When Jesus said, "I know whom I have chosen," what did He tell us about Judas? Did He choose Him also? Yes, when he was good, he chose, like Saul (but he himself changed, because he is free; the Lord allows everyone to act according to his will, because He does not take away freedom); and when Judas changed, he rejected him, although he had chosen him before. "Let the Scripture be fulfilled." Understand this expression in the same way as other similar expressions, of which we have often spoken.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth him whom I send receiveth me; but he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

What is the connection between the present words and the previous ones? For hitherto He has spoken of a traitor, and now He adds: "He who receives him whom I send, receives Me"? There is a connection, and the closest one. The Lord said that He would be betrayed, said that He would leave them, that they would then disperse, be scattered, and endure many calamities; therefore he comforts them in two ways. First, through Himself. For He showed them what He Himself would endure, and what He had done to the betrayer, by washing his feet and allowing him to sit at the table. For if they have these things in their souls, they will easily endure all kinds of calamities. Thus, one way is that the Lord comforts them with what He has done to the enemy, healing him to the end, and what He Himself will endure. Another way is that He opens the houses of all to them, that all who listen to their teachings will receive them. Do you see the connection between the present words and the previous ones? The Lord will forsake them: they will endure many evils and misfortunes; He comforted them by his own example, for he will be betrayed by a disciple, and will wash him; He also comforts them by prophesying to them that although they will experience many troubles, they will all receive them. He who receives you receives Me, and through Me receives God and the Father. Notice the power of consolation. You, he says, will be revered by people as God Himself; Therefore, do not be discouraged by the malice of the persecutors.

And when Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked at each other, wondering of whom He was speaking.

The Lord, thinking that the betrayer had lost both – both patience in his labors and services from the people who would receive the apostles – "was troubled in spirit," that is, he felt sorrow in his soul. "And he testified." This means: predicted, testified in advance, announced. "The disciples looked at each other in bewilderment." Each of them was aware of himself as pure, did not find any deceit in his thoughts; but he revered the word of the Lord more authentically than his own thoughts. Therefore they are all grieved and perplexed. For the declaration was made by Him who is not false, and they were sure that it would surely come to pass.

Some of the words, "one of you," were understood in this way: "He who has fallen away from your countenance, and has come out from among you, will betray Me," as well as the expression: "Behold, Adam has become as one of us" (Gen. 3:22), was explained quite elegantly: "He has become as one who has fallen away from us, that is, the devil." For as he fell away, so this one through disobedience became from (outside) us, that is, fell away from us.

And one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, reclined at the breast of Jesus. Simon Peter made a sign to him to ask who he was talking about. He fell down on the breast of Jesus and said to Him, "Lord! Who is this? Jesus answered, "He to whom I, having dipped a piece of bread, will give."

Everyone is in anguish, and the supreme Peter himself is in trembling, and John, as it were, in joy lies in the bosom of the Lord. Why is that? And why does he say of himself, "whom Jesus loved"? John reclined for the following two reasons. Firstly, because he was loved more than all others, and the sign of love was to recline next to the Lord. Secondly, because by his courage and cheerfulness he wanted to show that he was a stranger to the accusation of treason. And he testifies of himself that Jesus loved him, in order to resolve his perplexity. In order that you, hearing that Peter gave him a sign to ask, would not think that he gave him a sign as an elder, the Evangelist says of himself that Peter gave him a sign not as a greater, but as one loved by Christ. Therefore, these words of his express humility, and not a desire to show himself. For he does not say: I loved Jesus, but: He loved me, seeking me out of mercy and mercies, just as the Apostle Paul says: "I strive again, lest I attain as God has attained me" (Phil. 3:12), and in another place: "Knowing God, or rather, being known of God" (Gal. 4:9). In the same way, the words, "whom Jesus loved," do not express vanity, but humility. Why does Peter not ask the Lord himself, but gives a sign to John? In many cases, Peter was eager out of great fervor, but he was reproached. Therefore, now he was afraid to ask, lest the Lord should reproach him again as impetuous. Why does John fall down to the bosom of Jesus so irreverently and indecently? Because he did not yet understand anything great about Christ, and they were not taught to give worthy honor to the honorable, for there were fishermen and ignorant of propriety. The Lord allows him to fall to his chest in order to ease his sorrow, to tame the confusion in his soul, and in general to calm his sorrow. For it is natural that much sorrow was expressed on their faces. The Lord, questioned in this way, does not declare the traitor by name; but He makes it known by means of a morsel, in order to convert the traitor, and to bring to his remembrance the communion in the table and bread, in which the participant should not betray the Feeder and rage against Him. Accept, he says, this bread which thou hast shared with me, and realize that we had a common table. But he, lulled by passion in his soul, did not understand this.

