Now to do the Father’s Will.

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Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me … It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.  When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.”  
John 13:21, 26-32, New International Version

Betrayal preceded by dipping bread—
They had olive oil for sure,
But what about balsamic vinegar,
Italian spices and red pepper flakes?

So common a scene plays out,
Like many a restaurant visit of ours;
From the midst of this community of faith
Comes an insidious action.

“What you are about to do, do quickly.”
Not, ‘Hey Peter, this is the guy.
Take him out back and beat the #@&% out of him.’
Judas was determined, and so was Jesus.

Jesus was no glory-seeker;
He was a ‘thy will be done’ kind of guy;
He was about bringing glory to the Father.
Now.

We Pray:  Lord Jesus Christ, the relentless tidal surge of your ministry swept you uphill, like a spiritual tsunami, to Golgotha.  You rode the wave, to give glory to the Father, to save me.  Teach us to dip bread with others in true friendship, in sincere fellowship, in imitation of your own determined love.  Amen.

Text and picture copyright Don Schatz