Good Morning and welcome to another Daily Scripture Word!

Boy oh boy do we have a 'doozy' today!  Take a look at this question:

• John 13:20. Does this verse (use the context of Vss.1-27) say that we should think/act better towards Judas, and by extension our Judas’? 

ANSWER: I have to say, this question left me a little confused. I am not really sure how you could have even arrived at wondering about Judas Iscariot here. This passage is not about Judas, it is about Jesus – receiving Jesus and receiving The Holy Spirit. If you look at Verse 20, The One Whom Jesus sends is The Holy Spirit – you find that in John 16 (which, by the way, you need to keep in mind is the same conversation as this one! There may be chapter breaks, but from chapter 13 through to the end of chapter 17, it is all the same moment in time). 

• John 13:20 is an affirmation of the Trinity: God The Father sent Jesus (God The Son), Who after leaven will send God The Holy Spirit. The Disciples are being instructed to receive God’s Holy Spirit in the exact same way they received Jesus, as they are equal and the same Person.

In a COMLETELY different vein, I do want to address the ‘kind-of’ question here: how do we treat a ‘Judas’? Well, I would point out that opening this chapter, Jesus washes the feet of ALL the disciples, including Judas Iscariot. What’s more, Jesus already knew that Judas would betray Him – you see it right here at the start of the Chapter (verse 2), but Jesus also knew long before this! Check out John 6:64! You have to keep in mind that, though human, Jesus was also God!

KNOWING that Judas would betray Him in short order, Jesus still washes Judas’ feet. Why? Because Jesus was here to serve a much higher purpose: to redeem the souls of Mankind! Look at verse 3:

• “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God”. John 13:3

The time had come for redemptions plan to be fulfilled, and technically that also applied to Judas Iscariot as well! For this truth also applies here:

• “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 

Why did Jesus treat Judas thus? Because despite knowing what was in Judas’ heart, The Saviour loved him still! And so my friends I say to you today: treat your Judas’ in the same way. And maybe check out the end of Matthew 10 while you’re at it.