If you yourself wish to recline closer to Jesus and fall down to His hands, and learn mysteries from Him, try to earn His love by simplicity and kindness. For John was the kindest, simplest, and meekest of all, and for this he was loved. In the same way, if you are just as gentle, you will be worthy to fall down on the bosom of Jesus, which is a sign of theological dignity. For, according to the assurance of the Scriptures, the words of the Lord are hidden in the heart (Psalm 118:11). In this way the whole mystery and the betrayer of the Word will be revealed to you. For he who is entrusted with the grace of theology, the betrayer of the Word, that is, the one who does not reason according to the right faith, becomes manifest. For the heretic who substitutes the word of truth, which is bread, turns out to have it, not without admixture, but soaked.

And having dipped a piece, he gave it to Judas Iscariot of Simon. And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." But none of those who sat at table understood why He had said this to him. And since Judas had a box, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: "Buy what we need for the feast, or give something to the poor." He took the morsel and immediately went out; And it was night.

The Lord gave a piece to Judas so that he would be ashamed of communion at the table and bread and refrain from betrayal. But Judas did not improve because of this, but henceforth became even more on the side of Satan and, as an incorrigible one, completely surrendered to him. As long as Judas was considered one of the disciples and members of the holy face, Satan did not have such access to him until then. But when the Lord separated him and separated him from the rest of the disciples, declaring him through the bread, then Satan took possession of him, as one who had been forsaken from the Lord and excommunicated from the divine countenance. "Satan entered into him," that is, penetrated into the depths of his heart and took possession of his soul. For Satan had previously attacked Judas from without, with the passion of love of money, and now he completely took possession of him, inspiring him with betrayal. Jesus says to Judas, "What you do, do quickly." By this the Lord does not incite Judas to betrayal, but as if reproaches him for going to betrayal. With the word: "do," the Lord seems to say: "Behold, I leave you, do what you will; I do not hinder your intention, I do not restrain you any longer. For before this the Lord restrained the wickedness of Judas, keeping for Himself the time of death, which is why He said: "No man taketh My life from Me, but I Myself give it" (John 10:18).

And "none of those who sat at table understood." It is worthy of investigation why no one knew this, when the Lord, in answer to the question about the traitor, said that he was the one to whom I would give a piece. Apparently, the Lord said this quietly only to John, so that none of the others heard. Moreover, John, falling to his chest, asked almost under his ear, so that the traitor was not declared. For otherwise Peter might have stretched out his sword and killed him. Could it be that John also did not know this? Yes, even he, for he did not expect that the disciple would be capable of such iniquity. With his holy soul, being far from such malice, he did not suppose it easy for someone else. Thus, no one understood the words: "Do quickly," but they thought that the Lord commanded Judas to buy something for the feast or to give something to the poor. For He cared much for the poor, and although He persuaded others not to have either purse or copper, He Himself allowed them to carry a box with Him, showing that both the non-covetous and the crucified for the world should have great care for this part of the people – the poor.

"There was night when he went out." The Evangelist remarked, not without purpose, that "it was night," but in order to teach us that time did not hinder Judas, but even at night he was engaged in deceit. It seems to me that Judas went out at five o'clock in the evening, when Satan also entered him. For in the fourth hour Satan attacked Judas, namely, when the woman mentioned in the Evangelist Matthew (26:6-16) shed myrrh, and Judas went and negotiated with the Jews about betrayal. At the fifth hour of the evening, Satan entered Judas, that is, took possession of his heart. For it is one thing to strike someone with a hand from the outside, and another thing to plunge a sword into him and strike him with it from the inside. Judas "came out" from the Savior both sensually and mentally. "There was night," perhaps the night of thought, that is, the darkness of the love of money that covered him.

When he went out, Jesus said, "Today the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in him." If God is glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.