“In all truth I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” (Jn 13:21b)
Betrayal! Here the most terrible depths of the human heart are revealed. Betraying a friend, betraying the Master and Lord, betraying love…
Apparently, no one but the beloved disciple dared to ask Him who it was that would betray Him. Only he, who had a special relationship of trust with the Lord, and to whom Peter had given a sign to ask Him. John’s heart was pure, and he loved the Lord undividedly. He was able to utter that question which puzzled everyone. He who loves and whose heart has been purified is able to face the shadows, having nothing to fear. So John leaned on Jesus’ chest and asked Him, “Who is it, Lord?” (Jn 13:25) This gesture of love and trust was pure and sincere, very different from the kiss of the traitor, who abused this manifestation of love, putting it at the service of evil.
The betrayer’s malice was growing; and Satan entered into him (Jn 13:27), making him his instrument. Judas can and wants no longer to take a step back; the evil intention that had arisen from his greed and other vices is now consummated in the evil act.
Jesus knows that Judas will no longer be converted, that not even that common supper, nor the words He will address to him before He is taken prisoner, will be able to touch his heart anymore. Judas has become a servant of the Evil One! The betrayal will be consummated: “What you are going to do, do quickly” – Jesus tells him (Jn 13:27).
“Now has the Son of man been glorified, and in Him God has been glorified” (Jn 13:31). Now the Son fulfils the Father’s will up to the Cross! Now the Lord will redeem His own, and draw all to Him, so that all may be saved.
Now evil shows all its power, but remains impotent before the love of God. Now Satan thinks that he is triumphant, when in fact he is the one who is defeated. Now, in this “hour of darkness”, the light of God shines brightly in the surrender of the Son to the will of the Father, in the accomplishment of the work God has given Him to do.
And God is glorified in Him, for everything proceeds from the Will of the Father; all the wisdom that is revealed to us in faith, in which God’s voluntary surrender becomes the unequivocal proof of His love for us, men.
One will betray Him; another will deny Him three times… But the latter repents and is converted, after which the Lord receives him even more deeply and sends him out. The other, on the contrary, does not repent, and it will be he himself who will carry out his own judgment (cf. Mt 27:5).