The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 207

tho edge of the betmyal nll the keener, and its poiRon peculiarly loathsome nnd de!ldly. (3) Because he wo.s about to be betrayed by one whom he had done all in his power lo reclaim. He hnd given him warning after warning, but gave it in ruch a general way os not to cause suspicion to point to him and cause him to lose his self-respect. Ho wo.s not exposed, and wns not excluded from the society-he was treated with the same kindness as the rest, and perhapM with more. His indignant objection to the anointing of Jesus was not explained, but left to pass with the remark which W!L, addressed to all the disciples, "Let her alone." The betraying disciple's feet had just been washed by the kindly band of the Master. All that affectionate and Divine love could do to avert the calamity had been done, but to no effect. (4) Because of thf'J awful consequences of the deed to the betrayer himself. Keen as Jesus felt it in his own soul, as severe as it affected him, we venture to say that he folt more, after all, for the traitor himself. He who could weep for a wicked city[could not contemplate the self- ruin of even this wicked o.nd inexcusable man without experiencing groaning which could not be uttered. He could not bear to lose anything, and the loss of even the "son of perdition" gave him a most severe pang or anguish. The betrayal, as it affected himself, was not so painful to him as its terrible effects on the traitor himself. (5) All this plunged him in the greatest trouble. The betrayal wounded bis very spirit, and the betraying kiss was to him.more agonizing than the piercing of tr.e sharpest nails or that of the most pointed spears. It was tho trouble of a wounded spirit, and that spirit was pure benevolence. It was the trouble of being betrayed by a professed near friend-the trouble of insulted, checkered, and wounded love ; trouble arising from the terrible doom of an old disciple, a trusted official, the treasurer of the society. 2. The trouble of the disciples. (Ver. 22.) They were in doubt, perplexity, and bewilderment. In fact,~they were in trouble similar to that of Jesus, only theirs was as a drop compared to the ocean. (1) Theirs was the trouble of conscious innocence. (2) The trouble of conscious wealcness. (3) The trouble of personal sympathy. II. AN AWFUL REVELATION. The personality of the betrayer was revealed. 1. This revelation was made in consequence of a request. (Vera. 24, 25.) (1) This request was direct. "Lord, who is it ? " Each ~had asked before, "Lord, is it I?" The charge assumed a general form, and the inquiry was made in a genernl and indirect way. But now the question is put directly, " Who is it?" " Who is the betrayer?" (2) It was reasonable. The charge, as it had been several times made, was general, and it might apply to any of the twelve-to_loving John, or honest Peter, or to any of the group. Now they could stand it no longer; they request a d~finite information at any cost, and it was quite reasonable. This is admitted by the revelation or Jesus. (3) It was timely. The disciples were ready for it. Jesus was ready. The awful secret troubled hie spirit, and struggled for publicity. He could scarcely keep it any longer. The betrayer was ready. He was ripe for revelation, and, if it was delayed much longer, he would have revealed himself by performing the terrible deed. 2. The revelation was made by a sign. "He it is to whom I shall give a sop when," etc. We can well imagine all the disciples, save one, looking at their Lord with bated breath, and watching every look and movement of his with beating hearts; but there was one there keeping his countenance better than any of the rest, and more himself than one of them, and amid the silent but stirring excitement Jesus gave the sop to Judas, the son of Simon, etc. (1) The traitor was revealed in a most considerate and tender manner. By a sign, and privately. Judas could not know that anything referred to him unless his guilty conscience made him suspicious. (2) He was revealed by an act of kindness. "It is he to whom I shall give the sop," etc. The sign was an act of kindness. What was a revelation of a foul traitor to the disciples was a deed of love to the traitor him- self. One would think that he would be pointed out in a voice of thunder and in looks of lightning. This would be manlike; but as Jesus was God-like, Jesus was kind W Judas to the last. He was determined to the utmost to block up his course with kind- ness, and that no act of his could furnish him with the faintest shadow of excuse for his foul deed. This was the last kindness of Jesus to Judas, but would not be the last if he had the least chance. (3) The participation of this kindness led to a f(jl/,l entrance. , "After the sop So.tan entered into him.• Jesus only could see this. He could see that dark form by Judas's side, waiting'for admission; he had been there a long time : fllllning the tempt11tion and ripening the dread resolve and preparing the place. The  THE GOSPEL ACOORDING T<) ST. JOHN. [on. :xm. 1-88.