention and excited
the consciences of the disciples by hinting that on some one of them at
least, if not on more, uncleansed guilt still lay, even though all
partook in the symbolic washing. And now in His explanation of the
foot-washing He repeats this limitation and warning, and also points at
the precise nature of the guilt, though not yet singling out the guilty
person. "I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen; I have not
been deceived: but it was necessary that this part of God's purpose be
fulfilled, and that this Scripture, 'He that eateth bread with Me, hath
lifted up his heel against Me,' receive accomplishment in Me."

It was impossible that Jesus should undisturbedly eat out of the same
dish with the man whom He knew to have already sold Him to the priests;
it were unfair to the other disciples and a violence to His own feelings
to allow such a man any longer to remain in their company. But our