"Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
He knew the one who would betray him, but did not immediately single him out. Rather, he forced them all to engage in introspection about whether and under what circumstances any one of them might betray him. We know that, except for Judas, they wanted to imagine themselves as people who would never do so. But, appropriately, they weren't entirely confident in themselves. They didn't know what circumstances would bring. Nor did they have absolute confidence in their moral character. Hence they asked, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" (see Matthew 26:22). This lack of trust in themselves was later confirmed when they all fled and thus failed to be the loyal friends and disciples of Jesus that they wished to be. But in this instance Jesus was identifying, not the fact that the disciples would choose avoidance of danger over following Jesus, but rather the active hostility of Judas. He probably began sincerely, as someone who really believed in Jesus, and wanted to see his mission succeed. He had, at one time, truly been a friend to Jesus. But somehow that friendship had soured along the way, his trust in the plan of Jesus failed, and his belief in his ability to accomplish his mission was compromised. But this was all the more tragic because it was truly a betrayal. And it was truly a betrayal because it had once been a true friendship. Hence the way Jesus singled out Judas alluded to a Psalm:
Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me (see Psalm 41:9).
But what tenderness Jesus showed in identifying his betrayer in this way. By demonstrating that he knew in advance what would happen he revealed that he was still fully in control of the situation, choosing to lay his life down rather than having it taken from him. By referring, however obliquely, to Judas as a friend, even in this last moment of their fellowship, he seemed to indicate that, for his part, he hadn't abandoned Judas, even in spite of the full knowledge of his betrayal. Such unearned mercy and steadfast love ought to have made it possible for Judas to repent and return even after committing the most grievous of possible sins. It was clear that this reality remained with him after he did what he did. It was obliviously in conflict with the despair he felt over what he had done. And although from an external perspective it appeared that the despair won yet may we hope that in some way unseen by all he accepted the mercy that Jesus never ceased to offer him.
Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Normal people glorify themselves by demonstrations of their wealth, their power, their talents, or their privilege. But Jesus was glorified in weakness and in self-surrender. He was glorified in his death because it was there that he definitively revealed his love for the Father. His Father's love for him was also revealed, even before the resurrection, since it was only this love that could explain the motivating force behind Jesus's unwavering resolve, his willingness to embrace the cross. It was because he believed so absolutely in the love of the Father that he was able to entrust the salvation of the world to that love.
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow
before you deny me three times."
Sometimes we hear Jesus speak about our weakness and we think he is speaking in condemnation. But his point was not to condemn Peter. It was rather to give him hope that Jesus was not surprised by his flaws. Jesus knew that although the Spirit was willing the flesh was very weak indeed. So hindsight about this statement from Jesus may have first given Peter cause to kick himself and feel even worse, as kind of divine 'I told you so'. But that was not the intent. The intent was to give him hope enough to return, so that his threefold denial could be repaid with a threefold affirmation of love.
Jesus was in control even when he appeared to be anything but. It appeared he was overwhelmed by circumstances beyond his control. But he made those very circumstances conduce to the salvation of the world. Our world and indeed our own lives often appear to be out of our control. But, if we love Jesus, he can still make all things work together for our good (see Romans 8:28). For a time we must still contend more with weakness than with glory. But glory, like the dawn, shall come.
And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
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